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Once upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties
The narratives in this collection paint a picture of the 1950s. Many of the elements of this culture will repel: racism, sexism and homophobia, for example. Yet this was an era in which neither the threat of terrorism nor the scourge of AIDS existed for the average American. These stories deal with love and death, triumphs and defeats, adolescent angst and the tension between ethnicity and assimilation. Some present adventure on the high seas as well as a glimpse of Havana night life on the eve of the Castro Revolution.
132 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2010
23 people want to read
About the author
Clark Zlotchew
19 books39 followersClark M. Zlotchew
He has had 17 books published:
Zlotchew and his wife Marilyn live in rural Chautauqua County, N.Y. State.
He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve at age 17 as Apprentice Seaman, and received an Honorable Discharge as Chief Petty Officer at age 36. His experiences at sea and in ports of call have strongly influenced his fiction.
Zlotchew has traveled widely on five continents, speaks Spanish fluently, French somewhat rustily, gets along in Portuguese and Italian, speaks some Japanese and Russian (and learning more), limited amounts of Arabic, Hebrew, German, and who knows what else if the situation should arise.
He has had a highly diverse set of careers, ranging from sales/production liaison for the export Dept. of a large liquor manufacturer in New York to coordinating an educational program for Spanish-speaking seasonal workers.
He is now SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Spanish and Latin-American literatures. He earned the Ph.D. in Romance Languages & Literatures from SUNY Binghamton.
BOOKS (17):
FICTION:
Military/action novel, TALON FORCE: DIRE STRAITS, under pseudonym Cliff Garnett, 2001.
Espionage/thriller novel, THE CAUCASIAN MENACE, 2010.
Collection of short stories, ONCE UPON A DECADE: TALES OF THE FIFTIES (FINALIST in Next Generation INDIE BOOK AWARDS, Short Story Category, 2011).
ACADEMIC BOOKS: These include translations from Spanish of short stories and poetry by Nobel Laureates, interviews with Borges and 10 other Latin-American writers, literary criticism of Spanish and Latin-American authors and books teaching Spanish at various levels.
SHORT FICTION IN MAGAZINES: Zlotchew's short stories have been published in magazines: his English versions in the U.S. and his Spanish versions in Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay, and one story, in both the English and Spanish versions, has been published on the Internet.
He has had 17 books published:
Zlotchew and his wife Marilyn live in rural Chautauqua County, N.Y. State.
He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve at age 17 as Apprentice Seaman, and received an Honorable Discharge as Chief Petty Officer at age 36. His experiences at sea and in ports of call have strongly influenced his fiction.
Zlotchew has traveled widely on five continents, speaks Spanish fluently, French somewhat rustily, gets along in Portuguese and Italian, speaks some Japanese and Russian (and learning more), limited amounts of Arabic, Hebrew, German, and who knows what else if the situation should arise.
He has had a highly diverse set of careers, ranging from sales/production liaison for the export Dept. of a large liquor manufacturer in New York to coordinating an educational program for Spanish-speaking seasonal workers.
He is now SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Spanish and Latin-American literatures. He earned the Ph.D. in Romance Languages & Literatures from SUNY Binghamton.
BOOKS (17):
FICTION:
Military/action novel, TALON FORCE: DIRE STRAITS, under pseudonym Cliff Garnett, 2001.
Espionage/thriller novel, THE CAUCASIAN MENACE, 2010.
Collection of short stories, ONCE UPON A DECADE: TALES OF THE FIFTIES (FINALIST in Next Generation INDIE BOOK AWARDS, Short Story Category, 2011).
ACADEMIC BOOKS: These include translations from Spanish of short stories and poetry by Nobel Laureates, interviews with Borges and 10 other Latin-American writers, literary criticism of Spanish and Latin-American authors and books teaching Spanish at various levels.
SHORT FICTION IN MAGAZINES: Zlotchew's short stories have been published in magazines: his English versions in the U.S. and his Spanish versions in Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay, and one story, in both the English and Spanish versions, has been published on the Internet.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 30, 2013
"The narratives in this collection paint a picture of the 1950s. Many of the elements of this culture will repel: racism, sexism and homophobia, for example. Yet this was an era in which neither the threat of terrorism nor the scourge of AIDS existed for the average American. These stories deal with love and death, triumphs and defeats, adolescent angst and the tension between ethnicity and assimilation. Some present adventure on the high seas as well as a glimpse of Havana night life on the eve of the Castro Revolution"
When one thinks of the 1950's...Ozzie and Harriet, the emergence of the suburbs and a period of great innocence often comes to mind...yet below the surface..like all times..the reality was quite different. In his stunning book of stories, Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties, Clark Zlotchew, mines the lives and issues lived but not spoken of and comes up with literary gold.
