Fictitious Upper Peninsula town provides backdrop for collection of short stories

"North of Nelson, Volumes 1 and 2" by Hilton Everett Moore (Silver Mountain Press) is an exceptional collection of entertaining short stories that take place in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Both volumes cover a lot of dark emotional territory, dealing with life-and-death situations.

Moore, who lives in Baraga County, sets his stories in the area around the fictitious town of Nelson, covering the multi-generational Martin family, beginning in 1850.

Surviving in the wilderness is only one aspect of the anthologies; mental stability is often challenged, frequently with devastating results.

The author deftly varies his narrative with retrospective insights, offering viewpoints that smoothly shift direction as unexpected developments occur.

Some characters get away with murder — others get significant jail time; humans, chickens, cattle, dogs and wolves have violent demises.

There are numerous incidents in bars, with romantic maneuvering, emotional situations and lifestyle complications. Many scenes in the remote area examine fragile, often abusive, relationships focusing on alcoholism and communication or cultural differences.

Irony abounds. "A Beast Called Fate" has a greedy millionaire developer who wants to close a road that a lot of the villagers rely on. Protesters have little success, but there is highly satisfying conclusion.

The author adds nice touches to the collection, mixing in the importance of suppliers and party store owners, with a favorite food (pasties) and the Yooper distain for "Trolls" (those from the state's Lower Peninsula).

Logging and mining play important roles in the real life of the U.P. The same is true in Hilton Everett Moore's highly enjoyable, powerful two-volume set of dramatic short stories.

Cover and interior illustrations are by Andreea Chele.

Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing's Curious Book Shop, has reviewed Michigan books and crime novels regularly since 1987. His email address is [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Walsh: North of Nelson by Hilton Everett Moore set in Upper Peninsula