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Future Gone
My book Future Gone is conceived as a deep study of human nature, of our hidden, subconscious desires, of the constant roaming in the labyrinth of life and as a journey through human pathology. It presents in a unique way and from different points of view all that is hidden beneath the mask of simple things. In my book there are hypotheses for the development of society and civilization and for the evolution of human nature in far future.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2009
3 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Alexandar Tomov
6 books370 followersAlexander Tomov Jr. was born on June 3, 1982 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. He is freelance writer and film director who is looking for realization abroad. His work consists of short stories and short films. The author creates non standard points of view toward the world and the human existence. Some of his stories are hypotheses for the development of society and civilization and for the evolution of human nature in far future.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 29, 2013
★★★Future Gone by Alexandar Tomov
This is a R2R, given to me by the author. This review is for Future Gone(English version) written by Alexander Tomov.
I will say that I am speechless right now, which is very uncommon. I have really had to think about this review.
My main problem, with this book, is it seems to be partially lost in translation. I do feel like there was enough for me to get what the author was hoping for. Poor word choice, incorrect use of words, grammar errors, typos, and the general lack of editing, became more prevalent, as the book went along.
This is a collection of 23 short stories. As I started to read this, I truly wanted to stop around page 10, but I had to give it a fair chance. This was my first time reading anything even close to this. These shorts contain heavy, dark, twisted, and morbid, story matter. I found them to be very thought provoking. As I continued to read, I became continually intrigued, and could not stop reading it. However, I felt some stories needed more, but they are called short stories for a reason. Some of the stories, seemed to fit together, but I don't know if that was intended. These stories left me with so many questions, but when it comes to matters of the mind and opinions, everyone has them.
I would read this again. I would recommend it to anyone, who likes thought provoking books. Make sure you take your time, this is a short book, but it is jam packed with ideas.
I want to thank the author again for giving me the chance to read and review this book. I appreciate it. I hope you find this review helpful.
January 11, 2013
I can't honestly say I understood what I just read in its entirety. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it. I do wish the stories had been a little longer but I understand that they don't need to be to get the point across. These stories are all very though provoking and really make you think about humanity and death in ways that you might not have before. I found most of the stories to be highly morbid, but that doesn't equate with bad. I didn't enjoy all of them but I did enjoy that they all made me think to a certain degree. I think these would be good stories to include in AP literature classes. There is so much to talk about and delve into with just a few paragraphs. The author was kind enough to send me a free copy of Future Gone in exchange for a review and I'm very glad I took him up on the offer. Yes, some of the translation was a bit lost and there were a few punctuation flaws but it didn't detract from the main messages.
February 8, 2013
I was asked by Tomov to read and review this book, and I agreed because I always enjoy helping out authors.
This book is a collection of Tomov's short stories. My first thought was that the stories were really short and could have been longer. The collection was put together nicely and I enjoyed the read. Tomov has a way with words that makes you question a lot of things regarding life and death and our purpose. I found that the majority of the stories were about death and slightly morbid. Not always a bad thing and considering the title (Future Gone) it should have been expected. It was a short read for me, I read it in a single sitting. I would recommend this read to philosophy students as it makes your mind wander and you have no choice but to question many things.
The only reason I have marked it with three stars is because I found that the stories were too short and there were some errors missed during the editing stage. All in all though it was a good read and extremely interesting.
Thank you Tomov for allowing me the honour of reading your work and I wish you the best in your writing future.
This book is a collection of Tomov's short stories. My first thought was that the stories were really short and could have been longer. The collection was put together nicely and I enjoyed the read. Tomov has a way with words that makes you question a lot of things regarding life and death and our purpose. I found that the majority of the stories were about death and slightly morbid. Not always a bad thing and considering the title (Future Gone) it should have been expected. It was a short read for me, I read it in a single sitting. I would recommend this read to philosophy students as it makes your mind wander and you have no choice but to question many things.
The only reason I have marked it with three stars is because I found that the stories were too short and there were some errors missed during the editing stage. All in all though it was a good read and extremely interesting.
Thank you Tomov for allowing me the honour of reading your work and I wish you the best in your writing future.
December 27, 2014
What an intense and intriguing set of stories. It is easy to read the quickly - these are extremely short stories and the writing style is very simple and straightforward. But I think that when you read this too quickly I think that you begin to miss some of the beauty of it. This begs for the reader to sit and ponder, to marinate over the themes that are throughout.
I need to reread this. I know that because I did get the chance to read the first three stories twice and I think that I gleaned a little more from them the second time. I was able to pick up on the beauty and the sadness a little more. Not that I didn’t already see those things, it is pretty difficult not to se them throughout but I think that rereading gave me a little more depth and I know that I will have to do that with the rest of the stories as well.
I agree with some of the other reviewers (yes I read some of the reviews J) that these stories could have been a little longer. I don’t think that the stories themselves are missing anything but I think that we could have had an even more complex discussion if the stories were just ….well just a little more complex and layered. They are so straightforward (even when they are complicated in ideas they are still so straightforward) and it would have been intriguing to see what the author would do with a less direct method of writing. One that didn’t just state the facts of that moment but had layers and background and consequences and scenery. One that painted a picture more than just an intellectual conversation.
There are some grammar mistakes but I don’t think that those distract from the overall enjoyment of the book. And I love the way the stories flow into each other, not connected but still seeming connected. I cannot wait to read more from this author to see where he goes.
(btw this was the perfect time to read a book like this - the end of the year going into the next - a time of death and rebirth…..)
I need to reread this. I know that because I did get the chance to read the first three stories twice and I think that I gleaned a little more from them the second time. I was able to pick up on the beauty and the sadness a little more. Not that I didn’t already see those things, it is pretty difficult not to se them throughout but I think that rereading gave me a little more depth and I know that I will have to do that with the rest of the stories as well.
