Melancholic Parables: Being for the Antiselving Reader

by Dale Stromberg

Whimsical and dolorous, ironic and absurd, this slippery assortment of stories and fragments masks existential dysphoria with deceptive simplicity and hangdog comedy—all the while asking you to read what is not there, what is also there, what is parabolic.

“Stromberg gifts us a soft-spoken superhero with an all-in-one metaphysical toolbox. Bellatrix, like a Dirk Gently of reincarnation, navigates the ordinary in an extraordinary way. Encounters with to be and not to vulnerable yet ungovernable, tragicomic and ignormal. Shimmering reinvention. She already knows, and so will you.”
— Tucker Lieberman, author of Most Famous Short Film of All Time

“Wistful nihilism holds hands with absurd humor and lighthearted whimsy—some of the stories are almost horror, some are almost jokes. The parables challenge the very idea of an individual, consistent being and personality. We find ourselves drawn to ask how we are the same people we were in childhood, or the same people we are in dreams, or the same people we will be thirty years from now, or the same people we are when we’re blackout drunk. Maybe we’re not.”
— Briar Ripley Page, author of Corrupted Vessels

“The stories Dale writes are poignant, funny, tragic, and thought-provoking at each turn of the page. There’s a subtle and skillful dreamlike craft to the way he makes even the utterly absurd feel entirely natural in his short fictional worlds, and every story in this collection is a kind of a chance to discover new perspectives.”
— Hengtee Lim, author of Something Like Hope

Genres: Short Stories

182 pages, Paperback

Published August 3, 2022

About the author

Dale Stromberg is the author of the high fantasy novel Mæj (tRaum Books, 2024), the curio fiction novel Gyre (2025), and the oddball collection Melancholic Parables (2022). He grew up not far from Sacramento before moving to Tokyo, where he had a brief music career. Now he lives near Kuala Lumpur and makes ends meet as an editor and translator.

Reviews

[I. Merey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So deliciously absurd, so magically cynical—pretty sure these Parables were penned by the lovechild of Ikkyu and Oscar Wilde himself.

Bellatrix Sakaniko flits through ages and realities and genres and POVs, coming back to us and back at us with funhouse bizarro flash fiction laced with subtle sorrow, terroresque vignettes, and cackle-grade witticisms. Baby stories keep us close on Bella’s heels, through mirrored hall after mirrored hall, asking Questions Big, Medium, and Small—

Why must perfect love fade you? HOW DO YOU ALWAYS PICK THE SLOWEST LINE AT THE CHECKOUT? Why is the Minotaur such a DICK? If your mere existence causes others to die, that’s not your fault. Right? (Right?) Why is your torturer so obsessed with you? Is falling for your own genderswapped clone gross, or hot, or both? (Psst, both.) How is success so maddeningly boring AND non-stop seductive? How do you accept who you are today, and stab your past self in the back with such zest? Betray and believe in yourself, year after year? And last but certainly not least, if a dying loved one’s final words were shaming you for an inconveniently timed toot—could you live with yourself?

How DO we live with Life when it’s so doggedly humiliating, pointless, and cruel? Well, these Parables reminds us: we live with it one pun, one well-crafted sentence, one lovely word—one beautiful image—one fucky daydream—lost or found—at a time.

[Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicately crafted lines that are robustly self-interrogating. The book might seem like a small package, but it expands. These stories happen on their own universe's timeline — over and over, eternity in the locked room, in reincarnated meatspace, in dreams, or in adjacencies with a shift in eyes and voice. I think it's about perfectionism and the who-do-you-think-you-are-to-be-so-serious, the interplay of desire and disappointment, and the-joke's-on-you of memory and forgetting. Fascinating use of language.

P.S. Parables of what? Oh, well, in November 2022, it's hard for me not to think of Twitter, a quasi-undead realm in which we see ourselves and others through a hall of mirrors and never reach the end of the hall. (author's website)

[Rachel Ashera Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when you read a book and you think, "oh wow, I am the highly specific target audience for this thing?" This is one of those books for me and I realized it while reading the copyright page (no, really). It's a collection of dark, capricious microstories, centred around the various incarnations of a woman named Bellatrix Sakakino. She dampens electricity. She dies and relives the best moment of her life, and when that doesn't work out for her, returns to her infant body with her adult memories intact. She is radioactive. She is murderous and cruel. She is deeply loved. She dreams, wistfully, of a fruit that went extinct before she was born. Interspersed with these stories are clever scenes and observations that read half as Twitter shitposts, half as magic realism.

