A definitive collection of new and selected stories by a master of the form. "Comparisons might be drawn to writers ranging from Jorge Luis Borges and Haruki Murakami to Margaret Atwood and J. D. Salinger. All of Lethem's stories are enlivened by his wit and provocative wordplay" (Chicago Tribune). This dazzling, genre-defying collection from Jonathan Lethem features seven major stories published since his last collection, along with his best work spanning more than three decades. A major new story, "The Red Sun School of Thoughts," never published elsewhere, follows a teenaged boy coming to terms with figures of authority and power-those both in his own biological family and in the family he creates for himself. Elsewhere we meet "Super Goat Man," a down-at-heels bohemian superhero; "The Porn Critic," whose accidental expertise wrecks his own romantic aspirations; and "Sleepy People," who pose interpersonal conundrums without ever rousing from their slumber. Fluidly moving between realism and the surreal, the absurd and the mundane, A Different Kind of Tension is a container bursting with life and death, couples in trouble, talking animals, technologies on the fritz. Through it all are people longing to be seen and to connect; to thrive, love, and be forgiven. "This is the joy of reading Jonathan Lethem: you never know what you're going to get" (Financial Times).
"Jonathan Letham's fans won't be disappointed with this listen. The stories' range and the narrators' talent are certain to keep listeners entertained. Each narrator brings their own take to the task. Letham's dry delivery doesn't surprise. Jim Meskimen performs "Vivian Relf" as one would hope--straightforwardly and without sounding overwrought. Pete Simonelli's take on "The Porn Critic" entertains without being too X-rated. Pirhalla delivers "The Dreaming Jaw, The Salivating Ear" with verve and enthusiasm, and when he's joined by Sophie Amoss, they turn in a not too scary tale of a blog and much more. Lastly, Micky Shiloah gives an emotional narration of "The King of Sentences." These surreal stories are certain to engage listeners. J.P.S. � AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine"