I agree with some of the other reviewers (yes I read some of the reviews J) that these stories could have been a little longer. I don’t think that the stories themselves are missing anything but I think that we could have had an even more complex discussion if the stories were just ….well just a little more complex and layered. They are so straightforward (even when they are complicated in ideas they are still so straightforward) and it would have been intriguing to see what the author would do with a less direct method of writing. One that didn’t just state the facts of that moment but had layers and background and consequences and scenery. One that painted a picture more than just an intellectual conversation.
There are some grammar mistakes but I don’t think that those distract from the overall enjoyment of the book. And I love the way the stories flow into each other, not connected but still seeming connected. I cannot wait to read more from this author to see where he goes.
(btw this was the perfect time to read a book like this - the end of the year going into the next - a time of death and rebirth…..)
December 31, 2014
I would like to thank the author for providing me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my review in any way.
A book of very short stories, but all with a deep sense of meaning to them. Most of them were just too short. So much more could have been said instead of implied and it would have made for a much better read. Having said that, the author is on to something with this short stories and with a proper translation from Bulgarian to English, the meanings would cross over so much better.
The stories, as stated in the synopsis, about human nature. The author takes parts of it and creates a dramatic story that projects the nature to its fullest and leaves the reader to mull the meanings over. If you are looking for a quick, fun read, this isn't for you. This book, even with the stories being a couple pages long, really makes you stop and think over what you just read.
I, myself, have never read a book like this and will definitely be doing rereads of it throughout the years. I do hope that the author goes back to it and expands on the stories a bit more. That is the crutch of this book, the stories are just too short as I stated previously. There is so much more I want to know about many of the subjects of the stories that at times it was quite frustrating when the story just ended. Having said that, this would be a great book for professors to incite discussions in the classroom though. I can only imagine the philosophical debates that it would project.
A book quite unlike others, I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something that will make them stop and think before going on to the next story. A short book that will keep you captivated for hours.
A book of very short stories, but all with a deep sense of meaning to them. Most of them were just too short. So much more could have been said instead of implied and it would have made for a much better read. Having said that, the author is on to something with this short stories and with a proper translation from Bulgarian to English, the meanings would cross over so much better.
The stories, as stated in the synopsis, about human nature. The author takes parts of it and creates a dramatic story that projects the nature to its fullest and leaves the reader to mull the meanings over. If you are looking for a quick, fun read, this isn't for you. This book, even with the stories being a couple pages long, really makes you stop and think over what you just read.
I, myself, have never read a book like this and will definitely be doing rereads of it throughout the years. I do hope that the author goes back to it and expands on the stories a bit more. That is the crutch of this book, the stories are just too short as I stated previously. There is so much more I want to know about many of the subjects of the stories that at times it was quite frustrating when the story just ended. Having said that, this would be a great book for professors to incite discussions in the classroom though. I can only imagine the philosophical debates that it would project.
A book quite unlike others, I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something that will make them stop and think before going on to the next story. A short book that will keep you captivated for hours.
September 15, 2012
As a fellow self-published author on Amazon, I have read through the synopsis and book "Future Gone".
From the bat, the short stories are interesting, quick, and filled with interesting concepts which the author is intending to grip you with - deep visulisation is key for some scenes and the way they are described (although this is more my reading disability playing up, rather than the author's story telling).
I will offer some advice - not enough of it here on Amazon, people are quick to judge and will blow their trumpets - I have rated this book for 5 stars for actual story telling and content, foremost - grammar and spelling were totally fine aswell, although this would not have bothered me in the slightest. Yes, 5 stars for enjoyment.
Now the advice: Some words were paragraphed lower in the first story - not a biggy, I can see this is Amazon's Kindle conversion tool making things harder. I've had the same problems with formatting my books for Kindle, so this I could easily relate too. Just needs the Paragraph tool in Microsoft Word highlighted to see and correct these spaces/page breaks - to better seperate the short stories.
Apart from that, grammar was good and easy for me to follow - to the point. Less is more, which Alexander has a foundation to build on. Keep writing.
From the bat, the short stories are interesting, quick, and filled with interesting concepts which the author is intending to grip you with - deep visulisation is key for some scenes and the way they are described (although this is more my reading disability playing up, rather than the author's story telling).
I will offer some advice - not enough of it here on Amazon, people are quick to judge and will blow their trumpets - I have rated this book for 5 stars for actual story telling and content, foremost - grammar and spelling were totally fine aswell, although this would not have bothered me in the slightest. Yes, 5 stars for enjoyment.
Now the advice: Some words were paragraphed lower in the first story - not a biggy, I can see this is Amazon's Kindle conversion tool making things harder. I've had the same problems with formatting my books for Kindle, so this I could easily relate too. Just needs the Paragraph tool in Microsoft Word highlighted to see and correct these spaces/page breaks - to better seperate the short stories.
Apart from that, grammar was good and easy for me to follow - to the point. Less is more, which Alexander has a foundation to build on. Keep writing.
December 27, 2014
@altomov
#FutureGone
Wow! I am not to sure what to make of this piece except to say that I actually liked it.
I have to say that unfortunately a lot of the meaning may have been lost in translation so this would need to be remedied with an update and a fine tooth comb editing phase, aside from that it is actually not bad.
This is a collection of short stories about death or should I say about life.
The author focuses on the inevitable end of all human beings which cannot be disputed as it is just a fact of life, but the journey that all characters are taking to that final place is rather interesting, and I suppose, that is the all point.
The one thing that all these individuals have in common is that it is now too late to do anything to change their situation since death is here.
