Written by Roger B. Thomas

Published by Ignatius Press 2012, paperback, 210 pages.

What would happen if … a society ever actually succeeded in eliminating its undesirable members? … a man was asked to travel through a land he did not know to bring a prisoner before a king he had never seen?

The tales in The Last Ugly Person and Other Stories explore these and other themes using a variety of mythological settings. Both entertaining and thought provoking, these short stories are novellas written from an unapologetically Christian viewpoint. Awash in hope, yet fully recognizing the agony of sin and destruction, these stories avoid both sugary unreality and bleak pessimism, weaving instead a rich and intricate tapestry that reflects the complex ways in which man responds to the call of Christ.

These are very well told stories that are enjoyable to read, and at the same time incarnate Christian truths in a way that is genuinely literary and quite believable, while indirectly delving in to the deeper meaning of the human personality, the mystery of evil, and the goodness of God.