Jacques Sardas’ short story collection is often centered on one character: Avi. Like the author whose life these fictional stories parallel, Avi was born in Egypt and eventually landed in New York. A successful businessman, Avi frequently travels and enjoys close relationships with friends and family, often leading to the experiences chronicled here.

In “Gimme the Money,” Avi and his family prepare to leave Egypt as President Nassar attempts to “purge Egypt of her enemies.” His father-in-law isn’t healthy, so Avi goes in his place to withdraw money from the bank. After a tense meeting with the bank manager, he leaves with a large sum of money— only to discover he may have been set up for a robbery on his walk home.

In “Carlos’s Wedding,” Avi agrees to be the best man at his childhood friend’s wedding in Brazil, but as they drive to the bride-to-be’s home, the men are abducted by government officials and imprisoned. Even as a guard explains that they will likely be killed after being interrogated, Avi remains calm, and it’s both smarts and luck that save the day.

And in “Cannibalism,” Avi agrees to a trip with buddies Eddie and Moti to Papau, New Guinea, for their annual getaway. But Avi is greatly worried about the cannibals who inhabit the area. After Moti and Eddie leave one morning to go fishing, the tracker they hired returns alone. It seems Avi’s fears may have come true.

These varied, original stories are recounted by a natural storyteller and writer. While the undertone is sometimes dark, the tales generally end on a philosophical or positive note. The writer’s voice is knowledgeable and sure, the characters’ experiences ranging from suspenseful to humorous, heartfelt and other-worldly. While luck sometimes plays a role, the stories reach what feels like naturally derived conclusions.

Taking Flight will appeal to a wide audience, particularly readers who enjoy foreign settings, likeable characters and intriguing yet straight-forwardly written stories.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.