Author: Jung Young-moon
Translated by: Inrae You, Louis Vinciguerra
Publisher: Stallion Press, 2011
Original title: 검은 이야기 사슬, 1998
Link to online store *
A Chain of Dark Tales contains forty-five short stories. The phrase that most accurately describes this book would be The Great Quilt, a panoramic quilt with all possible, even impossible, thoughts and images and situations. Its as if he has laid out forty-five patches of unique materials, patterns, and colors in a public square and then calmly weaves them together, while anyone watching him would be at a lost for words to respond to his defiance of conventional expectations. But, nonetheless, no one would dare question or even think of stopping him, since Jung is too sincere in his childlike innocence, and they would also have to admit that what Jung is trying to say touches them deeply. Even though the books title seems to give us an idea of what kind of book it is and even though his stories contain dark, unstable, and unrealistic characters, these short stories do not wallow in darkness, despair, or negativity. Actually, the stories are often comically bizarre, even in dire situations.
LKL says:
This particular text purposefully is not an easy read. But it’s a text that fascinates, that makes you want to grapple with it, that certainly makes you enjoy some of the startling ideas it contains, and, what is probably the strongest recommendation of any, makes you want to read it again, even if it’s not the easiest thing to do.
LKL rating: 
. Read our review of this book here.
Read a review by Tony Malone here.
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