So my question is, is the author trying to send us a message?
#FutureGone
Wow! I am not to sure what to make of this piece except to say that I actually liked it.
I have to say that unfortunately a lot of the meaning may have been lost in translation so this would need to be remedied with an update and a fine tooth comb editing phase, aside from that it is actually not bad.
This is a collection of short stories about death or should I say about life.
The author focuses on the inevitable end of all human beings which cannot be disputed as it is just a fact of life, but the journey that all characters are taking to that final place is rather interesting, and I suppose, that is the all point.
The one thing that all these individuals have in common is that it is now too late to do anything to change their situation since death is here.
So my question is, is the author trying to send us a message?
May 30, 2013
I received a PDF from the Author to Review this book.
Future Gone is a collection of short stories all set in the extreme future. The stories were originally written in Bulgarian, but I was given the english translation.
Even though the concepts that Future Gone is trying to wrestle with are interesting, the novel is sold short by it's language. I do not want to judge this collection of short stories too harshly for lacking something that was probably lost in translation, but it is the inability of the language to explore the ideas that makes the collection difficult to read.
Other than that, the basis of the collection was extremely interesting and thought provoking, and stayed with me long after I finished the book.
Future Gone is a collection of short stories all set in the extreme future. The stories were originally written in Bulgarian, but I was given the english translation.
Even though the concepts that Future Gone is trying to wrestle with are interesting, the novel is sold short by it's language. I do not want to judge this collection of short stories too harshly for lacking something that was probably lost in translation, but it is the inability of the language to explore the ideas that makes the collection difficult to read.
Other than that, the basis of the collection was extremely interesting and thought provoking, and stayed with me long after I finished the book.
December 12, 2014
I received a copy of the eBook from Goodreads Never too Old for Y. A. & N. A. Books Read for Review group in exchange for an honest review.
Future Gone is a collection of short stories. Each plot deals with death. The tone is dark and negative. The stories offer no hope in my opinion. The short stories would be interesting starting points for discussion on the topic of death including suicide. The title is insightful reflecting the overall mood of this quick read. This collection of short stories has good bones but professional editing is desperately needed, as it is a translation from Bulgarian.
Future Gone is a collection of short stories. Each plot deals with death. The tone is dark and negative. The stories offer no hope in my opinion. The short stories would be interesting starting points for discussion on the topic of death including suicide. The title is insightful reflecting the overall mood of this quick read. This collection of short stories has good bones but professional editing is desperately needed, as it is a translation from Bulgarian.
February 15, 2013
I received this book from the author for review (and i want to apologise for being so late :| )
First of all this book needs a proper translate, the english is quite awful and it's a pity, cause the stories at not at all bad.
Interesting ideas, intriguing, put in a succinct form without a proper explanation, letting you wonder about them.
Keep it up, but please provide a good translate, it will improve the book a lot :)
First of all this book needs a proper translate, the english is quite awful and it's a pity, cause the stories at not at all bad.
Interesting ideas, intriguing, put in a succinct form without a proper explanation, letting you wonder about them.
Keep it up, but please provide a good translate, it will improve the book a lot :)
May 11, 2013
I was given this book for an honest review.
This book was filled with a dark and unusual view of the human condition, some of it a little obscure and not always easy to follow. Some ideas were thought provoking, while others left me wondering what was in the author's mind when writing - certainly odd and disconcerting in parts.
I could tell this author has talent and his work is certainly for the deeper thinkers of the world.
Interesting and intriguing.
This book was filled with a dark and unusual view of the human condition, some of it a little obscure and not always easy to follow. Some ideas were thought provoking, while others left me wondering what was in the author's mind when writing - certainly odd and disconcerting in parts.
I could tell this author has talent and his work is certainly for the deeper thinkers of the world.
Interesting and intriguing.
April 16, 2013
The more I read this book, the more it became clear that some of the ideas and stories here are truly unique and original. While I think the writing itself is only 4 stars, I am always more interested in ideas. And for that, this book is very worthy. I believe this author has an incredible imagination.
October 14, 2013
This series of stories reads a bit like Grimm's fairy tales. They are short and dark, but there is a lot of thought meaning behind them. One line in particular that stuck out to me was the following: 'You sentenced me to be born, which is equal to a death penalty, because I’ll die one day!'
May 27, 2019
If a reader were to listen to the trailers included on the Goodreads page of Future Gone, the disparate meanings of the stories could be somewhat illuminated, but I found the author's voice and explanation to be as tragic and deep as the stories he wrote.
My favorite was the Stopped Clock because it had an unexpected and clear conclusion, even fitting and somewhat amusing in a dark fashion.
Future Gone is dystopian but the madness of a dream in that nothing is as it appears and the meaning like the White Rabbit running ever before one down a rabbit hole. Death and hope are intertwined in this book reminiscent of the Theatre of the Absurd, a literary movement begun in the late 1940s and early 1950s primarily by European writers. It's possible that the absurdity and horror of war nipping so closely on their heels at the time led to a belief in what is essentially nihilism. Death and hope coincide in most of these stories.
Fire, mothers, lovers, unfaithfulness, death, bombs, explosions, children, the aged, governments, buildings, collide as the narrator most often in the first person comments rather fatalistically on the past as well as what is happening in the future, which seems very like the past they are trying to correct in a nightmarish sort of way.
I gather that the author believes the majority of humanity are dolts and unthinking automatons in a world of bureaucracy and quiet desperation. His view of the future is bleak and democracy leads to authoritarianism. The destruction of men's souls seems complete in life.
