Luke O’ Neil – We Had it Coming And Other Fictions

Description

about the book

Ive been asking myself just how it is that a person can go about their day to day life at a time like this and I keep coming back to another question which is how did we ever convince ourselves we had the right to do so before?

That question runs throughWe Had It Coming, a collection of stories that pulse with both the familiar and the uncanny. ONeils characters struggle to survive in a reality rife with violence, addiction, fascism, and the crushing weight of modern life. From the threat of mass shootings to the absurdity of predatory healthcare, his sharp observations of societal decay leave a lasting impact.

Yet even amid the chaos, ONeils trademark wit cuts through, offering moments of unexpected levity. Jumping from CVS to the emergency room to a seaside Massachusetts town ravaged by the opioid crisis, and blending short stories, poetry, and micro-fiction, ONeils stream-of-consciousness style and inventive syntax pull the reader into a mesmerizing rhythm.

Fans of hisprevious workwill find a continuation of his unique voice, and new readers will be captivated by his unflinching portrayal of survival in a world gone awry.

A haunting yet darkly humorous exploration of a world teetering on the edge of collapse.

This makes me want to shout ‘amen,’ call my mom, and punch a goddamn wall . . . if youve been looking for the great art that bad times are supposed to bring about, look no further.

Dave Holmes,Esquire

Enthralling, like finding scraps of poetry in the dust after an apocalypse.

Mattie Lubchansky, author ofBoys Weekend and Simplicity

His stories make me feel less insane.

David Roth

Luke ONeil is the poet of our shared doom.

Maria Bustillos

A deeply felt, beautifully crafted collection of stories and essays that capture the times. Not without jolts of much needed humor. Good stuff for bad times.

Alex Winter, actor and filmmaker

Filled with observations that are deeply perceptive in their quiet moments,We Had it Comingmay feel ominous, but its quiet beauty is what the reader is most compellingly left with.

The Compulsive Reader