LESSONS IV: The Dead Carnival and Other Morbid Drabbles

by Michael Crane, Daniel Pyle (Contributor), Robert J. Duperre (Contributor)

**WINNER OF THE 2013 BigAl's BOOKS AND PALS READERS' CHOICE AWARD (Best Short Story Collection/Anthology)**We've been expecting you...The morbid 100-word shorts of chaos and pure, sinister evil are back in LESSONS The Dead Carnival and Other Morbid Drabbles. In his latest installment of twenty-nine horrifying and darkly humorous stories, author Michael Crane takes you on a trip to the carnival you'll never forget (and a trip you may not survive). Oh, there will be games that cheat you out of something far more valuable than money. Rides will break down, but not necessarily by accident. Nobody leaves happy. In fact, nobody leaves at all.Welcome to the Dead Carnival... a place that truly lives up to its name.Features bonus drabbles/shorts by authors Daniel Pyle, Robert J. Duperre, Jason Letts, Daniel Arenson, J.L. Bryan, M.S. Verish, and M.P. McDonald.(Be sure to check out the other books in the LESSONS AND OTHER MORBID DRABBLES, LESSONS ANOTHER MORBID DRABBLE COLLECTION, and LESSONS DEMONIC DOLLS AND OTHER MORBID DRABBLES)            

52 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2012

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

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Carnival was the perfect place to take us! I have always thought carnivals were creepy places, and carnies were a breed all their own. These stories are fast, furious and darkly humorous. I think these are Michael Crane's best stories yet. BRAVO!

I learned there are no oversights at this carnival, prizes are never defective, never shoplift at a carnival, stay away from the fun house, the tunnel of love and always beware of clowns. I also learned to be careful what you wish for.

Jason Letts' short story at the end was an unexpected breath of fresh air.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I make this one-hundred words, like each drabble in this collection? We’ll see. While I wish Crane would apply his demented mind to something longer (a novel, or More Declined, my title for the follow-up to his short story collection with tales of normal people, down on their luck), his fans keep saying “more drabbles.” I see them as bite-size stories. Crane’s typically end with a demented twist. Find out what being a “mark” means and why a blowup doll is a bad date. Pyle’s bonus story shows why you shouldn’t mess with the short guy. Yup, one-hundred words.

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

[Kim (Wistfulskimmies Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a group of what they call 'drabbles'. Stories of exactly 100 words or less. These have the theme of carnivals.

I have read all 4 of Mike's drabble books and I have enjoyed every one. This was no exception. The tales were tight and well written and most of them had a little twist in the tale. At the end were a few bonus drabbles by some other authors, some of whose works I have read and others that I hadn't. I recommend this as a quick read that will pull chills up your spine.

[Not Now...Mommy's Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always seem to enjoy the 100-word short story collections by author, Michael Crane. Enjoy as in it's readable, I'm too far into the series to quit quite yet, and its a quick read when you want to add a book to your GoodReads Reading Challenge book count.