Massachusetts based Mongoose Press is best known for its diverse offerings, which run the gamut from opening books (WOJO’S WEAPONS and THE COMPLETE HEDGEHOG), to autobiographies (DIARY OF A CHESS QUEEN) to books for beginners (GARY’S ADVENTURES IN CHESS COUNTRY). Its latest production is the first chess fiction anthology of contemporary stories ever published.
MASTERS OF TECHNIQUE is edited by Howard Goldowsky and features a foreword by Mark N. Taylor. The list of contributors includes:
Katherine Neville
Stephen Carter
Michael Griffith
Paul Eggers
Wells Tower
Patrick Somerville
Edward Falco
Steven Levery
Michael Weinreb
John Wheatcroft
Katie Kitamura
Mark Coggins
Many of these names will be familiar to readers, such as Katherine Neville (The Eight) and Stephen Carter (The Emperor of Ocean Park), but players from the Seattle-Tacoma chess scene of the 1970s and 80s will recognize one of their own in Paul Eggers. National Master Eggers, who participated in several Washington State Championships, learned the game at the Tacoma Chess Club which serves as the fictionalized setting for part of his short story, “A Thinly Veiled Autobiography Regarding My Reasons For Giving Up Chess.” Now a professor at Chico State University, Eggers worked as a proofreader at Inside Chess, and his knowledge of the inner workings of the chess world can been in his writing. Having also learned the game at the Tacoma Chess Club during almost the same time frame, I would emphasize that Paul’s story is fiction even if we did have a player with the last name Rassmussen (actually two), and many of his characters are composites of various club members and artistic license.
MASTERS OF TECHNIQUE is not only a fine collection of writing, it is a beautifully produced hardback with an attractive dust jacket. On top of that everyone involved with the project including the publisher have donated their time. All profits from this book help support multiple chess charities.