Makes me think somehow of the philosophy of the TV series MASH that was popular a few decades ago. The effect of the absurdity and madness of this school of thought on a good person's mind and soul might explain the conclusion of that series, in which the protagonist Hawkeye has a mental breakdown when the war ends and they are sent home,and the rest of the cast undergo various reactions to the end of the Korean war and its effect on them. I didn't like the conclusion of MASH but it does make sense in the light of the absurdity of war.
I was given a PDF copy of "Future Gone" and a review was suggested as this author's style intrigues me and I've read some of his short stories previously. They are dark and viscerally disturbing, hence the 4 stars instead of 5. But very well written and only a few errors in the translation of Bulgarian to English.
Some of the stories end more satisfactorily than others written in a nightmarish manner which don't seem to have any kind of resolution at all. I think this author is experimenting with various styles of absurdity and madness. I would like to see his biography or a profile of his education, training, and experience. He is obviously highly intelligent and a deep thinker.
One could get quite depressed reading these stories without a glimmer of hope beyond a faint recollection of a God who may or may not exist!
My favorite was the Stopped Clock because it had an unexpected and clear conclusion, even fitting and somewhat amusing in a dark fashion.
Future Gone is dystopian but the madness of a dream in that nothing is as it appears and the meaning like the White Rabbit running ever before one down a rabbit hole. Death and hope are intertwined in this book reminiscent of the Theatre of the Absurd, a literary movement begun in the late 1940s and early 1950s primarily by European writers. It's possible that the absurdity and horror of war nipping so closely on their heels at the time led to a belief in what is essentially nihilism. Death and hope coincide in most of these stories.
Fire, mothers, lovers, unfaithfulness, death, bombs, explosions, children, the aged, governments, buildings, collide as the narrator most often in the first person comments rather fatalistically on the past as well as what is happening in the future, which seems very like the past they are trying to correct in a nightmarish sort of way.
I gather that the author believes the majority of humanity are dolts and unthinking automatons in a world of bureaucracy and quiet desperation. His view of the future is bleak and democracy leads to authoritarianism. The destruction of men's souls seems complete in life.
Makes me think somehow of the philosophy of the TV series MASH that was popular a few decades ago. The effect of the absurdity and madness of this school of thought on a good person's mind and soul might explain the conclusion of that series, in which the protagonist Hawkeye has a mental breakdown when the war ends and they are sent home,and the rest of the cast undergo various reactions to the end of the Korean war and its effect on them. I didn't like the conclusion of MASH but it does make sense in the light of the absurdity of war.
I was given a PDF copy of "Future Gone" and a review was suggested as this author's style intrigues me and I've read some of his short stories previously. They are dark and viscerally disturbing, hence the 4 stars instead of 5. But very well written and only a few errors in the translation of Bulgarian to English.
Some of the stories end more satisfactorily than others written in a nightmarish manner which don't seem to have any kind of resolution at all. I think this author is experimenting with various styles of absurdity and madness. I would like to see his biography or a profile of his education, training, and experience. He is obviously highly intelligent and a deep thinker.
One could get quite depressed reading these stories without a glimmer of hope beyond a faint recollection of a God who may or may not exist!
December 26, 2014
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review*
This book is truly unique. And from the very discription of it from the author, I knew it would be. But that being said, it's not an easy book to read, and it won't be everyone's cup of tea. It has 54 pages, and it took me a whole day to get through it. I am glad I read some reviews that told me it gets better towards the middle, because otherwise I'm not sure I would have been able to finish it. (I am glad I did, though).
This book is cohesive in tone, but not in plot or arc (though there might have been an intended arc there somewhere, since the ending did feel like an actual ending). It is a colection of short stories that are, at least superficially, unrelated. They have a very dark, melancholic and sombre tone. As the author promissed, they present "a deep study of human nature, of our hidden, subconscious desires, of the constant roaming in the labyrinth of life and as a journey through human pathology" - pathology, and not psyche, being the highlight of it.
It is not hopeful and it doesn't encompass all of the human experience - nor do I think it intends to. And I believe that is the reason it's so hard to read: it deals with our worst hidden subconscious side, the one we hate thinking about and tend to suppress in order to live a healthy life. Therefor, it is also the reason it is so interesting and relevant. As a psychologist, I found it truly amazing to navigate trough these sinister, dream-like stories.
This book was offered to me as a dytopia, but it really isn't. While "intuitive prose" or "symbolic prose" seem to be adequate descriptions of Alexandar's writing, surreal and poetic are others that came to mind while I was reading it. And if that is what you are expecting, it is well done.
There are some reasons I'm not giving it a higher rating, though. The main one being that it doesn't fulfill some of its promisses. It was said that "there are hypotheses for the development of society and civilization and for the evolution of human nature in far future", and I didn't see any of those. Maybe it's my skewed point of view, but I didn't see many feasible theories among the dreams. Which is all right for me, since as a surreal piece it works well.
Another unfulfilled promiss is that it is said to be "from different points of view". Sure, each short story is told from seemingly different characters. But they were so similar in tone they could be all the same person, the same subconscious (and it is, the author's). Frankly, it's what it worked for me - but still is not what it was promissed.
The description also said it would show "all that is hidden beneath the mask of simple things" and that "I am confident that I have studied some, so far unrevealed nuances of human psyche". And this is where it truly doesn't hit the mark for me. Like I said, it is an unique and relevant book, but it is the intuitive prose of one man, and it is never simple. In my opinion, if it reveals nuances of a psyche, it's his own. I absolutely believe we all have dark and even pathological nuances hidden in our subconscious, but it would be going a little far for me to say that it reveals them for us all.
I will tell you this, though: I believe it would be thought provoking for anyone. It certainly was for me. I especially liked how death and hope are portraid as two sides of the same spectrum. This European book is much like many European movies I have seen: a little too dark, a little too confusing, but you feel you gained something by experiencing it. So, if you have the stomach, it's worth it.
