Review: “Zero-Sum”

Joyce Carol Oates’ latest potpourri of grievous short stories is as stunning and breathtaking as ever.

One disturbing, distressing tale after the other where the protagonist becomes the antagonist of their own fate. True to its title, whatever is gained is unnervingly lost.

Tales of love not just gone wrong but badly wrong, twisted, malformed. The shadow, the darkness, the bad side.

Frightened and frightening women, devouring mothers. A loathsome evil simmers between the lines, waiting to leap and pounce and swallow you whole.

A horrible suspense where words shiver and dreams slither and twist into nightmares.