Half Portraits Under Water

“This is a rare collection, masterful in its execution and ambitious in its scope . . . that somehow manages to get under your skin, challenge your intellect, becoming impossible to forget.”

—Angel Patricks Amegbe, author of No Pink in a Rainbow

“With gentle yet assured prose, Dennis casts an unflinching gaze into the lives of his well-crafted characters in such a strong debut. The short stories here explore the politics of being and allow us a glimpse of lives so vast yet so relatable—a mirror held to our faces. Dennis Mugaa is a talent and this debut is a brilliant addition to the Kenyan and African literary landscape!”

—Troy Onyango, author of For What are Butterflies Without their Wings

“Half Portraits Underwater & Other Stories is a pleasant surprise. This is an entertaining collection of ten loosely interlinked stories which are all distinctively unique and delightfully unpredictable. Dennis Mugaa is a fresh voice, who has matched his obvious talent with the boldness to successfully experiment with form and style in his storytelling. He is one to watch, and it is hoped that the stars align for him and this skilful collection.”

—Chimeka Garricks, author of A Broken People’s Playlist and Tomorrow Died Yesterday.

“Poignant, lyrical, sensitive. Mosaics of a people, a restless continent in coming-of-age cycles. Reflective and beautiful, right from the first sentence. You’ll meet memorable characters of and from the complex and many streams of Kenya, and Africa, who will haunt your imagination long after you put the book down. In this collection, you will glimpse something of the soul and shadows of a powerfully emergent generation. Such a treasure! Such a delight!”

—Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, author of The Dragonfly Sea