I firmly believe that this book is like a precious rainbow pebble placed delicately in my mouth. Strangely enough, it is an incredibly good thing. I have an intense aspiration to devour almost every single book that this remarkable man has ever penned. At present, I am deeply engrossed in reading and thoroughly loving "Whores For Gloria". The unique marriage of prose and poetry that Vollmann so skillfully displays in both "The Rainbow Stories" and "Whores For Gloria" simply knocks the mismatched socks right off my feet. It is a literary experience that leaves me in awe and wonder, constantly craving for more of his masterful works.

The losers win again...

…or do they? The Rainbow Stories is, from my perspective, a rather challenging book to discuss as a whole, mainly regarding its taxonomy (or the lack thereof). It is an aggregation of writings that seems to both desire and be averse to classification. Is it a novel? A memoir? A short story collection? Or perhaps all of the above? After finishing it, I find myself idly flipping through its pages, wondering how I'm going to present it to a passing audience in 2200 characters or less. Fortunately, this community is populated with readers much more astute than myself, who can do the heavy cognitive lifting for me. So, I'll borrow from the inimitable @Vollmannia co-host @jordanrothacker and describe it as “a journey into a psyche, in a particular time and place”. Expertly put, Jordan, as always.

The time in question is the mid- to late-80’s, and the place is the overturned, moss and lichen-encrusted rock that is the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, where all kinds of human detritus gather. Although I'm still early in my Vollmann journey, this is by and large the darkest of his books that I've read. Despite its vivid framing device, the text is almost entirely occupied with a symphonic decay of the human soul (not to be confused with an absence of one). White supremacists, self-immolating oncological patients, engineers of torture devices, drano-wielding serial killers – these are truly some of the most unappealing characters I've had the misfortune of encountering in literature. Yet, for all their villainy, Vollmann uncomfortably positions the reader into a viewpoint of empathy, and by the end, the reader has been given at least a small window into the minds of people whom we often view as empty vessels. The have-nots, the outcasts, the counterculture left to dissolve. Vollmann loves them all, or at the very least, views them and their stories as worthy of his pen.

This is an incredible collection and yet another fundamental text in my discovery of a new favorite author. Three down… countless more to go.

I have this amazing item that I just can't seem to get enough of.

I keep giving it away as a present, but then I find myself buying it again and again.

The reason for my obsession is its simplicity.

It has a charm that is both understated and captivating.

Moreover, there is a person associated with it who clearly knows how to be with people.

He has this remarkable ability to empathize with them, to understand their feelings and needs.

And then, he brings these people to us through his writing.

I don't just like the writing, I'm completely enthralled by it.

In fact, I have this intense desire to travel with him, to be by his side and see who he meets next.

It's like he is opening up a whole new world for me, and I can't wait to explore it further.

Vollmann is truly a genius. His works have been commanding increasingly high prices. It is advisable to purchase as many of his books as possible before it becomes too late.

His writing encompasses a wide range of subjects, including hookers, skinheads, and hospitals, all presented with a sympathetic realism. I would describe Mr. Vollmann's work as "an understudy of the underbelly." You are welcome to quote me on that. However, if you do use it, make sure to give me proper credit. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to take legal action against you and use the proceeds to buy even more Vollmann books.

Vollmann's unique perspective and masterful storytelling make his books a must-have for any serious literature enthusiast. Don't miss out on the opportunity to own these literary gems.

The Rainbow Stories uses skinheads, whores, drunks, tramps, and an array of off-kilter faces from the Old Testament and San Francisco as its source material. It weaves all kinds of wonderful tales in the light and shadows of American dark mythology. Vollmann, the journalist in many of these stories, shows that he never allows his narrative to devolve into judgment when dealing with the dirtiness of his characters.

Even when it gets as intimate as receiving a limpid expert blow job from a prostitute, this distance enables these shaved heads of hatred, prostitutes, tramps, and killers to develop independently from an intrusive and meddling focalization by Vollmann. It gives them the freedom to be read as they truly are: broken, beautiful, and fallen.

However, not everything floats, crashes, or burns up so gracefully. Some stories do give off a whiff of, "not sure what you're doing here, Bill." Yet Vollmann often shines, presenting true and messy accounts in his ultra-stylized stories of love and vulnerability as the stories explore his personal life. These moments of intimacy provide the collection with an emotive centering point, a nice counterbalance to the harsh and brave authenticity of Vollmann's San Francisco streets.

The original article is not provided, so I can't rewrite and expand it specifically. However, I can give you a general example to show you how to do it.

Let's assume the original article is: "The cat is sleeping on the mat."

Here is the rewritten and expanded version:

The adorable cat is peacefully sleeping on the soft mat.

It looks so cozy and content.

Its fur is smooth and shiny, and its little paws are tucked neatly under its body.

The mat provides a warm and comfortable place for the cat to take a nap.

It seems that nothing can disturb its slumber.

Maybe it had a busy day exploring the house and now it's time for some rest.

Watching the cat sleep is a very relaxing sight.

It makes you feel calm and at ease.

If you can provide the original article, I will be able to give you a more accurate and detailed rewritten and expanded version.

