Liberation Day is a compilation of 9 short stories (some longer than others), 5 of which were published previously in The New Yorker. For me, the first half of the book was more successful, the hindrance being precisely the most ambitious stories, the ones in which Saunders showed his elasticity as an author, those being of the sci-fi/dystopian genre. There’s one particularly that baffled me, that being #8 - “Elliott Spencer”. Everything about that story grated my nerves: syntax, punctuation (or lack thereof), the mixture of capitalized words with lowercase ones mid-sentence… You name it, it’s there. Don’t get me wrong, it’s innovative, but it was a little too much for me.

Without further ado, I give below a short summary of each story and my impressions.

1) Liberation Day - a troop of performers, whose real nature becomes apparent as the story progresses, enact narratives for the enjoyment of a company of rich people.

Sci-fi/dystopian genre. It starts out confusing, but about 20% in, the true nature of the performers becomes increasingly clear. As soon as the troop started re-enacting the Battle of Little Bighorn, the narrative became gripping.

2) The Mom of Bold Action - a mom writer is brainstorming her next project when she realizes that her kid is not in the backyard. The kid, Derek, comes into the kitchen a while later with nosebleed and some scratches, saying that a hippie, old guy pushed him to the ground in the street. Mom calls the father, and the police, who come up with two look-alike suspects who happen to be relatives. As Derek thinks things over and refuses to identify the culprit, the police let the suspects go, but an essay written by mom in a fury-induced euphoria, causes dad to do something bold and rash.

Very funny story with straight-to-the-heart truths about human behavior.

3) Love Letter - a grandfather replies to a letter from his grandson asking advice about how to proceed in a situation three of his friends seem to be involved.

A not-so-veiled jab at Trumpism.

4) A Thing at Work - two feuding coworkers drag a mild-mannered manager into their fight.

Darkly funny look at workplace dynamics.

5) Sparrow - two plain coworkers no one thinks much of, fall in love, unsettling the balance of their surroundings.

6) Ghoul - an underground community enforces rules and regulations to keep the peace, while their inhabitants wait, playing dress up in assigned roles, for visitors from above to come.

Another dark dystopian story that is dense and confusing but that achieves resolution towards its end.

7) Mother’s Day - on her last day alive, Alma, an old woman, reminisces about her late husband’s philandering and cannot forgive him for it.

Dense story with annoying characters.

8) Elliot Spencer -
Sci-fi/dystopia with strange syntax and punctuation make for a confusing and incredibly dense reading experience. For most of the story I couldn’t figure it out what it was that I was reading.

9) My House - an old guy meets with all the potential buyers of his historical home. An easy conversation with one buyer makes both realize that this could be the right man for the house, but when the buyer hesitates upon a request, the deal is doomed.

With this last story, the brilliance and vibrancy of the first four stories (up to 55% mark) return. Too bad it was so short.

Overall, a mixed bag of a collection. Had Saunders decided to keep the two latter dystopian stories out, this book would have been a solid 4*. As it is, it is a 3*.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided me with a digital ARC, via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Liberation Day is another dissection of the American way of life from the weird, complex mind of George Saunders. Many of the stories here skewer society, including the lead story, "Liberation Day." The examination of privilege is done with humor, horror, and utter brilliance. "The Mom of Bold Action" is a deep dive into morals, forgiveness, our justice system. And once again, privilege. The stories are unforgettable, as one would expect from the master of the short form.

George Saunders is one of those authors that I am always drawn to his writings and yet once I finish I always feel like I'm not quite smart enough to understand everything he has written. To be fair though, that does not stop me from reading him or enjoying him.

Saunders has presented a very unique collection here with stories that follow many different genres and themes. The opening story, unfortunately, was probably my least favorite. The stories though progressively got better for me after that though. Each of these stories seemed to have an undercurrent of politics and freedom though which I felt were ominous commentaries on our current societal issues.

My favorite story was Mother's Day. It was so dark and yet it had so much to say about family, love, and relationships.

Liberation Day, by George Saunders
New York : Random House, forthcoming October 2022
ISBN 9780525509592 hardback, 163 pp., $28.00

Having delighted in Saunders’s A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, his engaging dive into the Russian masters of the short story, I feel utterly unable to apply his friendly and astute analytical skills to this collection of nine stories, and apologize for the failure. It might even help me gain better appreciation of the stories I simply didn’t “get” (“Ghoul,” “Elliott Spencer”), and surely would only enhance it for those I savored (the rest of them).