The stories are not populated by sitcom pops and kitchen moms..rather we are introduced to a wide diversity of people, with inner demons that existed before the 1950's and certainly after..what makes "Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties" so very compelling is that in the context of the 1950's..and the social restraints that existed...the inner battles and social issues highlighted are so deeply effected and affecting.
Each tale transports the reader into an existance that rings true..often too true..which makes for a powerful read. Mr. Zlotchew's command of the art of prose never rings false, and his stories are character driven, in that he is able to create fully realized people- not stereotypes from an era that,to this very day, is often defined by stereotypes. While never preaching, Mr. Zlotchew is able to tackle the most sensitive of social issues in a manner that forces the reader to think and ponder..while at the same time - being fully investing emotionally in each story...a very facinating and worthwhile read indeed.
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
When one thinks of the 1950's...Ozzie and Harriet, the emergence of the suburbs and a period of great innocence often comes to mind...yet below the surface..like all times..the reality was quite different. In his stunning book of stories, Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties, Clark Zlotchew, mines the lives and issues lived but not spoken of and comes up with literary gold.
The stories are not populated by sitcom pops and kitchen moms..rather we are introduced to a wide diversity of people, with inner demons that existed before the 1950's and certainly after..what makes "Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties" so very compelling is that in the context of the 1950's..and the social restraints that existed...the inner battles and social issues highlighted are so deeply effected and affecting.
Each tale transports the reader into an existance that rings true..often too true..which makes for a powerful read. Mr. Zlotchew's command of the art of prose never rings false, and his stories are character driven, in that he is able to create fully realized people- not stereotypes from an era that,to this very day, is often defined by stereotypes. While never preaching, Mr. Zlotchew is able to tackle the most sensitive of social issues in a manner that forces the reader to think and ponder..while at the same time - being fully investing emotionally in each story...a very facinating and worthwhile read indeed.
AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
August 26, 2011
Story collections are always interesting to read, they are not always done well but when they are, it creates a great effect. This is one of those that work really well.
The 50s are represented here in more ways than one, although Mr. Zlotchew seems to focus a lot on the controversial aspects of that time period. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t consider this a fault, on the contrary, I think he manages to convey the grittiness without overdoing it and without boring the reader.
The collection begins with a story that involves a little magic, the only one that has a bit of supernatural quality to it. It is handled well and it leaves the reader wondering just what happened to Andreotti, one of the main characters. A standout tale is “Storm Warning”, it shows the permeating racist atmosphere in the era, but it is not shoved in the reader’s throat. The story begins to turn dark slowly, reaching a climax of violence, then calming once again. It’s a great example of the little jewels that form this collection.
The writing is impeccable, the pacing taut. There are some very witty dialogues and scenes that capture your attention and won’t let you go. This is a book that will linger in the reader’s mind with its beauty and its darkness. I can easily recommend this to anyone.
The 50s are represented here in more ways than one, although Mr. Zlotchew seems to focus a lot on the controversial aspects of that time period. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t consider this a fault, on the contrary, I think he manages to convey the grittiness without overdoing it and without boring the reader.
The collection begins with a story that involves a little magic, the only one that has a bit of supernatural quality to it. It is handled well and it leaves the reader wondering just what happened to Andreotti, one of the main characters. A standout tale is “Storm Warning”, it shows the permeating racist atmosphere in the era, but it is not shoved in the reader’s throat. The story begins to turn dark slowly, reaching a climax of violence, then calming once again. It’s a great example of the little jewels that form this collection.
The writing is impeccable, the pacing taut. There are some very witty dialogues and scenes that capture your attention and won’t let you go. This is a book that will linger in the reader’s mind with its beauty and its darkness. I can easily recommend this to anyone.
December 2, 2012
Good short stories have an emotional impact that conveys the essence of a psyche, time, place, and people. Author Clark Zlotchew accomplishes this in spades. Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties is a collection of short stories, linked by the mindset, politics, events and social constraints of that era. Many of the stories share the same characters, at varying ages during the decade, imbuing the reader with a sense of familiarity.