There is a wisdom and truth in absurdity at play here—it reminds me a lot of Eastern European humour, where the dystopian marries the whimsical. It's the perfect set of parables for our uncertain, terrifying age.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Rohan O'Duill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an anecdote. Stories short enough to consume in short intervals, like waiting for the kettle to boil. Weird, wonderful and wacky, there is something for everyone in here.

[Jennifer deBie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Melancholic Parables in exchange for an honest review. See the full review at https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/

Dale Stomberg’s Melancholic Parables opens with a note to the reader asking them to meditate on the notion of self, on what it is to have a self, on what the opposite, the antiself, would mean, and this is a consciousness that permeates the entire text.

Broken into vignettes, some as short as a few lines, some as long as a few pages, the various parables search for selfs in many forms. Some of these lie in the body of Bellatrix Sakakino, a reoccurring character who lives and dies a dozen strange ways between the covers of this book. Packaged alongside Bellatrix are dialogues with a bull who owns a china shop, a legalese-Latin argument with the devil, a glimpse at a dystopian world where words are monetized, and a meditation on visceral erasure.

Reading Melancholic Parables is an un-grounding experience, something I believe Stromberg intended. Coming out of this book, after even a few minutes stuck in it, was something like coming up for air after swimming in the ocean, and realizing that the shoreline in front of you has moved just a bit. It took some time to reorient myself in the aftermath, and any book that can be so affecting has to have something powerful going on in the pages.

[Dale Stromberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I, the author of this book, am rating it five stars… in a demonstration of confidence in my work which I assure you I do not feel.

Update: Rachel A Rosen has designed a stunning new cover for Melancholic Parables. I hope you like it as much as I do.

[Anna Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most unusual books I’ve ever read. It’s a collection of (sometimes very short) stories telling of the weird, imperceptible, and that which is only found on the border between dream and reality. One of the recurring characters is Bellatrix ( not that Bellatrix!!! Cleanse your minds) who is at once strange and human and very much like any of us. In any situation, she often does the most logically absurd thing, creating sometimes funny and sometimes bizarre scenarios. Dale also retells well known myths like Minotaur and Narcissus, to great and unexpected effect.
If this book made me melancholic it’s only because I will never be as good of a writer as Dale. Mostly it made me wish I could do ketamine assisted reading with this book in hand. I bet it would help me reach entirely new states of consciousness.

[Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

These parables are both hilarious and oddly terrifying. They read like poetry and worry at the concept of self-destruction from a variety of different angles, from (my personal favourite) the china-shop owning bull to the ongoing chronicles of Bellatrix. I might not have had any idea what was happening in some of the microstories, but every time I put the book down I left feeling seen and acknowledged.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pleasure to read Dale Stromberg’s “Melancholic Parables.” I whizzed through each unique thirteenth of the book with excitement to enter every world and hear the voices of each character. It’s a vibrant multicolor quilt of parables spanning from poetic to matter-of-fact. If you liked the recent film “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” this collection is for you.

The way the main-ish character Bellatrix Sakakino’s stories are weaved among futuristic parables, dystopian worlds, wacky turns-of-events, and everyday happenings are delightful, thoughtful, and witty. And Stromberg is a chameleon of writing styles with an arsenal of different tenses and perspectives, making each world of the parables lifelike in record time.

I found the conversation between the parable title, epigraph, and parable particularly enjoyable and thought-provoking part of reading. Some of my favorite quotes come from the epigraphs. I caught myself smiling at the title of a parable: “Excellent Problem-Causing and Critical-Drinking Skills” only to be called out by the first line “ ‘What are you smiling about, scumbag?’” I love Stromberg’s wordplay and the consciousness that his stories are being read. As a reader, I love to feel included in the experience. Beyond this consciousness of the reader, the construction of the collection is clever. The stories stack like building blocks with the tone, the characters, and themes creating a complex work. I feel that with each parable I read, I got sucked into the stories more.

I would recommend this book! It’s a must-read for anyone interested in the construction of the novel, but also for anyone who wants a book that is both thoughtful and funny.

One line that particularly spoke to me and made me laugh: “Am I just a pocket of lukewarm air?”

