"The title story in The Power of the Dark Goddess thrusts the reader quickly into the abject abyss of a poverty-stricken rickshaw puller. The unanswered question of whether the goddess Kali will answer his fervent prayers spellbinds the reader until the very end. Bryjak's stories turn on the intrigue and mysteries of the human condition — greed, the cruel realities of adulthood, even the challenge of love-making for the last two people on earth."

Bryjak, famed in our neck of the woods for his cogent, hard-hitting, and always provocative opinion pieces in the local newspaper, has turned his kind but unsparing eye to fiction, and with brilliant results. These stories, short and shorter, recall the best of O.Henry and Twain. They' re funny, dark, wide-ranging, and always entertaining. Do your brain a favor. Read this book!

"The Power of the Dark Goddess" is but one of ten short stories included in George J. Bryjak's work of fiction bearing the same name. This story takes place in Calcutta where we meet a lower caste Hindu rickshaw driver, Ajay Sinha who appeals to the Goddess Kali for help. Kali is a mother goddess and the wife of the Lord Shiva. She is a wild goddess who can be kind and motherly or a fearsome, insatiable, killing machine. In desperation, Ajay asks Kali for modest economic assistance. Not until the very end of the story do we learn how the goddess responds.

My second favorite offering is "Alexei and the Boy." Here we find a young Russian soldier who has been captured in Afghanistan by rebel forces. This tale shows humanity at its best, and its worst. We witness a personal struggle against the impersonal nature of war. This is one of those stories where you know what you would like the outcome to be, but are afraid your hopes will be dashed.

In addition to conventional short stories, this book contains a new genre of fiction many readers won’t recognize. 55-Fiction has a discernible beginning and end, all compressed to a maximum of 55 words. Surprise! Surprise! It works coming from the creative mind of Bryjak who has included 30 of these ultra short stories in his book. The 55 word format may be perfect for individuals who have lost the reading habit and want to dip their literary toes in the waters once again.

I want to take a moment here to congratulate Bryjak on his writing skills. He is easy to read and doesn't waste words telling an engaging story. His imagination and plot development remind me somewhat of an early Stephen King, especially when King was a prolific writer of short stories. Don't be frightened by the cover of The Power of the Dark Goddess and Other Stories. Just open the book, start reading, and enjoy.

"Though Bryjak's stories are short and pithy, they nevertheless delve into some of humanity's deepest struggles against weakness of moral character. With disturbing acuity they focus on some of our closest held doubts about choices of conscience. He also successfully enchants us with lighter fare, similarly revealing the foibles of humanity, but with a humor that leaves us smiling instead of squirming. A fearless and intriguing writer, Bryjak both frightens and delights the reader."

"George Bryjak has brought light to the imagination with his book Dark Goddess. Taking us to alternate futures, unexpected twists in the roads of life, and tiny, electric captured moments in his 55 Fiction pieces, he delights his readers with quick wit, confident observation, and a sure knowledge of the startling life possibilities we ought to visit. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy whimsy, lessons, and truths made fresh with Bryjak's clever turn of phrase and energetic spirit."

"In The Power of the Dark Goddess and Other Stories, Bryjak ignites the reader's psyche by bringing us into the 'light' and 'dark' side of human behavior. As the author stirs his vat of tales, he opens our eyes and mind to what lies ahead of humankind on the path of life's journey. His writing style is unique and interesting. One has the opportunity to gaze beyond the written word to grasp an inspirational reality. He leaves you wanting more. I recommend this fine offering to the literary world for a delightful read."

The Power of the Dark Goddess is a very entertaining and unusual collection of short stories. It begins with an interpretation of post-apocalyptic America, and the unproductive second coming of Adam and Eve. In further stories, we see the mental destruction caused to a man by a taunting spam email, as well as a foreboding tale of the legacy of cloning when mixed with religious fervor. The title story, The Power of the Dark Goddess, involves religious and social conflict in the chaotic streets of India. Finally, the author presents several examples of a new genre called 55-fiction: subtly witty little gems of a maximum of 55 words.

All the stories are well-written and extremely entertaining. While most have a science-fiction feel, they remain accessible to all, with clever twists in absorbing plots. The short story format requires developing interesting characters quickly, and George Bryjak does a good job of this, with instantly recognizable types that expand along with the plot. The only disappointment here, if you could call it that, is that the stories were too short, as some were so interesting as to leave the reader wanting. But then, considering the skill and wit necessary to create 55-fiction, perhaps that is the author's true talent.

A wonderful collection that gave this reviewer a great afternoon of reading; I strongly recommend The Power of the Dark Goddess and Other Stories.

George Bryjak’s collection of short stories are laugh-out-loud funny, foreboding, and come at the reader from all angles. Having read one you probably won’t be able to stop. Sorry About That is a resurrection of the classic Adam and Eve scenario. Adam is lonesome and Eve seems to be the only other person alive. God, it appears, has killed everything and everyone to rid the world of evil, andis giving the last two humans a fresh start. This is a very clever, well thought out, tightly constructed tale.

Another excellent story is My Marie, a short yarn with an ending that caught me completely by surprise. Marie is deeply troubled as she longs for the most delectable croissants money can buy. Henri Dumont is determined to do whatever it takes to satisfy her craving. This is a highly entertaining, gem of a story, and one can all but smell the croissants.

The "55-Fiction" pieces are as enjoyable to read as the longer stories in this collection. The Interview, for example, is fantastic with a narrative that immediately hooks the reader. Lost Melody is also very lovely, flying pianos across a wide meadow and a rampaging bear. Perhaps this story is a metaphor. Orders is sinister, but also amusing.

Numerous mysteries of human existence are encapsulated in these stories. The stark realities of life are depicted with enough humour to dispel the grim aspects of daily life. What a great imagination this man has! Read and enjoy. A collection of stories not to be missed.