“Seventh Son Revisited” is third in the North Hill Trilogy by Akron native William Zink. It’s a collection that includes a novel, about two dozen short stories and more than 60 poems, one of which is an epic romance.
First comes the novel, “Between the Tusks,” which continues the story of Freddie “Beckman” Beck, introduced in 2023’s 1980-set “The Bagger.” The 2022 ‘60s-set “North Hill” is linked, but it’s not until about halfway through that book that the relationship between the first two books is confirmed.
In “The Bagger,” Beckman is revealed as an unreliable narrator, and this is obvious here. “Tusks” begins with Beckman lying sedated in a hospital in the Scottish Highlands. He’s trying desperately to learn about his hiking companion Grigory, insisting that he carried an injured Grigory to safety through a blizzard. A nurse maintains that Beckman came in alone.
Beckman begins to relate his story. It’s just before Christmas, and he and Grigory are setting off on a long-distance hike. They’re well supplied and know the route, with hostels on the way.
They talk about love, sin and friendship in conversations that prove how little they know about each other. The origins and nature of their relationship remain unclear. Grigory asks “why are we the way we are?” as he repeatedly states that he has never known love and doesn’t have it in his nature.
A shadowy stranger who is either leading or following them tells Beckman of a coming storm and that “the moor is where his destiny lies.” The plot deepens into a horror story with a genuine shock, of survival and spiritual allegory.
Zink excels at depicting the harsh splendor and the harsh majesty of the Scottish moors and crags in winter.
“The Stardust Room” is the title for the story collection. Beckman’s father and other members of his family play roles in some of the stories. A couple are about the patrons of a bar, and about a grieving widower and his two young daughters.
The poetry section is called “Lovers That We Are,” with sensual reminiscences. The dreamy epic “Brigitte,” in 45 cantos, asks “What more than love could life when lived be worth?”
Zink’s “Ohio River Dialogues” was a finalist in the fiction category of the 2008 Ohioana Book Awards, now Ohio Book Awards.
“Seventh Son Revisited” (587 pages, softcover) costs $20 from online retailers.
Events
Books a Go Go (220 W. Main St., Ravenna): Amy J. Hardy signs “Love and Other Apocalypses,” noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 16.
Learned Owl Book Shop (204 N. Main St., Hudson): Austintown author Nancy Christie signs “Transforming Tessa” and other books in her Midlife Moxie series, 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 16. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 22, Deborah Edmisten signs her novel “A Marine’s Story.”
Fireside Book Shop (29 N. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls): Talitha Cumi signs “The Serpent in the Garden Routine,” 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 16.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Orange branch, 31975 Chagrin Blvd., Pepper Pike): Kelly Anderson talks about her debut novel “The Wild Beneath,” 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 17. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Medina County District Library (Lodi branch, 635 Wooster St.): Kim Kenney talks about “America 250: Exploring the American Presidency Through 50 Historic Treasures,” 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 19. Register at mcdl.info.
Hudson Library & Historical Society (96 Library St.): Liv Constantine, whose “Everywhere You Look” was nominated for a 2025 Edgar Award in the Best Short Story category, talks about her thriller “Promise Me Never,” accompanied by D.M. Pulley, whose “The Dead Key” won the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award in 2014, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 19. Register at hudsonlibrary.org.
Lakewood Public Library (15425 Detroit Ave.): Mark Strecker talks about “The Great Railroad Strike in Ohio,” 7 p.m. Aug. 19.
Loganberry Books (13015 Larchmere Boulevard, Shaker Heights): Case Western Reserve University professor David N. Hackney talks about “Impossible Choices: A Physician’s Guidance on High Risk Pregnancy in a World Without Roe,” with Gretchen Tepper of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Malik Swisher of Preterm, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 19.
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library (Coventry Village branch, 1925 Coventry Road): Poets Sujata Lakhe, Caryl Pagel and Hilary Plum read from their work, 6 p.m. Aug. 20.
North Canton Public Library: G. Neri appears virtually to talk about “My Bicentennial Summer: True Adventures from the Most Epic Family Road Trip of All Time,” 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 20. Register at northcantonlibrary.org.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Strongsville branch, 18700 Westwood Drive, Strongsville): Jim Sweeney talks about “What’s the Deal with Dead Man’s Curve? And Other Really Good Questions About Cleveland,” 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Cuyahoga County Public Library (North Royalton branch, 5071 Wallings Road): Jennie Emser Schultz signs “As the Stage Turned: Cleveland’s Front Row Theatre,” 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 20. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.
Black Cat Books (420 S. Court St., Medina): Markus Redmond launches “Blood Rising,” 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Registration required at blackcatmedina.com.
Fraternal Order of Eagles 3605 (7395 Lakeshore Blvd., Mentor): John Rinaldi signs “Lil’ John: Laughing My Way Through Life … Stories from an Accidental Career on Cleveland TV – and More!”, 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 21.
Woven Words Bookshop (843 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road): Akron native Victor Simmons signs his storybook “Life Lessons from Air Force One: Growing Up Simmons,” about his experiences as a steward on “Air Force One,” 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 22.
Flame & Fable (15207 Detroit Ave., Lakewood): Kara M. Zone signs “Only Embers Remain,” final book in her Trium Perfectum trilogy, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 22.
Announcements
“How Girls Are Made” by Cardington author Mindy McGinnis has won a 2026 Ohio Book Award in the Young Adult category. The awards will be presented Oct. 15. See the list at ohioana.org.
Email information about books of local interest and event notices at least two weeks in advance to beaconbooktalk@gmail.com. I tweet at @BarbaraMcI.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: William Zink continues trilogy with ‘Seventh Son Revisited’ | Book Talk
Reporting by Barbara McIntyre, Special to USA TODAY NETWORK – Ohio / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Barbara McIntyre, Special to USA TODAY NETWORK – Ohio | USA TODAY Network