This book is truly unique. And from the very discription of it from the author, I knew it would be. But that being said, it's not an easy book to read, and it won't be everyone's cup of tea. It has 54 pages, and it took me a whole day to get through it. I am glad I read some reviews that told me it gets better towards the middle, because otherwise I'm not sure I would have been able to finish it. (I am glad I did, though).
This book is cohesive in tone, but not in plot or arc (though there might have been an intended arc there somewhere, since the ending did feel like an actual ending). It is a colection of short stories that are, at least superficially, unrelated. They have a very dark, melancholic and sombre tone. As the author promissed, they present "a deep study of human nature, of our hidden, subconscious desires, of the constant roaming in the labyrinth of life and as a journey through human pathology" - pathology, and not psyche, being the highlight of it.
It is not hopeful and it doesn't encompass all of the human experience - nor do I think it intends to. And I believe that is the reason it's so hard to read: it deals with our worst hidden subconscious side, the one we hate thinking about and tend to suppress in order to live a healthy life. Therefor, it is also the reason it is so interesting and relevant. As a psychologist, I found it truly amazing to navigate trough these sinister, dream-like stories.
This book was offered to me as a dytopia, but it really isn't. While "intuitive prose" or "symbolic prose" seem to be adequate descriptions of Alexandar's writing, surreal and poetic are others that came to mind while I was reading it. And if that is what you are expecting, it is well done.
There are some reasons I'm not giving it a higher rating, though. The main one being that it doesn't fulfill some of its promisses. It was said that "there are hypotheses for the development of society and civilization and for the evolution of human nature in far future", and I didn't see any of those. Maybe it's my skewed point of view, but I didn't see many feasible theories among the dreams. Which is all right for me, since as a surreal piece it works well.
Another unfulfilled promiss is that it is said to be "from different points of view". Sure, each short story is told from seemingly different characters. But they were so similar in tone they could be all the same person, the same subconscious (and it is, the author's). Frankly, it's what it worked for me - but still is not what it was promissed.
The description also said it would show "all that is hidden beneath the mask of simple things" and that "I am confident that I have studied some, so far unrevealed nuances of human psyche". And this is where it truly doesn't hit the mark for me. Like I said, it is an unique and relevant book, but it is the intuitive prose of one man, and it is never simple. In my opinion, if it reveals nuances of a psyche, it's his own. I absolutely believe we all have dark and even pathological nuances hidden in our subconscious, but it would be going a little far for me to say that it reveals them for us all.
I will tell you this, though: I believe it would be thought provoking for anyone. It certainly was for me. I especially liked how death and hope are portraid as two sides of the same spectrum. This European book is much like many European movies I have seen: a little too dark, a little too confusing, but you feel you gained something by experiencing it. So, if you have the stomach, it's worth it.
August 1, 2013
Review by Harmony Kent
Four Stars
Review Date: 01/08/2013
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.
ABOUT THE BOOK
"Future Gone is conceived as a deep study of human nature, of our hidden, subconscious desires, of the constant roaming in the labyrinth of life and as a journey through human pathology. It presents in a unique way and from different points of view all that is hidden beneath the mask of simple things."
MY THOUGHTS
A thought provoking selection of short stories from Bulgarian Author Alexandar Tomov. I give it four stars instead of five, only due to the number of proofing errors within. However, it would be prudent to bear in mind that this has been translated into English - and for that matter, does much better in the grammar department than many an English written book manages to do. I will be sure to be looking out for more from this excellent writer.
The stories tend to be set in the future, and some will amuse, some will disturb, and yet others will provoke the reader into thinking a little more deeply about the issues and questions covered. All in all an entertaining book, and an engrossing read. I read this book in one sitting. Broken down into a series of short stories, this book is excellent for those times when you don't have the time to sit and read at your leisure, but rather allows you the option to dip in and out.
I love the title, and the cover design is spot on for the content. I especially enjoyed watching this book's preview movie. It is obvious that a lot of time and effort has been put into the whole book production process, not just into the writing.
This writer has a lively imagination and the very necessary ability to express his thoughts. I would highly recommend this collection of gems.
Four Stars
Review Date: 01/08/2013
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.
ABOUT THE BOOK
"Future Gone is conceived as a deep study of human nature, of our hidden, subconscious desires, of the constant roaming in the labyrinth of life and as a journey through human pathology. It presents in a unique way and from different points of view all that is hidden beneath the mask of simple things."
MY THOUGHTS
A thought provoking selection of short stories from Bulgarian Author Alexandar Tomov. I give it four stars instead of five, only due to the number of proofing errors within. However, it would be prudent to bear in mind that this has been translated into English - and for that matter, does much better in the grammar department than many an English written book manages to do. I will be sure to be looking out for more from this excellent writer.
The stories tend to be set in the future, and some will amuse, some will disturb, and yet others will provoke the reader into thinking a little more deeply about the issues and questions covered. All in all an entertaining book, and an engrossing read. I read this book in one sitting. Broken down into a series of short stories, this book is excellent for those times when you don't have the time to sit and read at your leisure, but rather allows you the option to dip in and out.
I love the title, and the cover design is spot on for the content. I especially enjoyed watching this book's preview movie. It is obvious that a lot of time and effort has been put into the whole book production process, not just into the writing.
This writer has a lively imagination and the very necessary ability to express his thoughts. I would highly recommend this collection of gems.
April 9, 2013
Before I start the review, I'd like to thank the author for giving me an PDF copy of the book to review.
To be honest, I've been avoiding this review for a while, but my memory is still pretty fresh. To put it simply: I don't think understood it properly.