But this is the thing about Saunders that makes him so appealing to me. He is so… kind. Tolerant. So willing to take a shot at developing some weird idea that occurs to him, to see if he can make it work as a story. Maybe it won’t, and that’s okay. Or maybe, as the publisher is impatiently awaiting his proofed copy, Saunders will discover a sentence or an idea that will sharpen, brighten, or deepen the story, and make the tweaks at the last minute. His stories range from other-worldly little cliques of people with their own argot and technology, to the tightly-wound, anxiety-driven mind of an overwhelmed woman, a performing arts powerhouse of story-telling fueled by terrible exploitation, to a slice of life belonging to people we mostly don’t notice, and the disappointed yearning of a man for whom resolution comes too late. What runs through all of them is a deep humanity, a sincere interest in trying to understand and honestly depict what these often odd people do or say – and why. What drove Alma, the vile-tempered crone of “Mother’s Day” to become who she is? And prompts some kind of reckoning as her heart fails her, while the neighbor who loathes her perseverates on her own grievances, only to impulsively offer help – and be rebuffed, and yet fall quiet when it all gets really serious. The tragedy of the abused performers of “Liberation Day” is suffused with the deep joy they sometimes get from their own artistry; the “Mom of Bold Action” whose fictional flights of imagination send her to commit an act leading to violence, must confront her act and choose which path will cause the least harm – by her lights, anyway. And a terse, drily told tale of love in the aisles of a dollar store delicately shows us the “sparrows” who rise to romance and devotion, even as no one pays any attention.

We’re all a mess. Saunders knows this. But he helps us see why, and that sometimes it’s an accident, an oversight, a simple misfortune or bad timing. That the people around us are all carrying burdens, coping as they are able to, and may yet be capable of regret, of generosity, of transcendent moments… and of falling back into the muck. And so… we must just keep trying.

I don't always love all of Saunders stories, but I always know there's going to be solid writing. He is so well known, and writes very good short stories. This is a pretty good collection. Most fans of his will likely enjoy most these.

I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!

The author of Tenth of December is back in full swing with this short story collection. Saunders is a master of the short form.

There are few authors who can master a short story- completing a plot, creating ambience, developing realistic characters- it's hard to do in a few pages.

George Saunders is the King of short stories.

Of the nine stories in this collection, each one is a gem. Saunders creates scenarios that no one else would ever imagine, then tells stories with descriptions that make it easy for the reader to imagine.

The most memorable for me: "Love Letter"- A grandfather's letter to his grandson that is touching, and a warning for a future that may be close at hand. This almost made me cry, for both of those reasons.
"Ghoul"- an amusement-park type workplace hell that is underground- and very draconian. It reminds me of the anti-Communist propaganda stories that proliferated during the Cold War, and of Dante's Hell all at the same time.

All of the stories in this collection are intelligent, imaginative, and worked to perfection. The only complaint I have is I want more of Saunders' writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for providing an ARC.

George Saunders' latest collection is a delight. With 5 out of 9 stories already published in "The New Yorker" over a period of several years, these are mostly stories I've already read, though about a third of the book's length is devoted to the new titular story, "Liberation Day." It's a great distillation of his pet themes and obsessions, and a decent entry point for those new to his work.

“Liberation Day”

By far the longest story in the collection, "Liberation Day" is an interesting choice to start off with—it's not the most accessible piece, beginning abruptly with Capitalized Nouns whose significance is not immediately clear and spanning over 100 pages of text.

At first, I was worried this would be simply a retread of the classic “Semplica Girl Diaries” from the perspective of a victim (one of Saunders' favorite quotes to trot out: Terry Eagleton's "Capitalism plunders the sensuality of the body"), but as it unfolds it becomes more about the power of stories/art and a sort of meta-narrative of Custer’s Last Stand. Weirdly reminiscent of HBO's “Westworld” at times, but I much prefer Saunders' prose to that particular show.

“The Mom of Bold Action”

Love this story, originally in "The New Yorker," about two parents indulging their reactionary impulses after their child's safety is threatened. Very funny third-person stream-of-conscious narrative, a masterclass in shifting responsibility and blame. Again, a theme concerning the power of art (here, writing, which incites violence).

“Love Letter”

Another story originally from “The New Yorker,” wherein a well-meaning grandfather apologizes on behalf of his generation for inaction in the face of encroaching fascism. At the same time, he advises his grandson to turn away from rebellion in favor of smaller, family concerns. Sad, quiet, and complex while avoiding straightforward preachiness.

“A Thing at Work”

A multiple-POV story with 4 different characters' inner monologues, expressed through third-person. As usual, Saunders is great at recontextualizing character motivations/actions with the POV switches, challenging audience sympathies and complicating the overall picture.

