The Uncanny Valley - Book Review

The Uncanny Valley
Tales from a Lost Town
by Gregory Miller
137 pages

I really didn't know what to expect with this book.  It arrived in my mailbox this morning.  I tore open the brown-padded envelope and looked at the cover.  The artwork was whimsical, and I found myself looking at it long time, imagining what the little characters might reveal of the tale inside.  In a way, the cover is like a "Where's Waldo" painting.  You just have to look at everything.

So, I opened the book, at a red light, on my drive to work.  No kidding.  I began reading with the Prologue.

In June 2009, WRDB, a Central-Pennsylvania NPR affiliate, launched a narrative project as part of a "small-town cultural preservation campaign," asking listeners to address, in 2000 or fewer words, the following prompt:  Describe a specific event - historical, ritualistic, or personal - that typifies the culture of your hometown.

Well, as a writer, that hooked me right there.  The traffic light turned green and I had to put the book down, but I believed this was a real contest that had transpired, and that the book was a compilation of those stories sent in to the radio station.

When I got to work and started reading, I intended to only read one or two of the stories.  But I absolutely could not put the book down.  Thankfully my job allows me to do this... read, I mean.  I must confess I DID have to put it down a couple times to help users with computer problems, but I hurried right back to my desk and kept turning the pages.  The magic that unfolded held me spell bound.  I realized the prologue was not real, but part of the unfolding events of Uncanny, Pennsylvania.

I'll tell you right now, if asked, my favorite book of all time is -- Robert McCammon's BOY'S LIFE.  And now I have a 2nd favorite book of all time.  THE UNCANNY VALLEY is on par with McCammon's book. The author, Gregory Miller, wrote such believable characters, scenes, situations and stories that I honestly believed Uncanny Pennsylvania existed.  His stories raised the chill bumps on my arms and took me right back to my own childhood adventures and the stories we passed around as kids then.  Mr. Miller did a beautiful job of suspending reality for the duration of  book and for that I thank him! 

Could I pick a favorite story from his tales? It would be difficult as just thinking about it brings up several.  "Richard Shute Goes Home for Dinner" had the most poignant ending.  And "The Great Unknown" is another that will stick with me.  The imagery of blue bottles floating in the pool in the woods, each containing a piece of paper with a wish written in blood, is something  I will never forget.  Wonderful.

The Uncanny Valley is a magical read.  Mr. Miller's words evoked all kinds of emotion from me: goose bumps, laughter, sadness, shock, wonder.  I'd like to say this collection of stories would make excellent bedtime reading, but the fact is, you can't stop with one story.  You'll be up all night long finishing the book.

Two thumbs way up on this one.  I loved it.

Linda Freed
www.lafingdog.com