Another great short story collection by MacLeod--maybe just a little more uneven than his 'Lost salt gift of blood'. Thematically it links up to the rest of his work. Unfortunately though there is not a large body of it. As before the stories are set in his native Nova Scotia--among the farming, mining and fishing communities. It is a very hardscrabble life for whatever the chosen vocation or occupation. There is a timeless quality to his work--generations seguing together--eking out an existence from a beautiful but oftentimes hostile and dangerous land. MacLeod remains as ever close to his Highland Scottish and Gaelic roots--the life and culture of the old country remains relevant in the new. There is not a weak story in the lot--I particularly liked Winter Dog--a teenage boy narrates how he was trapped out on an ice floe only to be saved by his dog. A few years later the same dog is shot dead in front of his eyes--that event is set up by his own father after the dog has turned mean. As well the title story is about another dog (cu mor glas [accents overs the u and o]--the big grey dog)--once real and over the generations turned into a family myth--it's appearance like a banshee presaging disaster and death. The last story in the collection--Vision--juxtaposes blindess and the ability of some to see into the future despite it.

MacLeod's depends much on emotion. The referencing of culture and family throughout not just generations but centuries is the glue that holds his work together. Beyond that he is fine writer and his stories fit together seamlessly into a whole. There is humor and sometimes much sadness but what comes out strongest may be the resilience of the people he writes about. I really like all of his work and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. ( )