LE PORTRAIT MAGAZINE MARCH-SEPTEMBER ISSUE | Page 15

Hall of Small Mammals by Thomas Pierce
When I first encountered Thomas Pierce’s writing, it set off quiet and
powerful earthquakes in my brain. His stories have the power to bring
you immediately into their world, and then turn you upside down,
sideways, and transformed. Reading his manuscript for the first time, I
felt the tension and anticipation (and greediness) that an editor feels
when they know… this is one I must publish. This is a voice that needs
to be delighted in, needs to be heard.
Everyone who has read Hall of Small Mammals—the collection which
includes this story—has confided in me that, of course, this story or that
story was the best one, the stand-out of the collection. And it would
always be a different story. Every story in this collection is someone’s
favorite, including this one, “Videos of People Falling Down.” I hadn’t
ever seen this reaction before, and it speaks to the incredible diversity
and brilliance of Thomas’ writing. The striking thing to me was this
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