Customer Reviews

Strange Times

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.