Publisher's Synopsis
NOT YOUR RANK-AND-FILE BEDTIME STORY Failure of Fish is a refreshing newcomer to those relatively few novels qualifying as fine literary works. Addressing the age-old problem of individual moral responsibility, author Michael Sorbonne Robinson, Sr. explores the mind of a fatherless teen boy, who watches helplessly as his childhood community descends into moral ruin, ending up, literally, as the smoking remains of a once-thriving town. Robinson's voice is the young Billy Potter, who struggles in his own challenges of dealing with the loss of his father, the apparent duplicity of his mother, the clash of religious piety and scientific learning, and his own uncharted transition from puberty to manhood. Set in Western British Columbia during the early days of Germany's first rise to power and the "war that would end all wars," Billy faces the uncertainties of a changing world and the realization that even the remoteness of Stella's Cove, B.C. doesn't provide protection against the terrors of war. It is the loss of his closest friend that crystallizes his understanding that home is not really so isolated after all. Written in a markedly older style, Robinson recreates the heartaches, fears, and disintegrating realities of a true coming-of-age hero. One of the books first reviewers had this to say: "I have just finished reading "Failure of Fish" and found it an excellent read. I loved teaching 10th grade English and coming-of-age literature. Billy's character deserves status along-side Holden Caulfield, Huck Finn, Phineas, and the lads in "Lord of the Flies" in their elusive search for identity and manhood. Were I still teaching, I certainly would have added "Failure of Fish" to my reading list." While not at all a suspense thriller, Robinson nails the sometimes shocking behavior of his characters, creating a final summary judgment for those who abdicated their moral responsibility to the will of a group. If you're tired of bodice-rippers and the same-ol'-same-ol', you will find this book a refreshing read.