Lot of pet Saunders themes here: spiraling and obsessive over-analysis, empty self-help/accountability rhetoric, petty fantasies, financial hardships, class-based aesthetics.

“Sparrow”

Slightly reminiscent of a Russian story analyzed in Saunders' "A Swim in the Pond in the Rain" in which a woman keeps adopting her suitor’s opinions. Finds the sweetness and beauty in seemingly flawed/imperfect love and invites the reader to be witness to private happiness.

“Ghoul”

A classic Saunders dystopian theme-park story, originally from “The New Yorker.” Very amusing and engaging, with a clever premise that questions the arbitrary rules and concerns that govern our fleeting lives.

“Mother’s Day”

Another great one from “The New Yorker.” A multiple-POV story where characters are brought together by a natural disaster (like “The Falls”). Petty squabbles, ego, a Buddhist view of death.

“Elliott Spencer”

From “The New Yorker,” told from the first-person perspective of a brainwashed protestor who thinks and speaks in very simple language and broken syntax. As with dystopian theme parks, Saunders has used this device before ("Fox 8" is one example) and explored wiping memories before ("Offloading for Mrs. Schwartz"), but the humanity of the story is able to transcend these familiar elements, just as the protagonist's humanity is able to transcend his own intellectual limits.

“My House”

A thoughtful, elliptical end to this collection. The shortest story in the book, and, as per a letter from the editor in the very beginning of the book, a late addition.

Another wonderfully inventive story collection from George Saunders! Many of these had already been released before, but I still enjoyed rereading them.

There is not a sub-par story in this bunch. Which is to be expected from Saunders. Re-reading those stories which had been previously published was its own thrill. There is such control in Saunders' prose, even when the characters and plot veer all over the place. You know you are being given something which has been worked to a point which just sounds and is absolutely exactly what it was always meant to be.

There have been points in time where critics or readers or just the general publishing industry has stated that short stories are dead. No one wants to read them.... But the rare experience of reading short fiction from George Saunders is not one to be missed.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Literary Fiction + Short Stories

This is a collection of short stories with different themes but mainly they are dystopian in their nature and somehow fantastical. The book contains a total of nine stories with the first one (Liberation Day) being the longest one (about 28% of the book’s length). The first story was a bit slow for my taste. It is more like a futuristic sci-fi that deals with future slavery. It is narrated from the point of view of one of the victims. It is a grim view of the future and how those people are accepting it and have their priorities totally messed up.

Love Letter was an interesting story. It is written in a letter form in which a grandfather is giving advice to his grandson about all the changes that happened to the society and the political system. By far this one was my favorite in the collection.

Some of the stories are thought-provoking and others are just forgettable. I feel all this will depend on your personal taste and preferences. The author has done a fine job in giving the needed atmosphere to all of them. The problem is that the atmosphere alone will not make them all work for you. This is not my first book by George Saunders, I read Lincoln in the Bardo a few years ago and had some problems with it besides the format of the book. The stories in Liberation Day are interesting as ideas but the actual execution of each can be a hit or miss from one person to another.

Many thanks to the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book.

Nine years after his last story collection, George Saunders returns with another collection very much in his style. He's covering a lot of the same ground that he has in the past -- especially the extremely-George-Saunders weird microgenre of "bizarre failing theme park" -- but he's so good at what he does that you don't really mind it. Not every story is a winner, but the ones that are (especially the title story, "Ghoul", and "Elliot Spencer", all three featuring particularly idiosyncratic voices) make this collection well worth a look.

George Saunders and short stories just go together. Straying close to science fiction and the supernatural before deftly turning to what it means to be human, Saunders navigates the short story medium beautifully. This collection is no different and deserves to be read, you will be doing yourself a favor.

Absolutely brilliant! What I find so amazing is the way Saunders gets into the heads of the characters—their interior monologues, their head chatter. He captures the how we talk to ourselves perfectly, the word choices, the cliches. You come away with the understanding of how a character thinks and understand why they behave the way they do. Two of the stories are blow-your-mind-strange; they will stay with me for a very long time.

Thanks to Random House, NetGalley and the author for the reveiw copy.
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I mean, I figure I shouldn't have to sell anyone on this website too hard about a new collection of George Saunders stories. The only possible reason I could imagine not getting it is if it were just a collection of stories that had already appeared in The New Yorker. Some of them have, but I would say over half of the stories are new. The new ones are great. "Liberation Day" (the title track) blew me away.

The humor, the lessons on how we should aspire to be...those are just a couple of reasons to get this fine collection.

It's hard not to hang on every word George Saunders writes.

