“A book of interwoven themes, Emancipation offers a raw portrayal of the dark side of human existence. Each tale adopts a new narrator from chapter to chapter, yet Lane’s inventive narrative voice changes with each subject. The book creates anecdotes about characters that live in the same world yet never directly interact. The switch from descriptive to stark language shows Lane’s versatility with storytelling. Michael R. Lane concentrates on the marginalized sects in society, all while violence, death, and depravity blemish ordinary life. As most of the short stories end with a character reflection, the book urges readers to contemplate the buried, animalistic aspects of America.”
– BookLife Prize 2021 Review

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“All the stories are beautifully written and the characters keenly observed. I thoroughly enjoyed Emancipation and recommend it.”
- Mary O’Sullivan (author of Fire and Ice)