Breaking the Hippocratic Oath and Other Short Stories

I hate the smell of sterilized floors and hanging disinfectants that persists in hospitals halls. A smell that Dr. Wanger would have also hated. In the book, Breaking The Hippocratic Oath: and Other Short Stories, Deborah Thompson breaths life and vigor into each of her characters. The main character of the titular story, Dr. Wanger, feels, acts, and behaves like a real person. The story was so persuasive that I did a Google search to see if it was a true story, and that is the best thing about this book. Each of the five stories inside looms between a realm of fantasy and truth. To the point, each of the stories becomes a little world unto itself.

Inside, there are true-life crime stories and stories that flirt with science fiction. With such verity in style, there is something for both fiction and non-fiction fans to enjoy. My favorite story was about the bumbling rednecks in “Adventures of the Brantly Brothers.” It is just a great tale about the travels of two good old boys from North Carolina, and it’s refreshing. Again, the characters really do shine; each of them has their own voice and feels real.

This book is the beginning of what will be known as the next set of urban legends for this generation. Tales of dating fraud, prescription drug abuse, and alien encounters will entertain anyone who picks up the book. The only problem is that is leaves you wanting more. In the future, I would love to see a book completely dedicated to the Brantly Brothers, and I want more tales that skew real-life with fantasy. Until then, I guess Breaking The Hippocratic Oath will supply the chills we need for now.