Particular favorites in the collection: “Ngantukisme,” “We Drink Pearls—We Sup on Peacocks’ Tongues,” “Endlessly Cutting the Deck,” “Tumpangisme,” “Insolubilia,” “Whilst This Machine Is to Him,” “Nyetovshchik,” “Desengaños del mundo,” and “Un poco alterado” . . . just to name a few :)

[Marlon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many books and films seem to promise everything to every audience -- I'm imagining a blurb for Avatar, claiming it's "guaranteed to transport the whole family to another dimension, filled with thrills, magic and wonder..." Such broad-stroke appeals usually rely on familiar themes of heroism and redemption, delivering a generic narrative line with some technical or textural gesture towards novelty, so the product looks fresh.
This collection of short pieces makes a sharp contrast to the tendency in film (and literature) to overstate its ability to transform YOUR (or everyone's) world. It presents itself to "the antiselving reader," and like a carefully-wrought auteur film, it works in personal territory, complicating any quick comparisons or summary.
Some of the parables are puzzling, echoing the varied forms of mazes reproduced on the pages before each section. The short and cryptic quality bears a resemblance to Kafka's own Parables and Paradoxes, while the vein of humor weaving through them shows perhaps a touch of the wry, earthy influence of Kurt Vonnegut.
One of funniest sketches describes Olympian Apollo's frustrations in trying to reach pop music greatness, which is foiled by his sheer perfection, which becomes a flaw. This story recalls others in the collection that also grapple with concrete flies in the ointment of total wish fulfilment.
The stories bring together a combination of playfulness and reflection that make the entirety feel more substantial than its compact format might suggest. There is also a wide diversity of settings and characters included here which suggest Stromberg could explore a number of different directions in future work. I confess that though I was one of the people who lined up quite happily to buy tickets to see The Phantom Menace on its release, because I feel the blockbuster has its place, these parables were better value in my book than Avatar.
The phrase, "does what it says on the tin," comically overused in UK Amazon reviews for any number of products, is probably in most cases an undemanding way to fulfil some prompt to leave a review, without specifics. In this book, however, the introductory note,

'You, there. Perhaps you are wondering
whether this collection of parables is right
for you. Perhaps it is not.
Not every book is for every reader.'

is actually at the same time honest and indicative of the ambitious, searching quality of the writing, and so a worthy tin for its contents.

[Zilla Novikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Melancholic Parables is like listening to someone speaking what sounds like gibberish but you understand every word.

What is this book, this compilation of microstories? It's about all those tiny thoughts that run through your head, which you've never bothered to ask if anyone else wonders too. How would it feel to live your life twice, if you remembered everything? Is that weird feeling of being watched because of time-travelling tourists? What if there was a language in the dial-up modem buzz? Bellatrix Sakakino wonders along with you, and lives through the answers. That's part of this book. But that's not all of it, not exactly.

This is a book about being born in the wrong time, the wrong body, the wrong world. It is a book about failing to belong. It is a book about loneliness.

The microstories are absurd and deeply meaningful. I found myself wanting to quote them, but all-too-often unable to pull apart passages into neat quote-sized fragments, because sentences hung on paragraphs, on microstories, on the book.

"Not every book is for every reader. A book must rhyme with you, or you with it."

This is a witty, clever book, but it's also a dark work: a work of uneasy ghosts and climate change, of loving your abuser and hating yourself. It might be better for me if this book didn't rhyme. But it does. This is a book for me. It might be for you, too.

(I recieved an advance copy of the book for review here and on the Night Beats blog.)

[Vincent Hagman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admire the shameless ease with which Dale Stromberg perpetrates prose upon unprepared readers, casually exposing a lifetime of misconceptions and leaving the burden of clarity on your porch. “Here’s voice to that thought you’ve sequestered for years. Good luck!” Something about the seasoned hunter spotting the second velociraptor too late, except the teeth and talons are self-reflection and, well, the stories make you THINK. Get on the Space Mountain ride with your flight of 31 flavors and see what happens. If you’re reading this review, invest in your copy of Melancholic Parables. This anthology has something for everyone. Share the experience with at least two friends. And, whether or not you have friends, write your own review and stop reading mine. 

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meticulously written; weird as hell; a laugh out loud, razor sharp sense of irony. What’s not to like? Highly recommended!