Pero Mesac sentía pena por Sadrac y Abednego, quienes también tendrían que reunirse con las llamas, que ellos no amaban.

De modo que mientras sus hermanos aguardaban su destino con una exaltación desbocada, él no se libraba de esa clase particular de ansiedad culposa que va reptando por las vértebras lumbares. Y una noche tuvo un mal sueño.

Le dio la impresión de que subía la montaña corriendo hacia un lugar que únicamente él y sus ovejas y sus hermanos conocían. Y allí estaba Sadrac, apoyado en su cayado, con la larga barba negra agitándose al viento. Todos los hermanos tenían barbas negras y eran de tez morena.

Y Sadrac le preguntó en aquel lugar de flores danzarinas: "¿Cuál es el nombre de Dios?" Y Mesac se miró estúpidamente las sandalias, pues no era capaz de recordarlo al pecar. No se podía mantener el nombre de YAHVÉ en la cabeza sin importar cuánto te esforzaras.

Y Sadrac dijo, llorando: "¡Hermano, ya no eres uno de los nuestros! ¡Ya no te sabes el Nombre!" Y, lanzando exclamaciones, expulsó a Mesac de la montaña a pedradas.

This dream left Mesac in a state of turmoil. He couldn't help but question his own faith and his place among his brethren. The fear and guilt that had been lurking within him now seemed to consume him. He wondered if he had truly strayed from the path of righteousness.

I didn't have the slightest idea that fiction could achieve what Vollman accomplishes. It's rather strange because I obtained this book due to the comparisons made to Pynchon and Burroughs. That, and the fact that I had recently watched Romper Stomper.

He is an infinitely captivating writer. One can only imagine that he would be an awkward yet interesting dinner guest.

Particularly, these stories have remained firmly in my mind for over 20 years. They have left an indelible mark, constantly resurfacing in my thoughts and memories.

The way Vollman weaves his tales, the unique perspectives he presents, and the vividness with which he brings his characters and settings to life are truly remarkable.

His writing style is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it impossible to put his work down once you start.

These stories are not just words on a page; they are a journey into a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar, a world that challenges our perceptions and makes us question the very nature of reality.

Even after all these years, I find myself returning to Vollman's work, eager to explore his fictional universes once again.

I didn't like it. I didn't understand it and I didn't appreciate its style.

For me, this reading has been a great struggle.

It seems that the content was too complex or perhaps not presented in a way that I could easily grasp.

The style might have been too unfamiliar or not to my taste.

Despite my efforts, I found it difficult to engage with the text and get much out of it.

Maybe with more time and a different approach, I could have had a better understanding and a more positive experience.

But as it stands, this particular reading left me feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.

I hope that in the future, I will come across readings that are more enjoyable and easier to understand.

I didn't manage to complete all of these. I have possessed a signed copy for a considerable number of years. However, after listening to Vollmann's captivating interview on the Trueanon podcast, I made the decision to finally read it. In the past, I have truly relished some of his work, especially the Seven Dreams series and Europe Central. But in this instance, I discovered the fragmented style to be dissatisfying and tiresome. Given that this is some of Vollmann's earliest work, I had the impression that his temporal layering technique appeared underdeveloped and muddled. The story of "Scintillant Orange" - an anachronistic retelling of the Nebudchenezzar story in the Book of Daniel - in particular, really threw me off balance.

It seems that Vollmann was still in the process of honing his craft and finding his unique voice at this stage. While there are glimmers of his talent and creativity, the overall execution in this particular work left something to be desired. Perhaps with more experience and refinement, his later works would achieve a higher level of artistic excellence.

Read pretty selectively so not gonna leave a rating.

I am a big fan of Vollmann's Tenderloin writings. There is something truly captivating about the way he portrays that particular world. However, I'm not such a big fan of some of the rest of his stuff.

You know how people say that writers should write what they'd in turn wanna read? Well, I think Vollmann should consider writing a little bit more for others than himself probably. Maybe he could expand his focus and explore different themes and perspectives that would appeal to a wider audience. It's not that his current work is bad, but it seems a bit too self-indulgent at times.

By writing more for others, Vollmann could potentially reach a larger readership and have a greater impact. He has the talent and the ability, but perhaps he just needs to shift his mindset a little. I'm still hopeful that he'll produce more work that I can truly love and appreciate.

Serial killers, those terrifying individuals who take lives without remorse, lurk in the shadows. Neo-Nazis, with their hateful ideology, spread venom and discord. Prostitutes, living on the fringes of society, engage in a trade that is often misunderstood. And assassins in Central Asia, preying on unsuspecting travelers, add an element of danger to an already mysterious region.

This collection is truly a strange one, filled with characters and situations that are far from the ordinary. There are no college professors here, no tales of coming of age. Instead, we have a diverse cast of individuals, each with their own motives and secrets.

It makes one wonder about the hidden underbelly of society, the places and people that we often choose to ignore. What drives these serial killers, neo-Nazis, prostitutes, and assassins? What are the stories behind their actions? These are the questions that this collection of oddities raises, and it is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.