Cages and Those Who Hold the Keys

Fear is the Key:

An Introduction of Sorts

by

Gary A. Braunbeck

A very good friend of mine (and brilliant writer of award-winning poetry, as well as a Bram Stoker Award-winning editor) Christopher Conlon once pointed out to me the difference between a “literary collection” and a “genre collection” – and it has to do with things like Introductions. A Literary collection will have a single Introduction, usually written by someone not the author who is also a well-known name in the field – like, say, Paul Auster writing the Introduction to Amy Hempel’s next collection.

A Genre collection not only has said Introduction (usually written by the author him- or herself), but it will also have an Introduction to each story, or an Afterword, or something called “Story Notes” tacked on at the end – all this effort so that the reader will find the genesis of every single story in the book as endlessly fascinating as the author her- or himself finds it. It usually comes off as one of two things: rampant egotism/narcissism, or ponderous navel-gazing.

Personally, I like “Story Notes” or Introductions to each story, or an Afterward, because I am interested in how other writers’ thought processes work (I say “thought” and not “creative” because, let’s face it, before you can get creative, you first must have a thought which a solid piece of fiction can use as its base). I also like Literary Introductions, for the same reason; if the author of said Introduction is another author, it’s twice as interesting for me, because what you get is an interpretation of the pieces you’re about to read, only these are filtered through the sensibilities of someone who’s only read the stories, not the person who actually wrote the bloody things.

This is my way of telling you: if you’re looking for Introductions, Afterword, or “Story Notes” for the novellas in this collection, this Introduction is all you’re going to get. I am of the opinion that the stories speak well enough for themselves.

I did, however, want to comment on the title of this collection: Cages and Those Who Hold the Keys. It was the first thing that popped into my head when publisher Steve Price asked me for a “working” title. I almost hosed it because it seemed to me to be about as subtle as a jackhammer used for minor dental work. But the more I re-read the novellas contained herein, the more I realized that the title (a bit heavy in a Strum und Drang sort of way) was appropriate, because each novella, in one way or another, deals with individuals who have locked themselves in their own cages, pig-headedly thinking that no key exists to free them. But that key does exist, and each of them has it. It’s called Fear. For it is the things that has most trapped the characters in their cages, and it could also be the source of their release if they either embrace and overcome it, or surrender to it forever.

I know – makes this collection sound like buckets of chuckles, doesn’t it? I do promise you that each story contains its share of humor (well … my humor, anyway, which not everyone gets) but – and this is not meant as hyperbole – I would recommend that you not read them all back to back or over a short period of time; I’m told the cumulative effect of these pieces could be extremely upsetting for a lot of readers.

So there you have it, the Introduction to This Collection. Didn’t ramble too much, mostly stuck to the point, and now it’s time to unlock the door of my own cage and make a fast exit, Stage Left.

Yeah, I have my key; it’s always on my person; and it and I, a long time ago, came to terms with one another’s existence.

Thank you for purchasing this collection. I sincerely hope you find something in each story to keep close to you afterward.

Exit, Stage Left.

• Gary A. Braunbeck• Still Lost in Ohio• Feb. 7, 2011