Manuel Gonzales

Manuel Gonzales is an American author best known for his 2013 short story collection "The Miniature Wife and Other Stories" and his 2016 novel "The Regional Office is Under Attack!" His work frequently incorporates elements of magical realism and speculative fiction, exploring themes of relationships, identity, and human nature through unconventional narratives and surreal scenarios. His short stories have appeared in publications including McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Tin House, and The Believer. Gonzales has taught creative writing at various institutions including the University of Kentucky and is currently faculty at Bennington College. His essays and nonfiction work have been published in The New York Times and The Guardian. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University and has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin.

Readers appreciate Gonzales' imaginative storylines and ability to blend surreal elements with everyday life, particularly in "The Regional Office is Under Attack!" and "The Miniature Wife." Many note his dark humor and unpredictable narratives. Specific praise focuses on his short stories' pacing and unique premises. A Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Each story feels like a complete world despite their brief length." Common criticisms include uneven pacing in longer works and endings that some readers find unsatisfying. Several reviews mention difficulty connecting with characters or following multiple plot threads. Average Ratings: "The Regional Office is Under Attack!": - Goodreads: 3.5/5 (4,800+ ratings) - Amazon: 3.9/5 (120+ reviews) "The Miniature Wife and Other Stories": - Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,100+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.1/5 (40+ reviews) The short story collection receives higher average scores than the novel, with readers particularly praising individual stories like "Pilot, Copilot, Writer."

The Regional Office is Under Attack! (2016) A novel about a secret organization of female assassins defending the world against supernatural threats, told through multiple perspectives as their headquarters comes under siege.

The Miniature Wife and Other Stories (2013) A collection of short stories exploring surreal scenarios including a man's wife being shrunk to tiny size, a hijacked commercial flight that never lands, and a zombie who works as a police officer.

The House Is Falling Inside (2023) A novella-length story about a family dealing with unexplained phenomena as their house begins to collapse inward in impossible ways.

Kelly Link writes short stories that blend supernatural elements with everyday reality. Her work, like Gonzales', uses magical realism to explore human relationships and modern life through collections like "Get in Trouble" and "Magic for Beginners."

Karen Russell combines fantastical premises with detailed character studies in her short stories and novels. Her works, including "Swamplandia!" and "Vampires in the Lemon Grove," share Gonzales' approach to magical realism and unconventional narratives.

Kevin Brockmeier creates narratives that merge the ordinary with the supernatural through precise, measured prose. His books "The Brief History of the Dead" and "The Illumination" demonstrate his focus on human connections through speculative scenarios.

Aimee Bender writes stories that use surreal elements to examine relationships and personal identity. Her work in "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" and "Willful Creatures" shares Gonzales' interest in exploring human nature through unexpected premises.

George Saunders crafts stories that blend satirical elements with speculative fiction concepts. His collections, including "Tenth of December" and "CivilWarLand in Bad Decline," share Gonzales' ability to balance unusual scenarios with grounded character development.