Mind State

About the Book

Mind State is a new collection of imaginative and thought-provoking tales from the author of Day’s End, Sistina, and World Hunger. In Icarus Falling, a routine lunar supply mission turns into a hellish journey whose end can only be carnage, for the crew and for everyone awaiting their arrival. In Eliot’s Ghost, a business executive must finally face the consequences of a long-forgotten decision as he searches for a mysterious, long-lost worker whose tormented spirit fills his dreams. And in Arwen, a young woman shopping for books meets an unexpected stranger, one who shares wonders beyond her imagining and, in the end, leaves her with a truly unexpected gift. Swain’s second collection of short fiction is a journey unlike any he has taken us on before. The stories bring to life characters who face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, delivering moments that range from unexpected bliss to abject terror. Mind State is more than just suspenseful fiction. The people are real, the challenges immense, and the outcomes beyond the unexpected, possibly even beyond comprehension. The stories that comprise this astonishing collection will make you rethink the values and beliefs you hold dearest, and quite possibly even change your views about not only cause and effect, but also right and wrong.

About the Author

BRIAN KENNETH SWAIN is the author of ten previous books, including the novels World Hunger, Alone in the Light, Sistina, and Day’s End; the poetry collections Secret Places, My America, and Chicken Feet; the essay collection The Curious Habits of Man; the short story collection The Book of Names; and the children’s book Hegel and Hobbes Have an Adventure. Brian is a graduate of Columbia University (electrical engineering) and The Wharton School (business). He grew up in Brunswick, Maine, and now lives in New Braunfels, Texas with his wife Elaine, black chow chows Maya and Loki, and cats Suki and Mozart.