Two Weeks Released

Given that Unusual Events: A "Short" Story Collection has been out for two weeks now, I thought it appropriate to see what everyone thinks so far. What have your favorite stories been? Your favorite moments? What have you liked? What have you not liked?

Chat about it below!

Comments

[Cromegas_Flare]

When I'm not around my computer, I pull it out to read.

I've enjoyed it so far and I have some notes written for a Amozon review, but either way, I'm enjoying it so far.

Is it bad that I laughed when the Teacup poodle or dog... got nom'd on? Because I did.

[Bugsydor]

I think Flashpoint is still my favorite.

3744318
Foodles will always hold a special place in our hearts... or at least in an unusual beasty's gullet.

[Cromegas_Flare]

3744654
There was also the ripper.... I really liked that one.

I'm actually at the second Alaska story.

[Viking ZX]

3744654 3744910
I've talked with a few other fans who are either close to the end or halfway there, and I'll admit even I'm surprised how many people cite Kitchen Creature as their favorite story in the set! Foodles really did end the story in memorable fashion!

I'm really surprised that Ripper ended up being someone's favorite, as dark as it was. Varay's character and personality are all pretty disturbing. I mean sure, you get to see her comeuppance, but the ending and what she's like doesn't pull away the creepy factor.

Papa Pat actually made a favorable comparison between Flash Point and Tuesdays with Molakesh the Destroyer, one of last year's Hugo Nominees (which was disqualified when it turned out that it was actually not eligible until this year given when it came out), which caught me by surprise. I think the story really resonated with readers, moreso than I'd thought it would. Which is definitely good!

Personally, my favorite from the Unusual set is Monthly Retreat, because it takes a long, hard look at werewolf mythos and lore and asks "But what would it really be like?" and then tosses that change in lifestyle on someone who really would struggle with it. I mean, how often is the character bitten by the werewolf single? I can't think of one where they aren't, and it's a trope that makes most werewolf stories work the way they do. It's either a single person or a teenager with parents they have to hide their new condition from. Monthly Retreat, on the other hand, throws that burden on a mother and wife with a whole lot on her plate already.

[Cromegas_Flare]

3745278
Though there's still quite a bit for me to read, I can talk about a few of the ones you mentioned.

Like Monthly Retreat, that one was good and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Mostly because it did touch well on the life style change and how it not only effect a person on their own level, but how it effect family as well. I touched quite well on those subjects.

I'm suddenly thinking about the first story as well with the kid who found out he's a match. The emotions that rise from initially finding out one's own unusual abilities, and the fear that rises from it, was well done.

I think I mostly liked The Ripper because it was well written. The illogical and irrational thought process was so extreme that you wanted to hate the protagonist. (I say protagonist because she was the focus character.) It was dark, and well... what can I say other than that I'm a sucker for dark stories.

Another thing that I liked was the first Alaska story. I loved the focus on that story in general and it touched on some personal subjects in a pleasant and respectful way. In short, a great message.

[Viking ZX]

3745447

I think I mostly liked The Ripper because it was well written. The illogical and irrational thought process was so extreme that you wanted to hate the protagonist. (I say protagonist because she was the focus character.) It was dark, and well... what can I say other than that I'm a sucker for dark stories.

And that's good, because I didn't want to write a story where you agree with the protagonist in Ripper's case. I've read too many stories where the author tries to paint a despicable, genuinely horrible person in a sympathetic light, and that wasn't a direction I wanted Ripper to go in. No, Ripper is a story where you're supposed to realize with horror how despicable Lady Amacitia Varay is pretty early on, but keep reading because you're driven by that sense of morbid curiosity of "Holy smokes, what is this character going to do next?" To that end, it sounds like I succeeded, and that makes me glad.

Another thing that I liked was the first Alaska story. I loved the focus on that story in general and it touched on some personal subjects in a pleasant and respectful way. In short, a great message.

I'll admit, I was just as pleasantly surprised at how that story went as readers have been. I started out with a simple premise (two guys treed by a bear) and went from there, and it evolved into something that, like you said, ended up being quite touching by the end.