Lessons III: Demonic Dolls and Other Morbid Drabbles

by Michael Crane, David Dalglish, Jason G. Anderson

A sister's doll doesn't take kindly to insults, and proves it.A puppet maker believes his creations are out to get him.A mother can't stand her son's new favorite toy... and for good reason.In Michael Crane's latest collection of terrifying and darkly comic drabbles, you'll find out why Playtime is only fun for those with vicious intentions. In these thirty 100-word stories you'll run into deranged toys with old scores to settle, homicidal sociopaths and other unapologetic creatures that lurk in the shadows.In LESSONS DEMONIC DOLLS AND OTHER MORBID DRABBLES, nobody ever leaves Playtime in one piece...Features bonus drabbles/shorts from authors David Dalglish, Daniel Arenson, Sean Sweeney, Imogen Rose and Jason G.Anderson. (Want more drabbles? LESSONS The Dead Carnival and Other Morbid Drabbles is now available!)_________________________________________________________________"Lessons III is filled with the irreverent, horrific, and somehow delightful stories that I've come to know and love from Michael Crane."--Amanda Hocking, author of the TRYLLE trilogy and MY BLOOD APPROVES"Yes! Michael Crane continues to entertain lovers of dark humor in this third installment of morbid drabbles Lessons III, another collection of one-hundred word gruesome tales, kept me smiling as I turned the pages. Will there be a fourth? I hope so!"--Karen Cantwell, author of TAKE THE MONKEYS AND RUN and CITIZEN INSANE

Genres: Horror

46 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Michael Crane is an indie author and scribbler of inane babble that can sometimes end up as stories. He went to Columbia College Chicago where he earned a BA in Fiction Writing and drank way too many Red Bulls. He is the author of IN DECLINE and LESSONS AND OTHER MORBID DRABBLES, and he also might've written two books while he was in high school, but they are absolutely dreadful and he cautions people to stay far, far away from them. He lives in Illinois and is always trying to work on something new, unless he's battling stupid writer's block.

Reviews

[Not Now...Mommy's Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third collection of 100-word stories in the Lessons series by author Michael Crane. The first two books just got a mere 2-star rating but surprisingly, I found this one to be a tad better...1-star better. A lot of the stories read the same and it was a bit too short in my opinion but overall, the best of the bunch.

[Anthony Cervantes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would recommend. Great, succinct horror read for people with little time, however noticeably lacking compared to Lessons I and II. Stories in the "drabble" format (a story that is conveyed with as little text as a single sentence) by master "drabbler" Michael Crane, this is a must-have for fans of horror anthologies.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume, Crane continues his popular series of drabbles – most horror, many darkly comedic. Telling a story in one-hundred words, start to finish, is story writing at its most extreme. Crane gives us thirty, each well done – spare of prose, simple of plot, yet complete. Who’d have guessed toys were so evil? Perfect to read when you have a spare minute, and no more.

As a bonus, a flash fiction piece from each of five Indie author peers is included. Daniel Arenson, Imogen Rose, Jason Anderson, Sean Sweeney, and David Dalglish each contributed.

Yes, this review is one-hundred words.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so the challenge is to write a review in exactly one hundred words, right?

I am not a fan of horror, but these are mostly very dark humor, which I love. Sock puppets, electronic Hangman games, and clowns are no longer welcome in my house, and I used to love my toys. Halloween used to be fun, now I am not so sure. And Imogen Rose now scares the hell out of me! I was horrified at her story.

The challenge of these flash fiction pieces is brilliant! I am afraid Michael Crane needs medication and a good therapist.

[Daniel Pyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. My favorite of the Lessons series. I definitely recommend this to fans of flash fiction and demented horror.

[Juliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

More!!!
Love these 100 word shorts.