According to dictionary dot com, the word “kaleidoscope” means "observer of beautiful forms" and was coined in 1817 by the object’s inventor, Sir David Brewster, from the Greek words kalos, "beautiful", and eidos "shape," plus scope, as in telescope.

Prepare to be dazzled. Like its namesake, this story collection will keep you guessing. Just when you think you have something understood, shapes shift, colors change, and wonder reigns.

Evoking childhood memories of sparkling, light-filled moments, the word was well chosen to describe these stories by well known author Anel Viz. To add to the intrigue, the author tells us: “I have put myself into three of the seven stories. Today, I am a college professor in his sixties who has good-looking young men in class; back in the eighties, my children were in high school; and I graduated high school in 1961.”

In “Proteus” we find that Dr. Edmund Kroner was once a teacher of Greek and Latin. Unfortunately, many of the classes in which these classics were taught have themselves become extinct, and Dr. Kroner finds himself the chair of the college’s department of Humanistic Studies. He still teaches some classes, the most popular of which is mythology.

This year, that class is even more enjoyable, especially to the teacher, because of the presence of Roy Bramson, a student who stimulates discussion and seems to have the ability to appear differently to everyone who meets him. As time goes on, he begins to remind the professor of the oracular sea god, Proteus, who would give you a straight answer, if only you could hang onto his changing form long enough to pin him down.

But does Edmund really want to know the truth about the mysterious young man?

A fascinating and intriguing tale that left this reader examining the final page, hoping for just one more paragraph.

Next in line is “Roomies”. In this story we are made privy to some of the public and private actions of three roommates who share a spacious condominium, somewhere near the center of a large American city. They have many interests in common and only disagree about the most important things, like whether to spend television time on Queer as Folk or The Wizard of Oz.

Watching from the outside, many things about these men seem clear:

Art is a loner, an opera buff, and the only one in a relationship. A financial planning consultant, he even oversees his housemates' portfolios for free.

Denny is a slob and the most promiscuous of the three, the only one who does not have a job, being what Marty refers to as a “slum landlord,” in spite of his left-wing political leanings.

Marty is an artist and obviously a classic flamer with aspirations of becoming a French maid, but wasn’t he once an athlete?

All are in their own ways attractive, but have the three of them, or any two, for that matter, ever gotten together for sex? The narrator doesn’t think so, but does he know for sure?

Maybe you can figure it out.

In “Photographic Memories”, Kyle can still remember every word and picture in the adult magazines he used to enjoy in his youth, but even so, he has begun to doubt the infallibility of his memory. Even a photographic mind can play tricks on you, he’s decided.

Kyle wishes he had never seen the pictures of Tanner, brutally murdered. But the prosecution has relied heavily on Kyle’s testimony because he picked out of the lineup the man he saw leaving the bar and identified him as the man who left with Tanner.

But it has begun to occur to Kyle that the accused resembles someone he used to know, a very long time ago. Should he tell the authorities about his suspicions? Should he accuse the best friend he hasn’t seen in years?

The tension begins to mount, and at the end… well, read it and find out.

Now we come to “Facing the Music”.

Joey and Max sing in the same church choir, but not until they find themselves roommates on the summer Concert Tour, do they discover that they really do sing in the same choir, so to speak.

Both so innocent they halfway expect lightning to strike them, they fumble their daring way together, finally discovering that they have fallen in love. But… will they go to hell for it? They will if the church and their families have anything to say about it.

We accompany the young men on a disturbing journey that attempts to separate the lovers and change their natural inclinations until they are “normal” in the eyes of their community.

The author says this story takes place in the last decade of the twentieth century. I would be happier if it had taken place a much longer time ago.

Meet “Kevvy”. Everybody who knew Kevvy seems to remember hm.

Arthur’s dad is surprised that his son befriended a gay boy when he was in high school. But when he reminds Arthur about it, the memories all come back—about Kevvy, and about Mitchell, too.

Cole is Kevvy’s partner, and when he hears about Kevvy’s high school friends, he has a completely different take on what happened between the three of them, way back then.

An enjoyable story that makes me wish I could hear about what happened from Kevvy’s point of view.

I think that’s where imagination is supposed to take over. Will my story be the same as yours?

In “Polygon”, George loves his wife and their relationship but still wants to watch her have sex with another woman.

A common straight male fantasy, right? But if it happens, will once be enough? His buddy Duane doesn’t think so.

A story with a surprise in it, but in the middle, not at the end.

And finally, we have “Since the Reunion”. The class of 1960—where and, more importantly, who are they now, and does Rob really want to know? Spouses and significant others welcome.

And Rob does reconnect with some of the people in his past, but not in any ways he’d expected. As Rob observes: “They say all's fair in love and war, but I don't buy it. We wouldn't try people for war crimes if it were true.”

Gay, straight, bi? One label isn’t enough to describe a person, and Kaleidoscope certainly helps to clarify that point. There are as many versions of humanity as there are humans.

Even if we clearly describe our personal vision in the kaleidoscope tunnel of reality, will another person see what we see in exactly the same way? Or do our own experiences add that final layer of color and form so that no vision can ever be the same?

Whether writing of sex or suicide, Anel Viz brings us precision and a Spock-like lack of emotion. Is the view then clearer? Perhaps.

Are there beautiful forms in this kaleidoscope? You bet. I have my favorites, and no doubt you will too, but I’m not sharing which or why. Read and enjoy them all—each faceted gem is colorful and sparkles in its own unique way.

Kaleidoscope, by Anel Viz

2011, Silver Publishing, 256 pp.

ISBN: 9 78192 0501 037 (e-book) $5.99

 

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