A Soldier's Prerogative and Other Short Stories

A series of short stories that, in different situations, present characters facing unexpected challenges in unexpected circumstances.

The different behaviour of two white men invited to a Navajo peyote church.

An elderly man and a youth canoe for many years on Montana’s rivers, until the older man is no longer able to continue.

A young college student, unfamiliar with Mexico, creates a disaster.

A soldier in World War II is faced with a decision that cannot be ordered by his senior officer.

A young man is introduced to his girlfriend’s father and finds himself searching for a dry place to sleep.

A man questioning the value of life on a Grand Canyon hike finds himself in a life-or-death position.

An art lover gets a chance for a fictional conversation with Vincent van Gogh.

Stephen U’Ren was raised in Arizona by two public school teachers, both of whom read whenever possible and passed the habit on to their four children. Mr. U’Ren attended Northern Arizona University and law at the University of Arizona. He worked in Juneau, Alaska and then in El Mirage Arizona followed by a solo practice until retirement allowed more handball, seasons as a volunteer ranger at Yellowstone National Park and hiking in Grand Canyon while writing in Arizona and Montana. Mr. U’Ren is married with two adult children and four grandchildren.