Zable's Fables

Abstract

Forty-two fables, most from earlier appearances in an array of literary journals. Comparison with Kafka is apt. People show up in the weirdest forms; the strangest things happen to them. This book is not for kids! There is something wild and destructive here. See Hirschman's comment on the back cover. I would ask: does he exorcize our insanity? I do not sense the world put back together after its surprising wrenchings and flying-aparts. Norse's introduction is accurate: Zable is witty, savage, sophisticated. There is a nice twist on Aesop's WS (36). Close to the Aesopic tradition: Hypocrite (22), in which a mouse prefers being victim of the chasing cat to being victim of the devouring bird. My favorite story here is The Experiment (49). Another good one is The Remedy (16).