Title: Conduits: The Ballad of Jinx Jenkins
Author: J. Ryan Sommers
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1665551014
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Pages: 224
Reviewed by: Alyssa Avina
Pacific Book Review
The concept of the “mystery” is something that has drawn people in for centuries. Human history is built upon the great mysteries of the universe, and ever since its inception mysteries have layered the foundations that each civilization that rose and fell ever had. Even in our modern era of technology, the concept of the mystery is still as prevalent today as it ever was, drawing in people to uncover clues and searching for the hidden truths, both hidden by nature and by sentient, living beings. Mysteries tend to be associated with small town life quite often, especially in modern America. The idea of a small community harboring secrets and lies is not uncommon, and yet high strangeness and liminality tend to be woven into the fabric of these towns quite often.
In author J. Ryan Sommers’s “Conduits: The Ballad of Jinx Jenkins”, the author explores one of these small towns and the many strange happenings going on within it. In this anthology collection, the author gathers tales of strange creatures in the woods, a delivery gone terribly wrong, and a man who wakes up next to a woman claiming to be his wife, all while delving deeper into the American psyche. Each legend and myth explored in the narrative ties together in one way or another, and the reader will find themselves discovering the ways in which our society has a way of attempting to demystify certain legends and myths that have existed for centuries, never realizing that sometimes this world has things that have yet to be discovered, and new myths can come to fruition before our very eyes.
The author did a brilliant job of crafting a narrative that felt both collected and well put together, and yet at the same time allowed each reader to be able to enjoy the individual narratives of each story. The overarching themes, as well as some recurring characters throughout the stories, were well drawn out in a natural way into the overall narrative, and the atmosphere was both tense and yet magical all at once, allowing for some great mirror imagery to take hold as the sometimes chilling nature of our own world came into sharp contrast with the magical mysteries that surround us everyday.
This was a perfect read for those who enjoy anthology reads, especially those that delve into mysteries, myths, legends, and incorporates genres like sci-fi and fantasy. As a fan of these genres, it was amazing to see the realism of magical realism bring these stories to life. The story of the man who woke up in another life altogether was quite haunting yet brilliantly written, and many of these stories felt like a streaming television series waiting to come to life.
Chilling, complex, yet fully entertaining, author J. Ryan Sommers’s “Conduits: The Ballad of Jinx Jenkins” is a must-read anthology sci-fi meets fantasy book. The imagery and mythos that the author builds up in this fictitious town and county were the perfect setting for an Americana style read that delved into the power and lure of local legends. From cryptids and disappearances to disturbing delivery training services and the nature of duality itself, this collection will capture the readers minds and hearts in a very real way. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
