Trylons and Perispheres: Short Stories

With an international reach and tales ranging from the mannered to the near-frantic, veteran story writer Kenvin offers up wild variety in his latest collection. The stories themselves, however, are uneven; several radiate energy and charm, while others are too-brief snippets dependent on colorful locale (an Irish castle) or shocking incident (a sudden suicide). The polished and poised tales include several set in India; in ""Mama Bannerjee Riding on a Peacock,"" an American migr attempts a romance under the watchful eye of a proper Hindu mother. An example of Kenvin's more frenetic style involves two linked stories about a young Christian Scientist who is obsessed with the actor Mickey Rourke. In ""The Last Appearance of Baker Tompkins,"" this obsession alienates Baker from his small-town origins, and, in ""Finding Mickey Rourke,"" sends him on a comic national search for his idol. Other tales include ""The Day After the Earthquake,"" in which competing ne'er-do-wells lay claim to being James Dean's relatives; and the title story, in which an old photograph evokes nostalgic memories of the 1939 New York World's Fair. Kenvin, author of five previous collections (Harpo's Garden), also offers some experiments in form, such as in ""Viajes Autobus Azul,"" in which a European tour guide, speaking directly to the reader, mangles several languages. While these tales have heart and are told with a capricious earnestness, perhaps less globe-trotting and more focus would have helped this collection achieve a more compelling, memorable cohesion. (May)