Strange Times [Kindle Edition]

Robert Williams (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Written over a period of seven years, the dark, finely crafted stories of Robert Williams's first short story collection span the science fiction, horror, historical fiction and mystery genres, presented here exclusively for Kindle readers.

In the award-winning short story, "The Experiment," a young man is subjected to a deadly test: how much pressure will it take to force him to kill a stranger? "Graymalkin" tells the origin of the Weird Sisters from Shakespeare's "Macbeth." Edgar Allen Poe is involved in a real-life woman's mysterious disappearance in "Mary Rogers." A vampire of India struggles against his demonic creator in "Child of the Lamia," while a lonely man seeks a different kind of redemption in "The Man Upstairs."

Taken together, the tales of "Strange Times" make a powerful introduction to a bold new voice in modern fiction.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 250 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002IA005U
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,438 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection, August 18, 2009

By 

Lynn ODell "Red Adept Reviews - A Blog" (Carolinas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Strange Times (Kindle Edition)

Plot/Storyline: 4.5 Stars

Most of these stories had very interesting storylines. I especially enjoyed "The Experiment", "A Jar of Insects", "The Man Upstairs", and "Would You Like To Save a Man's Life?".

There was one, "Graymalkin" that I didn't like at all simply because the story didn't make a lot of sense to me. The main character was something throughout the story and obviously knew it, but there was never a hint that she knew it. I know that's kind of cryptic, but I don't want to give spoilers.

I admit that I did skip the vampire story as, with the exception of Ann Rice's books, I really don't enjoy those.

Character Development: 5 Stars

Each of the stories had very interesting characters that were unique. All character development was well done.

Writing Style: 5 Stars

I love the writing style of this author. His descriptions were vivid without being too lengthy. Dialogues were realistic.

Editing/Formatting: 4.75 Stars

Minimal errors, if any, existed in the text. The Kindle formatting was good, but I would have preferred a Table of Contents in this type of work.

Overall: A wonderful collection. I would love to see a full length novel by this author.

Rating: R for extreme violence, blood and gore

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original and very readable stories, September 30, 2009

By 

J. Chambers (Georgia, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Strange Times (Kindle Edition)

I don't read a lot of short stories, but occasionally, if I see good reviews, I'll pick up a collection and have a go at it. With "Strange Times," I'm glad I did. All of the thirteen stories are very readable, with no throwaways included just to pad the collection. It's hard to label the stories under a single genre, but if I had to, I would say horror/terror is the most common theme that links the stories.

I was impressed with the author's knowledge of world history, culture, and customs. The stories took place in a number of countries and in several eras dating back to the days of the Roman Empire. One story even involves time travel, and another features a visit by extraterrestrial aliens.

Two stories warrant a little warning. "The Experiment" and "Would You Like to Save a Man's Life?" involve some pretty gruesome torture that makes waterboarding look like a day at the beach. They weren't too stomach-churning for me, but I made the mistake of reading them at bedtime. Read these two during the light of day!

"The Man Upstairs" was one of my favorites. No spoilers, but it's about an ordinary man turning to violence to right a wrong and validate his own life, something we've probably all thought about a few times.

One of the stories, "Shapeshifters Anonymous," is a whimsical bit about a group of shapeshifters meeting to air their problems and grievances. It's very short, but it shows the author's humorous side.

"Pretty" was one of the most original stories. It's more like a fairytale set against a backdrop of Japanese legends.

The author's writing is very smooth and professional, and the formatting for Kindle was excellent. All-in-all, I'm looking forward to more of Robert Williams' work.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary, August 31, 2010

By 

Ortega Matas Josep "Josep Ll. Ortega" (Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strange Times (Kindle Edition)

I have been reading science fiction since I started reading, and I must say I had not enjoyed a collection of short stories so much since too long ago.

The stories are diverse, mind graping and emotionally engaging. There is always some little (or big) surprise or turn in each one, specially at the endings. Are they perfect? Who can say? But there is no way you don't enjoy them.

And at $3.19, what else can you ask? Hurry, buy Strange Times and start reading, but better if you have some time ahead of you. You won't find it easy to stop reading.