At first I thought it was because I'm too young, being a teenager and all. Maybe the endings are too vague for young minds to understand, I thought. I couldn't find a meaning in the shocking end sentences in some stories. It did make me think though, so that was good.
When I first started reading, I was surprised by the authors style, but liked it because it was well-written. The endings were shockers (the ones that I did understand), and if that's how the writing is in English I can't even imagine how good the writing would have been in the author's first language. But after away it got really predictable. Where the endings should have been surprising and mind-blowing, I was expecting paradox endings and it didn't have the impact it should have had. There were also so many ellipses, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but caused me to pay attention to the number of times they appeared instead of the plot. I think in order for an author to truly reach their full potential in reading they should experiment with a couple different styles, instead of doing almost the same thing over and over.
The book was morbid and twisted and had a very dark feeling to it, and is not like your everyday novel. Not one I'd particularly recommend but one I think shows a lot of potential for the author in the science fiction world.
To be honest, I've been avoiding this review for a while, but my memory is still pretty fresh. To put it simply: I don't think understood it properly.
At first I thought it was because I'm too young, being a teenager and all. Maybe the endings are too vague for young minds to understand, I thought. I couldn't find a meaning in the shocking end sentences in some stories. It did make me think though, so that was good.
When I first started reading, I was surprised by the authors style, but liked it because it was well-written. The endings were shockers (the ones that I did understand), and if that's how the writing is in English I can't even imagine how good the writing would have been in the author's first language. But after away it got really predictable. Where the endings should have been surprising and mind-blowing, I was expecting paradox endings and it didn't have the impact it should have had. There were also so many ellipses, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but caused me to pay attention to the number of times they appeared instead of the plot. I think in order for an author to truly reach their full potential in reading they should experiment with a couple different styles, instead of doing almost the same thing over and over.
The book was morbid and twisted and had a very dark feeling to it, and is not like your everyday novel. Not one I'd particularly recommend but one I think shows a lot of potential for the author in the science fiction world.
September 1, 2013
When I come across a book like Future Gone I end up in a rating conundrum and here is why: the ratings are based on a "like ability scale" and some books are brilliantly written and original and yet leave you feeling like your mind was violated. How can you rate a book as "I really liked it" when the book is in no way intended to be used for recreational or pure pleasure reading? Here is what I've come up with...write an honest review about your overall emotions surrounding this book, BUT give credit in your starred ratings for excellent writing.
Future Gone is a strange, macabre collection of short stories that deal with dreams (often perverse), death and justice. These stories are meant to stretch your mind; they are highly complex and sophisticated with the purpose of providing the reader with a twisted puzzle to unravel. Some of these stories I really loved including: The Construction Site, The Discontinued Flight and The Machine; however other stories were too confusing and I felt slightly repulsed upon conclusion. These stories are not for everyone, but they are reminiscent of some great short story authors like Edgar Allan Poe (The Pit and the Pendulum and The Tell-Tall Heart) or Daphne du Maurier (Don't Look Now). I felt a similar ickiness after reading Poe or du Maurier, but are their short stories highly cerebral, original and well-written? Heck, yeah and so is Future Gone! So if you are looking for a fluffy, feel good story, this is not your book, but if you want a challenge, read Future Gone.
Future Gone is a strange, macabre collection of short stories that deal with dreams (often perverse), death and justice. These stories are meant to stretch your mind; they are highly complex and sophisticated with the purpose of providing the reader with a twisted puzzle to unravel. Some of these stories I really loved including: The Construction Site, The Discontinued Flight and The Machine; however other stories were too confusing and I felt slightly repulsed upon conclusion. These stories are not for everyone, but they are reminiscent of some great short story authors like Edgar Allan Poe (The Pit and the Pendulum and The Tell-Tall Heart) or Daphne du Maurier (Don't Look Now). I felt a similar ickiness after reading Poe or du Maurier, but are their short stories highly cerebral, original and well-written? Heck, yeah and so is Future Gone! So if you are looking for a fluffy, feel good story, this is not your book, but if you want a challenge, read Future Gone.
March 22, 2014
I think this book could have benefitted from an English edit, as it was translated to English from, I believe, Bulgarian. The flow was choppy in spots and I had to go back and reread certain sentences to fully comprehend what the author expressed. There were a few grammatical errors here as well but now I'm knit-picking.
As for the work, I'm having a hard time summing it up. However, I would best described it as the ultimate dystopia of the human condition. And for that reason alone, content-wise I'd give it 5 stars. These short stories pull the reader in many different directions emotionally. As I read through each, I felt an overwhelming sense of impending doom, much like knowing that a train wreck is coming, but not having any idea when. And for that, I loved this work.
This book is dark, depressing, horrifying, full of angst, unusual, and somewhat obscure. I was impressed.
Favorites from this collection include, The Stopped Time, Advertisement Of Hope, Future Gone, The Angel Of Crime, The Construction Site, Discontinued Flight, The Machine.
Tomov's imagination is incredible and he does a wonderful job translating it to the page. For that, he deserves high praise.
As for the work, I'm having a hard time summing it up. However, I would best described it as the ultimate dystopia of the human condition. And for that reason alone, content-wise I'd give it 5 stars. These short stories pull the reader in many different directions emotionally. As I read through each, I felt an overwhelming sense of impending doom, much like knowing that a train wreck is coming, but not having any idea when. And for that, I loved this work.
This book is dark, depressing, horrifying, full of angst, unusual, and somewhat obscure. I was impressed.
Favorites from this collection include, The Stopped Time, Advertisement Of Hope, Future Gone, The Angel Of Crime, The Construction Site, Discontinued Flight, The Machine.
