Collected Fiction includes Hale's novels Clicking Beat on the Brink of Nada (Cody) and Heart and Soul along with his novella Space; his short stories "Breathless," "Nothing Strikes Back," & "Truck"; as well as a collection of his early poetry. All works are full and unabridged. From reviews for Clicking Beat on the Brink of Nada (Cody): A haunting vision of young friendship shattered by an outrageously cruel world. The novel aches with adolescent first loves. It is tender, funny, and true.
- William S. Burroughs Commands much of J.R. Ackerley's honesty, intimacy, and ease of style. Real warmth.
- Jonathan Williams, Musings A sense of life, the search for identity, intellectual militancy, the ambiguity of human relationships, unsatisfied desire, and weakness in facing existence are just some of the facets of life that the author evokes with precision.
- Livres (Brussels) Top of the heap of gay fiction.
- Gay Community News (Boston) Poetically evokes the pathos of early friendships and the frailty of adolescent dreams.
- The Advocate The author has given his novel characters with tenderness, wit, and humanity. You should rush to purchase this book-a remarkable novel that deserves wide readership.
- Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) The message transcends common reality. ... The author charts the victory of substance over appearance, of eternal truths over transient physical relationships. His characters give off warmth and forthrightness in equal portions.
- This Week in Texas (Houston) One of the best of its generation, this novel is beautifully written, exciting (and sexy), and full of incident and charm. Even minor characters are treated with Dickensian relish.
- Gay Star (Belfast) A novel about individualism, the right to be whatever you want to be. ... This book should be read by kids and adults alike ... A gay teen coming out classic.
- Lambda Rising Book Report (D.C.
