Precious balms

In this eclectic volume the author opens with a spirited essay on the role of criticism, defending the value of honest, even harsh, appraisal as a vital spur to artistic growth. He likens the sting of a bad review to the challenge of a steep alpine climb, arguing that silence is the true death knell for any writer. The tone is conversational yet sharply witty, setting the stage for a series of tales that will test the reader’s willingness to confront the uncanny.

The collection gathers such memorable pieces as the myth‑laden The Great God Pan, the unsettling The House of Souls, and the dream‑woven The Hill of Dreams. Other stories venture into exotic territories—hieroglyphic mysteries, strange roads, and a peculiar blend of the mundane and the mystical in Dog and Duck. Each narrative balances eerie atmosphere with a probing curiosity about hidden dimensions, inviting listeners to linger in the shadows between the familiar and the fantastical.