Make/Shift

Sacksteder’s well-crafted, stimulating debut constantly changes form and style but retains a humorous edge throughout. In “Unearth,” a group of friends gather to uncover a long-buried time capsule only to discover something is awry and one of them has traitorously altered their past. “Ten Million Worldmarks for the Ouroborics” follows contestants on Find Your Fetish, a high-stakes game for which players spend years training to create mind control over thoughts and bodies. They watch on-air fornication and must tamp down arousal or be eliminated. “Lucky Girl” is set at a boarding school in the U.S. for international students whose administration lacks the cultural understanding and depth necessary to assist students with bullying, while “The Unquestionable Sincerity of Fire Alarms” offers multiple perspectives on a traveling hockey team’s weekend. In the title story, shy valedictorian Clara addresses her class. Interspersed through her speech are thoughts of her rural Wisconsin upbringing and traumatic past. Sacksteder’s wry humor and insight into his multifaceted worlds will keep readers on their toes. This is an excellent, surprising collection. [em](Apr.) [/em]