“[The book] puts [Daugherty’s] distinctive Texas sensibility on full display in a variety of forms . . .  a wide range in terms of length [and] also in narrative structure and technique . . . the [stories] are written in a taut, colorful prose style in which few words are wasted and the language used is rich in perception and insight . . . Taken as a whole, this is a masterful collection by an abundantly talented writer.”–Greg Johnson, The Georgia Review, Winter 2010 

“The lone characters in Daugherty’s . . . loose-limbed, well-developed stories brave a sense of isolation as big as the arid Texas landscape they mostly inhabit . . . With  their strong sense of historical context, Daugherty’s stories are stirring and relevant.”–Publisher’s Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

“[Daugherty’s] writing and vision of our spiritual poverty is impressive . . . the stories’ objective is . . . to demonstrate loneliness[;] they succeed beautifully, thoughtfully and evocatively.”–Sarah Cypher, The Oregonian

“For anyone, [Daugherty’s] characters will resonate.”–Maggie Galehouse, The Houston Chronicle

“Tracy Daugherty’s new book collects 16 disturbing, cerebral stories . . . They vary in length and intent, but all involve characters easy to overlook, yet interesting to know . . . Often humorous . . . [they frequently] touch . . . on a troubling real-life event that haunts one of the characters . . .  Certain motifs reappear.   More than once, characters have difficulty breathing, from asthma or maybe from a lack of something essential.  Architects build careful environments, only to have them knocked down.  Astronomers and other scientists–actually ordinary people–probe the universe.  Daugherty’s stories tend to be interior and thought-provoking, while offering touching pictures of lonely folks.”–Anne Morris, The Dallas Morning News

“A dreamy boy who suffers from asthma, studies architecture, and solaces himself by looking up at the stars in the night sky, appears in many of these luminous short stories.  West Texas is his home, but homelessness is his state of mind . . . catastrophes that flatten landscapes [are referred to] . . . but he is a builder, who can design new structures.  He knows that great cities wax and wane and wax again.”–Barbara Fisher, The Boston Globe

“The desert is a vast, empty place–or is it?  Daugherty reflects on the desert, using it as a metaphor for the emptiness of life and the search for something more.  Profound and thoughtful, Daugherty gives readers a lot to expect and enjoy . . . leading to a fulfilling read that will be hard to put down.”–Midwest Book Review, REVIEWER’S CHOICE

“Daugherty’s stories are finely crafted and multi-layered.  He is bold in his exploration of a variety of forms and has an eye for evocative detail and an unerring ear for . . . dialogue.  There are occasional flashes of humor and touches of whimsical fantasy as well, despite the often somber atmosphere.”–Robert Woltman, The Albuquerque Journal