Coalescing around themes of family and belonging, the past's influence on the present, and the ways we define ourselves, In the Shadow of the Architect is a collection that dazzles. What happens when one's mentor is larger-than-life? How do we establish our sense of self? Where do we turn when we don't know how to make sense of the world? In these grounded, surprising stories, relatable characters are forced to grapple with who they are—and who they could become. A closeted teenager learns from the nude model in his life-drawing class what it might mean to be a gay man in Fort Worth. A lifestyle blogger looking to expand her influence hires a photographer whose work destabilizes her seemingly perfect family. A boy finds friendship in the precocious daughter of a recently deceased architect whose fame and force of personality continue to dominate their lives. In Bradley Bazzle's deft hands, these characters—on the cusp of change, willingly or not—discover truths about themselves, some of which they might regret learning.
