Shorts in a Wad: One Hundred 100-Word Stories (Paperback)

~ Steve Krodman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Some stories require a Giant Economy-Size Canvas upon which to paint their portrait of the world, as readers of Leo Tolstoy, Will and Ariel Durant, Thomas Pynchon, Charles Dickens, and Victor Hugo will attest. Dickens, for one, was often paid by the word; he did not die penniless. But there is something to be said for the short story...and, by extension, the Ridiculously Short Story. There's not a lot of time or space for character development, intricately layered plots, or adjective-packed scenery. With a fixed-length format, every word has got to count. All of which imposes a certain discipline upon one's Story-Telling. Quick and punchy rule the day. In his first collection of stories, Steve Krodman covers a lot of ground - familiar characters and places, cringe-inducing puns, tender nostalgia, and the outright silly - all in baby steps of exactly one hundred words apiece. Devour them all at once or savor them one at a time? You decide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (May 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419668641
• ISBN-13: 978-1419668647
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,104,201 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Krazy World of Steve Krodman, December 26, 2007

By	J. Clover (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Who cannot be intrigued by the idea of writing an entertaining story in one-hundred words, no more, no less? Well, imagine writing one-hundred such stories. Author Steve Krodman has done exactly that, and he has hit the long ball.

In the book's introduction, the author writes, "You can devour the whole thing at once, popping stories like so many Snacky Peanuts, or you can savor them, reading a story when you have a spare moment."

I went the Snacky Peanuts route and inhaled the whole bowl in one sitting. I couldn't help myself; the stories were just that good. You simply cannot read these stories and not laugh out loud (a very few are not intended to be funny, and those hit the mark as well). I defy anyone to read the Morty Maggot Story and not burst out laughing.

There is, however, a distinct difference between Krodman's One Hundred 100-Word Stories and a bowl of Snacky Peanuts. One can't re-eat Snacky Peanuts, but one can re-read each and every one of these 100-word gems again and again, and I intend to do just that.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shorts That Cause Snorts, July 12, 2007

By	Lisa W. (Canada) - See all my reviews

Shorts in a Wad: One Hundred 100-Word Stories is a gem - perfect for those times when you haven't got the time for a long chapter in your latest novel. Just when you think he couldn't possibly squeeze one more intelligent, witty, well-placed pun into these 100 word masterpieces, Krodman manages to, outdoing himself time and again. I had a lot of fun laughing (and groaning) my way through this delightful little book.