Down to a Soundless Sea

August 12, 2002
Stylistically speaking, the apple doesn't fall far from the family tree in this debut collection by Steinbeck (son of John), a solid series of stories that deal with the settling of the Monterey Peninsula early in the 20th century. Steinbeck is especially successful when he writes long and develops his narrative line, most notably in "Blind Luck," the tale of a young seaman who goes through a rough initiation during his first voyage, surviving a tragic accident and ultimately fulfilling his desire to become an engineer and then a captain. Another noteworthy effort is the engrossing, novella-length "Sing Fat and the Imperial Duchess of Woo," about a Chinese immigrant who meets the love of his life while studying medicine with an older Chinese apothecary. Nature is a major presence in almost all seven of these stories, especially in two of the shorter entries: "The Night Guide" deals with the adventure of a young boy who uses his skills to locate his mother in the woods during a storm, while "The Wool Gatherer" describes the awe of a young man (a "daydreaming book hound" named John Steinbeck) when he spots a legendary Big Sur bear. A couple of entries fall victim to murky plotting and elliptical storytelling, but Steinbeck's naturalism and his accomplished voice make it clear that the family's literary legacy is in very good hands. National advertising, 6-city author tour. (Oct. 1)Forecast:Obviously, interest in the Steinbeck pedigree will be significant, and mainstream coverage is sure to help drive sales—all of which will lay a strong foundation for Steinbeck's first novel, which is in the works.

June 1, 2002
Steinbeck has been a cinematographer, photojournalist, and creative writing instructor, but he is also son of the celebrated novelist. So this first collection of stories, drawn from the history and culture of Northern California, comes as no surprise.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2002
In the year of John Steinbeck's centennial, son Thomas Steinbeck debuts an uneven collection of short stories. The opening story, "Night Garden," is an intriguing yet ultimately unsatisfying piece involving a mother and son with an inexplicable bond that reveals itself during a ferocious storm. More entertaining is "The Woolgatherer," a semibiographical tale about young cowboy John and the mysterious creature he vows to find again after a brief glimpse on his way to a summer ranch job. Steinbeck buries all salient details in the overwritten sea story, "Blind Luck." He is at his best creating the deceitful, petty villain Simon Gutierez O'Brian, who appears in "Blighted Cargo" but comes to an unexplained end. Each story reads like a passage from a larger work, missing key events to tie it all together and never quite standing alone. For comprehensive short story collections and Steinbeck fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)