Visit http://neonumaarts.blogspot.com/2007/06/4-am-blogging.html for a description of the plays in The Fatal Gift of Beauty and Other Plays by Christoper E. Ellis.

neoNuma Arts is proud to present 13 stories of people who can do extraordinary things in the fiction anthology Able to...

“These stories work on every level, as pieces of literature and as fables about power, and they run the gamut from magic realism to Twain-ian tall tales. A strong collection, worthy of reading and re-reading.” -Greg Garret, author of Holy Superheroes, Free Bird, and Crossing Myself

Below are the contents.

"Gates of Eden," by Becky Haigler: Young Evita is able to speak flowers when she offers sincere compliments. As she grows older, she learns the power of her words–which turn to manipulative flattery. As her compliments change, so do the flowers.

"Light Readings of Ebony," by David J. Lemaster: Ebony is a fortune teller who Joel meets in a bar one night. As they develop a tenuous relationship, Joel discovers Ebony is able to resurrect the dead. What's more, Ebony believes her life's mission is to resurrect one particular person.

"Blues in the Rafters," by Jan Carrington: Every week, Robert, a social worker, visits Bessie, an elderly woman whose deceased husband, Cyril, was a blues musician. Robert thinks she's crazy because she thinks her Cyril is still able to play for Robert. Thing is, Cyril thinks so, too.

"Jesus Lizard," by Theodore Carter: Junior high geek Ralph throws himself into his school projects wholeheartedly. When he realizes that his oversized feet is a characteristic shared with the subject of his latest science report, he demonstrates that he, too, is able to run on water. If only he found it as remarkable as the rest of the town.

"His Stop's 28th Street," by Michael Buozis: On the subway one morning, Martin finds himself sitting next to a frog who is able to interact with humanity–and in fact does the books for a wholesale florist. But it's not so much what the frog can do as much as what he says.

"Lucky Max," by Mark Jansen: Max is able to slip into the quantum field and travel among alternate realities. He does so with the intention of altering reality for a friend, not foreseeing how it will alter his own.

"Rubato," by Winston Derden: Chantal enchants her companion, as much by her smile as by her being able to catch ripples in time and replay a moment to a different ending. In the courtyard of a restaurant she watches for the next ripple as he searches for understanding.

"Mr. Merrill's Extraordinary Driving Cap," by Becky Haigler: While closing up his used bookstore one evening, Mr. Merrill finds a leather driving cap among the magazines. When he decides to wear it home, he finds he's able to hear more than what people are saying.

"Phos Hilaron," by Neil Ellis Orts: Carl is amazed that his freakishly pale boyfriend, Eddie, is able to build a diverse and growing church despite being openly gay. When Eddie reveals that he is able to glow, Carl learns the secret to Eddie's charisma.

"The Mesmerizer," by David J. LeMaster: Dr. Adrian Paul is able to hypnotize. Not really, but that's his stage show and it gives him entree to fulfilling his base desires with pretty young women in the audience. Then he starts to have vulgar, violent visions of his deceased, infant son. Perhaps the only one mesmerized is the mesmerizer.

"Max's Colossus Proboscis," by Theodore Carter: Maximillian Peet is able to smell. Too much. He has a condition that causes his olfactory sensitivities to grow, along with his continually growing nose. The doctor treating him is fascinated–and reluctant to use the means available to relieve Max of his condition.

"Levi's Landing," by Jan Carrington: Levi is able to hear the voices of the universe and he longs to join them. That's his intention when he climbs to a high cliff one night, but his children go with him. Now he must decide to leave them or take them along.

"The Changing Light," by Vincent Craig Wright: He's able to return to life, something he's kept as a secret from his mother until he crashes his car into a brick wall. Now her obsession with that wall strains their relationship as she asks questions he can't answer.