Tomov's imagination is incredible and he does a wonderful job translating it to the page. For that, he deserves high praise.
April 8, 2013
I received a free digital copy of ‘Future Gone’ for my honest review. I must say, overall it was very morbid, disturbing, but interesting. I wanted to put it down but just couldn’t. Although, I couldn’t help but wonder what thoughts go through the authors mind. He really dwelled on death and Godly beings… He seems a little obsessed with grisly death and suicides.
The grammer had some rough spots although it wasn't really all that bad.
Many of the stories left me wondering with many questions. I understand that these are short stories but I think a few of them really have potential. I found it the perfect thing to read between my daily responsibilities at work. My favorite stories were The Stopped Time, Pierced by Infinity, and the Old Woman. I really think number 22, the Trace would make a good book!
I like the sentence in The Construction Site:
“Because I can! People always steal all they can”
It’s so truthful and that sentence really got to me.
This book consisted of a set of rather influential short stories – it really makes you think.
The grammer had some rough spots although it wasn't really all that bad.
Many of the stories left me wondering with many questions. I understand that these are short stories but I think a few of them really have potential. I found it the perfect thing to read between my daily responsibilities at work. My favorite stories were The Stopped Time, Pierced by Infinity, and the Old Woman. I really think number 22, the Trace would make a good book!
I like the sentence in The Construction Site:
“Because I can! People always steal all they can”
It’s so truthful and that sentence really got to me.
This book consisted of a set of rather influential short stories – it really makes you think.
July 8, 2014
This novella was interesting I must say. Different, I would throw in there too. I read several reviews on this book before I chose to read it. Future Gone, has some grammar issues;this I was aware of going in, simply due to it being translated into English. This fact I simply overlooked and proceeded to read it through. It is interesting in its concepts, different in its structure. It is a collection of mini short 'events' with no central characters or antagonist to follow. It was like an insane nightmare, a journey down the 'rabbit hole' into a world conjured out of the Mad Hatter's mind. Or if Neo took both the red and blue pill at the same time just to piss off Morpheus and ended up in the Crazy Matrix. Now with that being said I could not put the book down, I read it all through, I do not know if the author is a genius or delusional, perhaps this book will one day be revered as an epic that will be debated over at universities the world over, who can say. I leave that to others, the geniuses and the delusional to decide.
July 5, 2016
Translated from Bulgarian by Margarita Dogramadzyan.
This collection of short stories is bizarre, dreamlike, surreal. The stories themselves hold both intelligent insight and moral lessons. Unfortunately, either the translation or the original writing lack proper editing. They read like first drafts. The thoughts are put down but there’s no sign of revision and they therefore read rather like a wooden script: almost a synopsis. This is a shame, because the dreamlike quality holds great promise. It’s a promise that remains unrealised however and therefore reading this collection was ultimately disappointing.
It’s one of those books that leaves the reader feeling a little cheated, evoking the feeling that some very good opportunity has been missed. There’s an air of carelessness about the presentation of the book, as if it was published with a ‘that’ll do’ attitude.
Those who decide to nevertheless give the book a try will find most of the tales deal in death and dreams. A very strange collection that left me dissatisfied because it could have been so much better.
This collection of short stories is bizarre, dreamlike, surreal. The stories themselves hold both intelligent insight and moral lessons. Unfortunately, either the translation or the original writing lack proper editing. They read like first drafts. The thoughts are put down but there’s no sign of revision and they therefore read rather like a wooden script: almost a synopsis. This is a shame, because the dreamlike quality holds great promise. It’s a promise that remains unrealised however and therefore reading this collection was ultimately disappointing.
It’s one of those books that leaves the reader feeling a little cheated, evoking the feeling that some very good opportunity has been missed. There’s an air of carelessness about the presentation of the book, as if it was published with a ‘that’ll do’ attitude.
Those who decide to nevertheless give the book a try will find most of the tales deal in death and dreams. A very strange collection that left me dissatisfied because it could have been so much better.
August 8, 2013
I was given a digital version of this book by the author.
It is a collection of extremely short stories, which took me by surprise at the beginning. The stories are very fast paced and all of them have some kind of a unique, oftentimes morbid, twist. Most of them are thought provoking and as much as I enjoy when there's room for imagination, at times it wouldn't hurt if they offered some kind of explanation.
With that being said, I'd suggest not reading the entire book at once, but a story or two at a time, so the reader would have time to reflect upon the stories and not get frustrated with the lack of conclusion at most of them.
The "incompleteness" could have been the author's artistic intention, and for the most part it does work well, what bothered me though was the less than perfect English translation. Even with that said, the book is worth reading.
It is a collection of extremely short stories, which took me by surprise at the beginning. The stories are very fast paced and all of them have some kind of a unique, oftentimes morbid, twist. Most of them are thought provoking and as much as I enjoy when there's room for imagination, at times it wouldn't hurt if they offered some kind of explanation.
With that being said, I'd suggest not reading the entire book at once, but a story or two at a time, so the reader would have time to reflect upon the stories and not get frustrated with the lack of conclusion at most of them.
The "incompleteness" could have been the author's artistic intention, and for the most part it does work well, what bothered me though was the less than perfect English translation. Even with that said, the book is worth reading.
August 21, 2014
I rather enjoyed this short collection of short stories. Mr. Tomov’s work reminds me much of my own seen from afar at a far distant time- a style rather which I have never revisited. Starkly minimalist, and archly sardonic.
My personal favorites from this collection were The General, with its “purified humanity” and “sin purification machine”, the title story, Angel of Crime, with its eponymous main character posing a strange warning to a child unknowing of the Angel’s intent for him, and The Greatest Dictator of All Time- set in a future age, perhaps, but it may as well have been about the great mass murderers of the twentieth century.