The fifties were a time of racial segregation, the Korean War, Castro’s overthrow of the Cuban government and, preceding the sexual revolution, rigid gender roles and sexual taboos. Young men feigned machismo and sexual experience, to conform to ‘manly’ standards. Young unmarried women proclaimed their virginity, even when nonexistent, to avoid social disgrace. All of these elements are contained within the confines of these stories.
Zlotchew gives us several glimpses of coming-of-age in the fifties, from a little boy’s first experiences interacting with girls and a teenager’s angst over unrequited love, to the peer pressure of young men to live up to a ‘manly’ standard and the fear of not doing so. There is the paradox, for the male and female characters, of trying to conform to social norms, in order to be accepted by others, while trying to break away from them for the sake of sanity.
Racial tensions in the South are depicted when a naïve white sailor learns the hard way about the convention of segregation, when he wants his black buddy to go on shore leave with him. The story of turbulence and subterfuge of a Latin revolution adds an additional socio-political layer to the psychological and social chaos of the era.
There seems to be a progression from an initial innocence, to an increasing disillusionment with life, that is dealt with in varying ways by the characters. Dreams and expectations are dashed, on personal, social and political levels, giving a sense of universal upheaval and uncertainty. Some handle it better than others. Whether lost or shaken up by events, the characters are all searching for sure footing on ground that keeps shifting under their feet. As in life, some find a way to keep their balance on unstable ground, and others don’t.
One story, about an absolutely reprehensible character, has an ending so powerful that it changes the reader’s disgust to pity for that lost soul. While many of the stories prompt a shift in the reader’s perspective and sentiment over the course of the tale, “Going for the Gold” is notable for it in the extreme, while others are more subtle.
These incisive slices of life in the fifties (some in retrospect) yield a much more realistic snapshot of the times than the Father Knows Best or Ozzie and Harriet TV shows reflected. For those of us who were there, these stories are poignantly nostalgic and remind us how far we’ve come, even if we still have a long way to go. For those who did not live in the fifties, they are a fly-on-the-wall view of what went on in the lives, minds, and hearts of those who did.
Zlotchew is especially skilled in crafting these short gems in each of which he manages to stuff an entire world. I highly recommend Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties, as an educational experience, on many levels.
The fifties were a time of racial segregation, the Korean War, Castro’s overthrow of the Cuban government and, preceding the sexual revolution, rigid gender roles and sexual taboos. Young men feigned machismo and sexual experience, to conform to ‘manly’ standards. Young unmarried women proclaimed their virginity, even when nonexistent, to avoid social disgrace. All of these elements are contained within the confines of these stories.
Zlotchew gives us several glimpses of coming-of-age in the fifties, from a little boy’s first experiences interacting with girls and a teenager’s angst over unrequited love, to the peer pressure of young men to live up to a ‘manly’ standard and the fear of not doing so. There is the paradox, for the male and female characters, of trying to conform to social norms, in order to be accepted by others, while trying to break away from them for the sake of sanity.
Racial tensions in the South are depicted when a naïve white sailor learns the hard way about the convention of segregation, when he wants his black buddy to go on shore leave with him. The story of turbulence and subterfuge of a Latin revolution adds an additional socio-political layer to the psychological and social chaos of the era.
There seems to be a progression from an initial innocence, to an increasing disillusionment with life, that is dealt with in varying ways by the characters. Dreams and expectations are dashed, on personal, social and political levels, giving a sense of universal upheaval and uncertainty. Some handle it better than others. Whether lost or shaken up by events, the characters are all searching for sure footing on ground that keeps shifting under their feet. As in life, some find a way to keep their balance on unstable ground, and others don’t.
One story, about an absolutely reprehensible character, has an ending so powerful that it changes the reader’s disgust to pity for that lost soul. While many of the stories prompt a shift in the reader’s perspective and sentiment over the course of the tale, “Going for the Gold” is notable for it in the extreme, while others are more subtle.
These incisive slices of life in the fifties (some in retrospect) yield a much more realistic snapshot of the times than the Father Knows Best or Ozzie and Harriet TV shows reflected. For those of us who were there, these stories are poignantly nostalgic and remind us how far we’ve come, even if we still have a long way to go. For those who did not live in the fifties, they are a fly-on-the-wall view of what went on in the lives, minds, and hearts of those who did.
