In this debut anthology of tales, Adam O'Riordan deftly paints the L. A. canvas
with narratives about laughter, lust, longing, and loss
The Burning Ground: Stories (2017) by Adam O'Riordan Cover design by Greg Kulick, photography by P. Eoche/Getty Images
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bsence of seasons compensating for impermanence, isolation amidst the crowd of slums and celebrities, longing to connect and desire to belong — these are the brush strokes Adam O'Riordan uses to paint the canvas of Los Angeles in his post-poetry collection of short stories.
In A Thunderstorm in Santa Monica, an Englishman and an L.A. movie producer carry on a relationship that is as humdrum as his regular 11-hour plane trips from London to California and back — save for one life-affirming incident mid-air during one such particular flight.
In Rambla Pacifico, a war veteran takes on a job to rescue the junkie daughter of a sly businessman — with ugly results.
In The El Segundo Blue Butterfly, the narrator interviews an investor on three occasions: first, as a young student probing the executive's stance on environment breach allegations; next, as a young journalist shedding light on the CEO's corruption charges; and lastly, as a newspaper man talking with the tireless businessman at the ebb tide of his career.
In the title story, the affair between an elderly painter and a married writer inevitably runs its course.
In Wave-Riding Giants, a senior housing resident reminisces about his journey from a young lad to a loyal spouse.
In Black Bear in the Snow, a couple and their baby serve as foreground to a flashback involving a son on a hunting trip with his father.
In ’98 Mercury Sable, the narrator rambles on about cars, his student driver days, and life as a married man with twins — ending the story with a sinister revelation.
In Magda’s a Dancer, the story flows entirely in unattributed dialogue, conveying musical buffoonery and a growing dose of dread.
Throughout all eight tales, O'Riordan wields the brush strokes of imagery, mood, and emotion with subtle skill and understated precision. 1
Throughout all eight tales, O'Riordan wields the brush strokes of imagery, mood, and emotion with subtle skill and understated precision. 
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