Especially in his short fiction, where every sentence matters, stands up on the page and demands attention.

No story is alike besides the fact that they are layered in humor, heart, ridiculousness, and uncomfortable truth.

Liberation Day is just another collection in Saunders' canon that proves that he is the master of the short story, able to compel an audience in so few words.

If you love Saunders, this will be another favorite book. If you are new to the author, this will be an excellent introduction to his mixture of heart, absurdity, and social criticism. As a fan, I enjoyed this book, though did not see it as any kind of departure from form.. While this may sound like a fault of the book, the stories are still full of such care and complexity, and approach difficult ideas with nuance. Saunders is Saunders, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this wonderful book from George Saunders.
There is a reason why George Saunders is considered one of the best, if not the best, short story writers in the US. These stories are full of challenge, compassion, insight, and love. In typical George Saunders style, he invents his geography, sets a story in the future that is anticipated by our present, manages to see the problems with where we are headed as a human race, or uses the future as a metaphor for many of the issues we are dealing with today. The reader often has to have some patience in the first pages to establish time, place, what is happening, and who it is happening to. For me, that is part of the joy of reading Mr. Saunders. He is unique, in my opinion, in having large, generous opinions and observations of people in general. I once heard him tell writers that they should consider their audience intelligent beings. And he treats us as readers of these stories as intelligent enough to follow along and put the pieces together.

The first story Liberation Day is just such a story. Three beings, in the beginning we are not at all sure who they are or why they are where they are. It soon is revealed that they are probably human but held captive to entertain the friends of their captor. They are both loved and powerless. They have remarkable skills for entertaining. A group of idealists believes they are slaves held against their will and are going to set them free no matter how they do it. The story escalates, the tension grows, and we are treated to one of the entertainments: a reenactment of Custer's Last Stand which is an extraordinary piece of storytelling.

I read a couple of these reviews and I want to encourage readers to have patience. Nothing is straightforward, it is not Mr. Saunders's way. He is often cynically comical in the way of Kurt Vonnegut. Everything and anything can happen in a George Saunders story but, in the end, I am left with complete awe at how forgiving he is of the human condition, and how he leaves us with a sense of love winning in the end. He is so much more optimistic about what people can do under great strain than I am.

These are stellar stories and a magnificent collection.

I love this author and his attention to individual word usage within his sentences. It's so much fun for a reader to track why he chose certain phrasing, etc. and see where it goes by the end of his stories. He's a genius, and we're lucky to have these stories by him this year!

In a dystopian future, a man creates a reenactment of the Battle of Little Bighorn in his home using actors and singers whose past lives have been erased. The parents of a young boy assaulted by a homeless person seek revenge but target the wrong man. A grandfather writes an emotional letter to his grandson about how to view and live life. An imbalanced woman steals office supplies and winds up on the wrong end of some nasty workplace politics. Two people without much going on separately find love and strength as a couple. A ghoulish amusement park is created beneath a Colorado town for the ostensible purpose of preserving humanity. Two mothers with a long-standing feud are clueless about how they are impacting their children. A violent man whose memories have been scraped is used as a pawn other people’s political agenda. A man tries to buy the house of his dreams from a reluctant owner before he dies.

These are the themes summarizing the nine tales comprising Liberation Day by George Saunders, an author widely acknowledged as a master of the short story format. I can certainly attest to that mastery, having read and thoroughly enjoyed several past collections of his short fiction (CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, Pastoralia, Tenth of December), as well as Saunders’ absolutely brilliant exploration of how the best short stories are written and should be read (A Swim in a Pond in the Rain), based on his “other” career as a literature professor. Those were all highly satisfying books to read as they showcased just how insightful and inventive of a writer he can be, while still mixing in a surprising combination of thoughtful, disturbing, and outright funny elements for good measure.

By contrast, I found Liberation Day to fall somewhat short of the very high bar those earlier works have set. To be sure, there was really nothing wrong with the volume—Saunders’ craftsmanship and imagination are as strong as ever—but I found few of the stories to be particularly entertaining or memorable. While the myriad plotlines listed above make expressing a unifying theme difficult, it can be said that two-thirds of the tales take place in realistic settings with the other three being of the slightly-alternate-world variety. These latter works, including the title story (which, at a quarter of the book’s total length, is almost a novella), ‘Ghoul’, and ‘Elliot Spencer’, were the ones I found to be the most complete and affecting. On the other hand, ‘Love Letter’, ‘Sparrow’, and ‘My House’ were quite forgettable, despite the brief moments of poignancy they provide. So, while this uneven collection certainly merits attention, it is not the best place to go to understand just how brilliant this author is.