Zlotchew is especially skilled in crafting these short gems in each of which he manages to stuff an entire world. I highly recommend Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties, as an educational experience, on many levels.
November 18, 2011
Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties is a collection of stories by Clark Zlotchew that take the reader on a journey back into the 1950s. I met Clark on GoodReads; after trading a few messages about book reviews I had posted and quotations we both liked, he invited me to review his book. My review copy was generously provided by Clark, free of charge.
Once Upon a Decade opens with a Foreward setting the stage for the stories to come. Zlotchew takes the time to remind (or inform) readers of the state of the world in the 1950s – a time before computers and AIDS, when record players, typewriters, racism and hats were de rigeur and ladies were expected to act like ladies (and gentlemen like gentlemen). I found this set-up to be a great introduction to the stories that followed, particularly since the attitudes and language that are found in most of them are typical of the times and might otherwise seem forced or even offensive.
My previous experience of the ‘50s was pretty much limited to a few movies and Happy Days reruns, a show I followed with a quasi-religious passion when I was a kid. I so wanted to date The Fonz, and I was a little bit crushed when I realized that I’d always be a Joanie – even though I really wanted to be a Pinky Tuscadero.
Zlotchew’s 1950s are not Richie Cunningham’s 1950s. While there are some moments that are evocative of the gang hanging out at Arnold’s, they are few and far between. This world is much darker, and a lot more grown up – even when the subject matter uis high school, as in “Ladies Man”. These 1950s are populated by sex and violence – topics that may have been considered too taboo for open discussion in the 1950s and for television recreations in the 1970s, but were likely as common in “real” life then as they are today, albeit in different forms.
Rose-colored glasses pictures of history are so common; these stories don’t always paint a particularly flattering picture of the world of the ‘50s, but they do provide a refreshing glimpse into the past and a reminder that the good ol’ days weren’t always good. Don’t get me wrong – there are good and happy moments, but you have to hunt for them, pushing aside the frustrations and emotions of youth and youth-gone-by to get there.
Zlotchew goes out of his way to evoke a feeling with these stories. They are presented almost as vignettes, rather than individual stories. Characters overlap, as do settings and even some of the plotlines, in a manner that at first I found confusing and even a little derivative, but that I now believe was intentional. It might not have been my choice for an overarching organizational strategy, but I can see why he chose it, and believe that it works overall – particularly if the goal of the book is to paint a picture of “real” life in days gone by.
If you’re looking to take a trip down a yellow bricked nostalgia road, you may find yourself disappointed; if you’re looking for a grittier snapshot of the past, you are much more likely to like what you see.
Once Upon a Decade opens with a Foreward setting the stage for the stories to come. Zlotchew takes the time to remind (or inform) readers of the state of the world in the 1950s – a time before computers and AIDS, when record players, typewriters, racism and hats were de rigeur and ladies were expected to act like ladies (and gentlemen like gentlemen). I found this set-up to be a great introduction to the stories that followed, particularly since the attitudes and language that are found in most of them are typical of the times and might otherwise seem forced or even offensive.
My previous experience of the ‘50s was pretty much limited to a few movies and Happy Days reruns, a show I followed with a quasi-religious passion when I was a kid. I so wanted to date The Fonz, and I was a little bit crushed when I realized that I’d always be a Joanie – even though I really wanted to be a Pinky Tuscadero.
Zlotchew’s 1950s are not Richie Cunningham’s 1950s. While there are some moments that are evocative of the gang hanging out at Arnold’s, they are few and far between. This world is much darker, and a lot more grown up – even when the subject matter uis high school, as in “Ladies Man”. These 1950s are populated by sex and violence – topics that may have been considered too taboo for open discussion in the 1950s and for television recreations in the 1970s, but were likely as common in “real” life then as they are today, albeit in different forms.
Rose-colored glasses pictures of history are so common; these stories don’t always paint a particularly flattering picture of the world of the ‘50s, but they do provide a refreshing glimpse into the past and a reminder that the good ol’ days weren’t always good. Don’t get me wrong – there are good and happy moments, but you have to hunt for them, pushing aside the frustrations and emotions of youth and youth-gone-by to get there.
