Let the Scaffolds Fall

The stories in Let the Scaffolds Fall feature characters at different stages of their lives, thematically linked by the emotional and psychological demands they experience striving for achievement and attempting to connect past with present. In one story, for instance, titled "Chris," a man looking for work believes he's found his meal ticket when he's hired at a tech company while a new co-worker refuses to accept his presence. In another story, "Fragments of a Lost Patient," a therapist returns from vacation and discovers one of her patients has died, though it's unclear if it was suicide or an accident. In the final story, "The Last Dictator," an actor from the United States assumes leadership of a foreign country based solely on his resemblance to, and ability to play, the dying dictator.

Shaun Rouser is a writer based in Chicago. His chapbook collection of short stories, Family Affair, was published by Red Bird Chapbooks, and more of his fiction has appeared in Colloquium, RIC Journal, The Rupture, and deLuge Journal. His one-act play, American Meat, was published in Fleas on the Dog. He previously co-founded and served as co-editor-in-chief of online arts and humanities journal The Blackstone Review, where he also contributed fiction and non-fiction.

"Rouser's writing is marked by its vivid imagery and keen insight into the subtleties of daily experiences. In this collection, Rouser explores themes of identity, harassment, and the often surreal nature of power dynamics. The prose is engaging, with detailed descriptions that bring scenes to life, such as a meticulous shaving routine or the anxious observations that follow. Sharp and authentic. Rouser's ability to weave mundane occurrences with deeper psychological undercurrents makes this collection compelling. Let the Scaffolds Fall is a testament to Rouser's talent in portraying the often overlooked intricacies of everyday life; both a mirror and a magnifier of the small yet significant moments of life."—Alien Buddha Press

"The stories of Let the Scaffolds Fall by Shaun Rouser are subtle, nuanced, sophisticated—in the best possible ways. He seamlessly builds his literary worlds atom-by-atom. There is a certain type of writing that wonderfully captures the poignancy of the everyday, and the stories of Let the Scaffolds Fall achieve just that. Rouser’s tales are populated by ordinary people leading ordinary lives, but often illuminated by insights and experiences that render them compellingly extraordinary."—Steven Meloan, author of St. James Infirmary