Tomov’s stories are elemental and simply ask questions of the reader. Perhaps they often ask the reader questions they have had in the past and have forgotten.
My personal favorites from this collection were The General, with its “purified humanity” and “sin purification machine”, the title story, Angel of Crime, with its eponymous main character posing a strange warning to a child unknowing of the Angel’s intent for him, and The Greatest Dictator of All Time- set in a future age, perhaps, but it may as well have been about the great mass murderers of the twentieth century.
Tomov’s stories are elemental and simply ask questions of the reader. Perhaps they often ask the reader questions they have had in the past and have forgotten.
December 20, 2014
I am not sure if i should even rate this book. It was with so much difficulty that i could go from one chapter to another. I dunno if it was just me or what but i couldn't grab any meaning of the stories that each chapter addressed. If i am not wrong, It was about death and how it's perceived and mostly along the same line. It was so vague, so incomplete i couldn't grasp anything even when i read some chapter twice. I was just getting along with the flow and there the chapter would abruptly end. And i am like, some pages are missing but no, it ain't.
But i heard the book has been translated in English from Bulgarian. Maybe, the meaning might have been lost in the translation. Maybe this have only affected me.
I am giving 2 stars coz sometimes i actually could get the flow but as mentioned above it's vagueness and abruptness was the not for me.
But i heard the book has been translated in English from Bulgarian. Maybe, the meaning might have been lost in the translation. Maybe this have only affected me.
I am giving 2 stars coz sometimes i actually could get the flow but as mentioned above it's vagueness and abruptness was the not for me.
October 15, 2016
I didn't think about the title much until I was into the third or fourth short story and realized every story involved death. At that point I realized the significance of the title.
This theme of dieing makes for a dark read, especially when combining it with startling endings to the stories. I was shocked by some of the occurrences in the stories.
Also, I found the read was hindered by grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. I do wish the author had a good editor. These mistakes made for a frustrating read at some points in the book.
On a more positive note, I appreciate the author's exploration of time and ability to write out of the box with creative metaphors. I would have gotten more satisfaction out of the metaphors though if, perhaps, the stories had been just a bit longer or had more character details.
This theme of dieing makes for a dark read, especially when combining it with startling endings to the stories. I was shocked by some of the occurrences in the stories.
Also, I found the read was hindered by grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. I do wish the author had a good editor. These mistakes made for a frustrating read at some points in the book.
On a more positive note, I appreciate the author's exploration of time and ability to write out of the box with creative metaphors. I would have gotten more satisfaction out of the metaphors though if, perhaps, the stories had been just a bit longer or had more character details.
March 15, 2013
Now, to be honest I was biased towards the book from the very beginning, it all sounded to good to be true and I anticipated boring writing wit some shades of a grandeur complex... How wrong I was! The very first story got me. And I actually didn't stop reading till I read it all in one go, a rarity with me, I am more of a lazy reader.
Each story in this book may or may not touch you in a special way, but from my experience you very much might enjoy the reading ride with this authors latest creation. Loved the book the ideas behind the stories them selves and the written word style presented. Know for sure that will read it again.
Each story in this book may or may not touch you in a special way, but from my experience you very much might enjoy the reading ride with this authors latest creation. Loved the book the ideas behind the stories them selves and the written word style presented. Know for sure that will read it again.
May 20, 2013
I received a free PDF copy from the author in an exchange of an honest review.
Future gone is a book of 23 short Fiction stories.
Honestly, they are sophisticated deep stories,that require contemplation and thinking in the hidden message the author is trying to deliver.
I believe the author is talented, though I din't understand some of the stories as I got lost in translation which was poor :/ I believe the original copy in his native language must have been awesome !
I liked so much " The Construction Site" & " The Machine" . They were stunning.
Good Luck, Alexander Tomov
and waiting for your upcoming books.
Future gone is a book of 23 short Fiction stories.
Honestly, they are sophisticated deep stories,that require contemplation and thinking in the hidden message the author is trying to deliver.
I believe the author is talented, though I din't understand some of the stories as I got lost in translation which was poor :/ I believe the original copy in his native language must have been awesome !
I liked so much " The Construction Site" & " The Machine" . They were stunning.
Good Luck, Alexander Tomov
and waiting for your upcoming books.
September 12, 2013
This is a collection of short short stories with some common themes and style that come together well, reading it is much like reading a novella as opposed to story collection.
This wasn't bad, but just didn't quite come together for me. I think it could use the input of a good editor. I saw much more potential in Tomov than I did in execution of story.
Tomov has an interesting style and even more interesting view of the world. Despite a lower rating on this work, Future Gone did pique my interest enough that I hope to read a future work of Tomov someday. He has a potentially bright future.
This wasn't bad, but just didn't quite come together for me. I think it could use the input of a good editor. I saw much more potential in Tomov than I did in execution of story.
Tomov has an interesting style and even more interesting view of the world. Despite a lower rating on this work, Future Gone did pique my interest enough that I hope to read a future work of Tomov someday. He has a potentially bright future.
August 6, 2013
Future Gone in an interesting set of short stories that leave you surprised by the end. When I first started reading this book I admit I wasn't sure how much I would like this collection, but by the end of the book I was satisfied with the read. Not all of the stories were to my liking of course ,but there were a few I quite liked and re-read, wishing they could be a bit longer!
Overall I believe the author has quite the mind to create such interesting and unique stories and I'm glad I decided to read and review this book.I do wonder though, how much better the book would have been with a better translation.
Overall I believe the author has quite the mind to create such interesting and unique stories and I'm glad I decided to read and review this book.I do wonder though, how much better the book would have been with a better translation.
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