Heavy Water and Other Stories by Martin Amis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The stories in this collection vary wildly in terms of length, subject matter, characterization and literary device. Amis moves effortlessly across continents, depicting British and American culture convincingly and creating vivid and unique characters. The stories here have an experimental feel and as with all experiments, some work better than others.
Amis is strongest when portraying British working class people, with that classic British dry humor and wit. This is best illustrated in “State of England,” which also deftly handles race relations in modern, ethnically diverse London.
“What Happened to Me on My Holiday” is written in a made up dialect that is difficult to grasp at first but worth putting in the effort. It turns out to be a surprisingly effective technique for portraying a young boy’s first experiences with death.
I struggled with “The Janitor on Mars,” an odd juxtaposition of intelligent (if sadistic) life on mars and pedophilia in an orphanage here on earth. It was a long read, heavy on scientific jargon that became tiresome for me.
Most of these stories have been published elsewhere, three in The New Yorker, as well as in Esquire, Granta and other publications. So clearly they enjoy some critical acclaim. A fun diversion from the ordinary but not for everyone.