Matthew A Clarke

A very worth reading collection of short stories. The author has a great imagination and great ideas. Sometimes (but not very often) fewer ideas and more story would have been better.
I enjoyed the book very much.
1) Best Birthday Ever!
A game show of a different kind, hopefully still far from reality...
2) Balloon Party
A world where gravity has been reversed and only a few have survived.
What do the gigantic crows have to do with it?
3) Mortal Coil
Two friends in search of fun and adventure in a deadly world.
4) Button Girl
A nice short story about a girl who is ostracized by her looks. But then a new student arrives.
5) Room for Two
Be careful when you make new friends, they may have their own interests.
6) Ebola Saves the Planet!
A school for future super criminals, Ebola doubts her purpose and tries to find her own goals.
Funny, creepy, good.
7) Quasimodorhome
The story of a bell ringer whose hump has a peculiarity.
8)Dead Gorgeous
When an average teenager gets hit on by the school belle, she may have interests of her own.
Beautifully creepy.
9) Snail Boy
A short story about a boy who is actually a snail.
Surprising and creepy.
10) Pinocchio the Wooden Hoe
A very different interpretation of the fairy tale - Interesting what you can do with a growing nose....
And a surprising ending.
One of my favorite stories.
11) The Golden Ticket
A somewhat unusual way to get to fairyland - not everyone's cup of tea.
You should take seriously the warnings you get when you get the transport.
… (meer)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book, a collection of dystopian short stories, is an interesting mix of horror, sci-fi and world re-interpretation. All of these original stories have some element of being offbeat or skewed in its outlook. The level of storytelling was consistent across all of the tales told, which made it pleasant to read.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy the Goosebumps tales, those who enjoy the works of Edward Gorey, and those who enjoy dystopian fiction.… (meer)