This collection of previously published stories highlights the resilience of the human spirit when faced with threats to well-being and survival.
The first seven stories focus on soldiers and their experiences. In "Azaleas," a veteran in war-torn Korea grapples with his future. "A Joke for Chong" offers a brief snapshot of life on the front lines. "Class of '65" reflects on the aftermath of a fatal firefight. Both "Men at War" and "Low Speed Jet" delve into life on the home front during the Vietnam War. In "Government Issue," military justice proves as destructive as combat. "Rearguard," a home-front story set during the Iraq War, rounds out the soldier tales.
"Wasteland," the collection's title story, begins in reality and slips into a dreamlike state, as the protagonist grasps not so much for physical survival as for a meaningful existence.
The next seven stories explore contemporary life, with a nod to ancient Greece. "What About India?" and "There You Go" examine how both blue- and white-collar workers rely on employment not only for income but for their sense of self-worth. "Hippasus of Metapontum" warns of the dangers of introducing revolutionary ideas into society. In "Negative Entropy," a flash fiction piece, new ideas collide with old, destructive behaviors. "Mind over Matter" follows a protagonist grappling with the consequences of her actions in difficult circumstances. Similarly, in "The Pugilist," the main character drifts between reality and a self-created illusion. "Sunrise Cliff," a flash, rekindles-or perhaps doesn't-a romance.
The final two stories, "Ole Ned" and "Exodus," set in the near future, imagine Canada's immigration challenges as its southern neighbors flee increasingly uninhabitable environments.
