Mark A. Rayner
Goodreads Author
Born
in Toronto, Canada
Website
Twitter
Genre
Influences
Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, Tom Robbins, Tom Stoppard, Douglas Adam
...more
Member Since
August 2007
URL
https://www.goodreads.com/markarayner
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Popular Answered Questions
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The Fridgularity
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published
2012
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3 editions
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Marvellous Hairy
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published
2009
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6 editions
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Alpha Max: An Existential Romp through an Absurd Multiverse
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Pirate Therapy and Other Cures
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published
2012
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3 editions
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The Fatness
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published
2017
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2 editions
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The Amadeus Net
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published
2005
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3 editions
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The Gates of Polished Horn: A Collection of Stories
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The Meanderings of the Emily Chesley Reading Circle
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published
2003
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A Milkshake Apocalypse
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Close to the Wind
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published
2008
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Mark’s Recent Updates
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Mark Rayner
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Mark Rayner
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Mark Rayner
rated a book it was amazing
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Mark Rayner
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Mark Rayner
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Mark Rayner
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Mark Rayner
and
1 other person
liked
Terry Tyler's review
of
The Gates of Polished Horn: A Collection of Stories:
"My favourite genre to read is imagined views of our near future, so many of the stories in this speculative/science fiction collection hit the spot for me. As with all collections of its type, some I loved, some I liked and some I felt needed a bit m"
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Mar 31, 2025 08:37AM
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Mark Rayner
and
1 other person
liked
Scott's review
of
The Gates of Polished Horn: A Collection of Stories:
"Being accustomed to Mr. Rayner's flash fiction, which has helped grow his legend as a master of humor, absurdity, and satire, this short story collection was a wonderful surprise. Those traits are still found peppered throughout these stories, but th"
Read more of this review »
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“People who have so much of their personality invested in the Internet can’t really survive as whole individuals without it.”
― The Fridgularity
― The Fridgularity
“That’s the thing about the collapse of civilization, Blake. It never happens according to plan – there’s no slavering horde of zombies. No actinic flash of thermonuclear war. No Earth-shuddering asteroid. The end comes in unforeseen ways; the stock market collapses, and then the banks, and then there is no food in the supermarkets, or the communications system goes down completely and inevitably, and previously amiable co-workers find themselves wrestling over the last remaining cookie that someone brought in before all the madness began.”
― The Fridgularity
― The Fridgularity
Topics Mentioning This Author
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Next Best Boo...: MARVELLOUS HAIRY winner announced | 9 | 46 | Nov 10, 2010 06:19PM | |
| You'll love this ...: June 2012 Challenge - Let's Go to the Beach | 147 | 133 | Jul 05, 2012 07:01AM | |
| Book Geeks and B...: Aaaaaaa!!! The Year's Half Over!!! | 21 | 22 | Jul 17, 2012 06:39PM | |
| Apocalypse Whenever: Chill out. It's only the technological Singularity. | 1 | 14 | Nov 13, 2012 06:07PM | |
| 2025 & 2026 Readi...: New to You Challenge January-December | 109 | 253 | Jan 03, 2013 01:32PM | |
You'll love this ...:
Debra T's Rainbow's Pot of Gold
|
409 | 93 | Jan 04, 2013 02:26AM | |
| The Underrated Au...: Authors: Introduce Yourself! | 50 | 108 | Jul 28, 2013 10:21AM |
“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”
― The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time
― The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time
“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever.”
― 1984
― 1984
“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”
― Why I Write
― Why I Write
“A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?”
― Politics and the English Language
― Politics and the English Language
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Comments (showing 1-13)
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Katy wrote: "Thanks for the recommend of Children of the Dust. It was published too recently to be the one I was looking for, which I read in 1982, I believe. This one was first published in 1985, so ... But ..."Yeah, I thought it might be too recent, but you look pretty young in your picture, so I thought I'd suggest it anyway :)
Thanks for the recommend of Children of the Dust. It was published too recently to be the one I was looking for, which I read in 1982, I believe. This one was first published in 1985, so ... But I appreciate the thought!
Rasmenia wrote: "Hi Mark!Thanks for adding me!
Yes, I adore Vonnegut. Favorite? I'm not sure I'm able to come up with an answer for that, though. ;)
I dig the bio - made me laugh. Even thought I shouldn't. I kn..."
It was an unfair question. And thanks right back at you!
Hi Mark!Thanks for adding me!
Yes, I adore Vonnegut. Favorite? I'm not sure I'm able to come up with an answer for that, though. ;)
I dig the bio - made me laugh. Even thought I shouldn't. I know that radioactive baboons are a serious matter... especially when they get all feisty & bitey.
Cheers!
Ras
Leila wrote: "Hello Mark!Thank you for adding me :) I'm glad you enjoyed the Slaughterhouse-Five entry, even though it mostly consisted of quotes. It's a great book with so many re-citable parts. I haven't read..."
I wouldn't do that -- it's perfect. You've probably already read it, but Cat's Cradle has lots of quotable bits too!
Hello Mark!Thank you for adding me :) I'm glad you enjoyed the Slaughterhouse-Five entry, even though it mostly consisted of quotes. It's a great book with so many re-citable parts. I haven't read anything else by Vonnegut but I am definitely planning to (as soon as I've finished my reading challenge). As for the picture, it's not really though you're not the first one to comment on it :| The photo is actually from Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightley). I love the actress and the book and film so I wanted to use the picture. I guess maybe I should change it to another one just to avoid confusion :( Oh well.
Take care :)
























