Zlotchew goes out of his way to evoke a feeling with these stories. They are presented almost as vignettes, rather than individual stories. Characters overlap, as do settings and even some of the plotlines, in a manner that at first I found confusing and even a little derivative, but that I now believe was intentional. It might not have been my choice for an overarching organizational strategy, but I can see why he chose it, and believe that it works overall – particularly if the goal of the book is to paint a picture of “real” life in days gone by.
If you’re looking to take a trip down a yellow bricked nostalgia road, you may find yourself disappointed; if you’re looking for a grittier snapshot of the past, you are much more likely to like what you see.
October 16, 2011
Once Upon A Decade: Tales of the Fifties offers a diverse collection of short stories. They broach such subjects as segregation, young love, homophobia, navy life, adventure and teen mischief. As with any collection of short stories, there were some I truly enjoyed and others I did not.
Zlotchew is a wonderful writer and delivers an engaging short story. He masterfully controls his stories and quickly draws the reader in. Many of the tales had some of the same characters in them, helping to add more depth and familiarity. Some of the writing contained a dark, gritty edge and touched on unpleasant subjects. A few of the stories surrounded Navy life and shore leave; state side and abroad. Zlotchew captured the dialect of his characters making their conversations authentic. Three stories I enjoyed were Storm Warning, Witch's Brew and Going For Gold. This was an engaging, thought provoking read and very true to the era it represents. Once Upon a Decade was selected as one of three finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. (In the short story category.) I would recommend this to anyone interested in the setting and culture of the fifties.
I want to thank author Clark Zlotchew and Comfort Publishing for the ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review.
Zlotchew is a wonderful writer and delivers an engaging short story. He masterfully controls his stories and quickly draws the reader in. Many of the tales had some of the same characters in them, helping to add more depth and familiarity. Some of the writing contained a dark, gritty edge and touched on unpleasant subjects. A few of the stories surrounded Navy life and shore leave; state side and abroad. Zlotchew captured the dialect of his characters making their conversations authentic. Three stories I enjoyed were Storm Warning, Witch's Brew and Going For Gold. This was an engaging, thought provoking read and very true to the era it represents. Once Upon a Decade was selected as one of three finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. (In the short story category.) I would recommend this to anyone interested in the setting and culture of the fifties.
I want to thank author Clark Zlotchew and Comfort Publishing for the ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review.
June 3, 2015
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. I loved it. the book is a compilation of short stories. The characters in each are complex and flawed. Zlotchew dives into the psyche of the characters and the consciousness of the time and place of each story. The dark side of human nature makes for compelling stories and Zlotchew is a master storyteller.
April 18, 2012
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read
Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties: FINALIST in the NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS, short-story category, 2011.
Clark Zlotchew’s Short Story Collection "Once Upon A Decade: Tales of the Fifties" Finalist in Next Generation Indie Awards
May 24, 2011 -- “Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties,” a collection of Clark Zlotchew’s short stories has been selected as one of three finalists in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the short story category.
bookshelves
read
Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties: FINALIST in the NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS, short-story category, 2011. For full story, click on to: http://www.prweb.com//releases/2011/5/pr...
To purchase from Amazon, click on to:
http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Decad......
You might want to read the reviews of this book on Amazon (or read one of them on the page for this book in http://www.clarkzlotchew.com )
read
Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties: FINALIST in the NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS, short-story category, 2011.
Clark Zlotchew’s Short Story Collection "Once Upon A Decade: Tales of the Fifties" Finalist in Next Generation Indie Awards
May 24, 2011 -- “Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties,” a collection of Clark Zlotchew’s short stories has been selected as one of three finalists in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the short story category.
bookshelves
read
Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties: FINALIST in the NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS, short-story category, 2011. For full story, click on to: http://www.prweb.com//releases/2011/5/pr...
To purchase from Amazon, click on to:
http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Decad......
You might want to read the reviews of this book on Amazon (or read one of them on the page for this book in http://www.clarkzlotchew.com )
October 31, 2011
Once Upon a Decade: Tales of the Fifties: FINALIST in the NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS, short-story category, 2011. For full story, click on to: http://www.prweb.com//releases/2011/5...
To purchase from Amazon, click on to:
http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Decad...
You might want to read the reviews of this book on Amazon (or read one of them on the page for this book in http://clarkzlotchew.com )
To purchase from Amazon, click on to:
http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Decad...
You might want to read the reviews of this book on Amazon (or read one of them on the page for this book in http://clarkzlotchew.com )
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews