Bonding by Faye Kellerman

Originally published 1989 in Sisters in Crime (ed. Marilyn Wallace), this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

R18+

Legally restricted to audiences 18 years and older

(D, S, L, T)

Frequent Drug Use {R18+}

Sexual References {MA15+}

Frequent Coarse Language {M}

Level 36: "You are unsure about this place"

First, detecting evil. A mature green dragon sleeps just out of sight in the very room where Marash has descended. To the south, a dark elven druid. North, at least ten stone trolls and further north a mummified human.

Junior Jackson's Parable by James Hannah

Originally published 1988 in Desperate Measures (published by Southern Methodist University Press), this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

M

Not recommended for persons under 15 years of age, but no legal restrictions

(L, D, S, T, V)

Frequent Coarse Language {M}

It's a Hard World by Andrew Vachss

Originally published 1987 (could not identify initial publication), and Born Bad (1994); this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

PG

(D, L)

Drug Use {PG} {Tobacco}

Coarse Language {G}

Themes {M} {Crime}

Representations

Gender:

Been trying for the past couple of days to arrange to visit my grandmother, with my sister, but have not yet succeeded. The day we had selected, when I wasn't working, turned out when I called to be a day she'd had to be taken in to the hospital early in the morning for observation.

Didn't know which hospital, overlooked the possibility of asking. She was still in when I called the next day, also, although in expectation of being released home shortly. So I settled for merely picking up my sister and getting her back home, which took about two hours overall in itself.

Meant to post this last week or longer ago (time is confusing), but was having connection difficulties and then got distracted and forgot about it for a while:

Finished this semester a week ago, with one last maths exam. Am fairly sure I failed that, and fairly sure I passed the Indigenous Studies elective I was taking.

Am left uncertain what to do about next semester. Can try re-enrolling in this class to attempt passing it again.

Level 34: "This place seems reasonably safe"

Nothing, indeed, worrying in the immediate area. Marash decides to hang around for a while.

A young multi-hued dragon donates some treasure, not very interesting without a shop around. A bit further south, a squad of novice rangers foolishly throw themselves at Marash.

With them was an ogre mage which, despite her not having enough energy to put up her defensive prayers, goes down easily enough. Not quickly enough to prevent it from creating traps.

Rattle-tattle, rattle-tattle. In darkness misty shrouded, world closed in, small dome surrounding Peering ahead for haloed lights, red-glow show too fast or slow. Yellow and orange scattered around, passing by, hints of wider world in darkness. Light arcs blue and white overhead, showing momentarily a sky there still be, silent flashes unheard under-

Rattle-tattle, rattle-tattle.

To Florida by Robert Sampson

Originally published 1987 in {unstated, could not find}; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

MA15+

Considered unsuitable for persons under 15 years of age; legally restricted

(D, H, L, V)

Drug References {PG}

Supernatural References {No weight}

Coarse Language {M}

Violence {MA15+}

Deadhead Coming Down by Margaret Maron

Originally published 1978 in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

PG

Parental Guidance recommended for audiences under 15 years of age

(L, V)

Coarse Language {PG}

Violence {M}

Representations