'Extremities' by Kathe Koja is a collection of dark fantasy short stories that focus on character development and language. Koja's writing style emphasizes creating mood and atmosphere through her characters' extreme transformations, whether psychological or physical. The stories delve into the lives of sad and warped souls, offering experiences rather than definitive endings. Koja's prose is described as literary, with a strong emphasis on character and language, creating a surreal yet grounded world for her characters to inhabit.

Characters:

The characters often consist of struggling artists dealing with personal traumas and transformative experiences.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is casual, lyrically evocative, and focuses on creating mood through vivid imagery, often at the expense of conventional storytelling.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot delves into psychological and physical transformations, highlighting the surreal experiences of struggling artists and their traumas.

Setting:

The setting blends realistic contemporary life with surreal elements, emphasizing modern struggles.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and requires careful reading, often leading to a feeling of drawn-out narratives.

Notes:

Extremities is Kathe Koja's only collection of short fiction, published in 1997.

Many of Koja's short stories remain uncollected in this volume.

After Extremities, Koja shifted focus to writing five children's books.

Koja's stories are known for being decidedly not suitable for children.

Her writing style is both casual and lyrically evocative.

Thematically, her stories explore the angst of artists and the creative process.

Koja's characters often undergo transformative experiences, both psychological and physical.

The collection has been described as literary dark fantasy, emphasizing character and language.

Some readers find her prose heavy on mood rather than plot, focusing on character experiences over traditional storytelling.

The stories in Extremities are sometimes described as disturbing but are praised for their writing quality and emotional depth.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include psychological trauma, sexuality, existential themes, and disturbing imagery.

From The Publisher:

Blending elements of horror, fantasy, and science fiction, an imaginative anthology of seventeen short stories by a Bram Stoker and Locus Award-winning author includes "Disquieting Muse," "Anels in Love," "Bird Superior," and "The Neglected Garden"

What can you read after
Extremities?

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Extremities

Kathe Koja

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What can you read after Extremities?

What can you read after
Extremities?