Muscle and Other Stories by Matthew Hughes

Reviewed by Robert RuntéMatthew Hughes is one of Canada’s best fantasy and science fiction writers, but as he confesses in the foreword to this collection, that has all been a mistake. What he really wanted to be was a crime writer. He was already selling to Alfred Hitchcock Magazine and had won the Crime Writers of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award for “One More Kill” (included in this volume) when circumstances beyond his control disrupted that career while simultaneously opening up opportunities in SF&F. As he says in the foreword, he went with the flow.This will come as no particular surprise to any of his SF&F fans. Much of his work revolves around master criminals stealing magical objects or master detectives solving crimes in space. And underlying it all, mystery or speculative fiction, is a dark sense of humour where plans do not always turn out as the schemers expect.

It is nevertheless great fun to read Hughes purely as a crime writer, and this collection brings together all his crime short fiction. The title story, “Muscle”, concerns a group of country club ladies providing the muscle to those who need to take down domineering husbands. Another is about the founding of Gastown from the point of view of the founder’s minder. A couple of stories feature psychopaths, three reveal issues with attempting the perfect do-it-yourself (bang!) divorce, and “Fishface and the Leg” is about a missing body. “Mean Mr. Mustard” is vaguely reminiscent of Arsenic and Old Lace, a favourite movie of mine. I am particularly fond, though, of the three stories featuring small-time criminal, Mikey, the inspiration for Hughes’ fantasy series with Raffalon the thief.

The highlight of the collection, however, is the never-before-published novella, “Modie”. Well, I say, “novella”, but more accurately, it is a screenplay adapted here into prose form. More or less. Hughes style here is so cinematic, the reading experience is like watching a movie with descriptive video (DVS) turned on. It is a thoroughly enjoyable, if slightly odd approach, but having seen how Hughes has done it, I am left wondering why other screenwriters do not follow suit. Hughes is really onto something here.

The ‘movie’ itself is quite wonderful. The story is about a down-and-out detective of the old school; his pragmatic partner; the too eager apprentice they adopt; and the young woman who shows up with a missing person case. Oh, and Neo-Nazis, a federal agent, and a ghost driving a Cadillac. It combines the naive charm of a 1930s-style comedy-romance, the chase scenes from Ghost Busters and the shoot-out gunplay of, say, Diehard. It all works surprisingly well.

Overall, I recommend Muscle and Other Stories as highly as any of his SF&F, though his very best work to date is the outstanding literary, historical novel, What the Wind Brings (see ORB, March 2021). Go read that as well if you haven’t already.

While you’re here, let me mention that Hughes has also recently released another 18 audiobooks from his backlist. If you are not already familiar with Hughes work, then having them read to you as you go about your daily chores is a great way to catch up on both chores and reading. If you like Muscle and Other Stories, I recommend starting with Baldemar or 9 Tales of Raffalon, but if you’re looking for crime writing, try Ghost Dreams (ORB, Jan 2023).

Muscle and Other Stories is independently published by the author.