[Zsiazsia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of flash fiction with an international flavor, by turns pensive, poignant, witty, and terrifying. Every piece has multiple layers, and every punchline lands.

If you like thought-provoking fiction, clever prose, and absurdist ideas, you'll probably like this. A book to carry around with you and dip into during the day, to savour a story in a spare moment!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A luxuriant bento box of gourmet words spiced with exotic flavors and styled neatly in decorative packaging that is abstract, surprising, and easy to carry. Time for you to dig in. Let the stories dissolve on your tongue. Savor each one's unique and complex aftertaste. Enjoy.

[A Look Inside: Reviews and Interviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Melancholic Parables" by Dale Stromberg is a collection of literary short fiction that invites readers on a mesmerizing journey through a kaleidoscope of narratives, each as enigmatic and thought-provoking as the last. Stromberg's talent for crafting intricate and introspective stories is on full display in this collection, offering readers a glimpse into the profound and the absurd, all while challenging our perceptions of identity and reality.

At the heart of these tales is the enigmatic character of Bellatrix Sakakino, a figure who morphs and evolves with each story, reflecting the fluidity of identity and the ever-changing nature of existence itself. From a tricksterish film director to a pink hedgehog, from a simulation of herself to a child who can only communicate through dial-up modem shrieks, Bellatrix's transformations are both whimsical and profoundly resonant. Stromberg's ability to breathe life into these diverse personas is a testament to his skill as a storyteller.

"Melancholic Parables" is a collection that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Each story is a self-contained gem, exploring themes of identity, the passage of time, and the elusive nature of reality. Stromberg's prose is both poetic and precise, weaving intricate narratives that challenge readers to ponder the boundaries of their own existence and the stories they tell themselves.

One of the collection's strengths lies in its ability to seamlessly transition between whimsy and melancholy, irony and absurdity. Stromberg's storytelling is characterized by its ambiguity, inviting readers to interpret each tale in their own unique way. This ambiguity adds depth to the collection, allowing readers to revisit these stories and discover new layers of meaning with each reading.

"Melancholic Parables" is a testament to the power of short fiction to explore the complexities of the human experience. It raises questions about the fluidity of identity and the ever-shifting nature of our lives and stories. Dale Stromberg's ability to craft narratives that are at once playful and profound is a testament to his talent as a writer.

In "Melancholic Parables," readers will find themselves immersed in a world where reality blurs with imagination, where the boundaries of self are constantly shifting, and where each story is a tantalizing puzzle waiting to be unraveled. This collection is a literary gem that will captivate and challenge anyone who appreciates the art of storytelling at its most inventive and thought-provoking. Dale Stromberg's "Melancholic Parables" is a triumph of literary fiction that deserves a place on the bookshelves of readers who crave stories that linger and provoke long after the book is closed.

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a complete work of art. Everything from the cover, the title, the subtitles, the layout, the note to reader, the Schedule of Parables, is to be savoured, appreciated, puzzled over, absorbed before finally just being allowed to exist within the absurdity of trying to make logical sense of anything in life.

It is work that overflows with intelligent craft. To pick one example is to do a disservice to how interlinked all the parables are, but such is the nature of me and my reviewing, I am going to do it anyway. A parable entitled 'World Turns to Slurry', gives the warning 'To love your neigbor as yourself seems pretty heartless', before reinterpreting the Narcissus tale into the darkness of looking into your own soul and knowing all your failures. This Narcissus ponders not his own unsurpassed beauty, but questions, "Did the gods curse me? Or am I myself the curse?"

This is a collection that has almost too much to offer and I am certain I'll return to it many times.

[Ryszard Merey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the embodiment of, you start eating with your eyes; from the very first impression. The cover. The copyright page. The design. The fonts. The prose. The subtle mix of styles and flavors. A handful of flash-fiction stories, not too many, not too few, all chasing a single character reborn, recut, remixed through a million shattered mirror possibilities--every goddamn punctuation mark in here feels like it was hand-foraged from a magical forest. This book is a love letter to writing like a god and I fvkn loved it!

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

These clever parables are full of fresh phrases, exquisite language, and surprising twists, sometimes whimsical, sometimes dark. The sprinkling of quirky words, both invented and real, gives the stories an international, fantastical feel.

This collection is quite a journey! And highly recommended!

[Lawrence Vandermeer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book made me feel the same way I felt listening to Welcome to Night Vale.