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Lousy with Chaos: and Other Peculiar Stories
A viral case of amnesia, a ghost in a time machine, a satellite image of god—LOUSY WITH CHAOS is your maniacal tour guide through the magic and machinery of time, space, and love. Spread across nineteen peculiar stories, these dark adventures document what happens when fantastic dreams of bright futures go crashing headlong into the horror we call reality.
In Speak and Spells, a children’s toy is imbued with the power to alter reality, unbeknownst to those playing with it. In Juxtapose, a discounted concert ticket gets you into the show, but keeping the memory costs extra. In Lousy with Chaos, a utopia’s overnight collapse introduces imperfection into a perfectly curated world. In Come Again Another Day, a dark rain roves the sky, flinging everything it soaks into an unknown future.
Equal parts science-fiction and black comedy, these shorts seek out the heart hidden within hopeless situations.
ADVANCE PRAISE
“Whimsically unhinged with an undercurrent of tenderness.” —Nik Korpon, author of Radicals
“As tender as it can be brutal, Lousy with Chaos gives us horror and heartbreak, mystery and murder, and sweethearts and scumbags. Troxell evokes a transgressive Rod Serling or Shirley Jackson. This is a collection of truly original, diverse, and engaging short stories from a writer sure of their craft.” —Daniel DiFranco, author of Panic Years
“Enchantingly human sci-fi in the vein of Ray Bradbury and The Twilight Zone.” —Reader Review
Content Warning: These stories contain references to assault, domestic violence, suicide, rape, and murder.
In Speak and Spells, a children’s toy is imbued with the power to alter reality, unbeknownst to those playing with it. In Juxtapose, a discounted concert ticket gets you into the show, but keeping the memory costs extra. In Lousy with Chaos, a utopia’s overnight collapse introduces imperfection into a perfectly curated world. In Come Again Another Day, a dark rain roves the sky, flinging everything it soaks into an unknown future.
Equal parts science-fiction and black comedy, these shorts seek out the heart hidden within hopeless situations.
ADVANCE PRAISE
“Whimsically unhinged with an undercurrent of tenderness.” —Nik Korpon, author of Radicals
“As tender as it can be brutal, Lousy with Chaos gives us horror and heartbreak, mystery and murder, and sweethearts and scumbags. Troxell evokes a transgressive Rod Serling or Shirley Jackson. This is a collection of truly original, diverse, and engaging short stories from a writer sure of their craft.” —Daniel DiFranco, author of Panic Years
“Enchantingly human sci-fi in the vein of Ray Bradbury and The Twilight Zone.” —Reader Review
Content Warning: These stories contain references to assault, domestic violence, suicide, rape, and murder.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2023
3 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 28, 2024
I wrote this with the goal of entertaining myself. Mission Accomplished (not in a George Bush kind of way)
June 1, 2024
I got to read some of these stories early on and I just finished rereading it all the way through. Jake, you never cease to amaze me. Love this collection of stories, my fav being The Stillness, but I would love to read a novel length of Hindsight. You better be writing more.
To everyone else, read this book.
To everyone else, read this book.
December 10, 2023
These short stories definitely got better throughout the book. Many endings in the first half either lacked luster or were not explained well. Some were even over-explained which took away the magic. I'm sure this is difficult in the short story format. Overall though, the stories were creative and entertaining.
November 2, 2023
This is a literary gem that deserves nothing less than five stars. Troxell's masterful storytelling takes readers on a captivating journey through a collection of peculiar and thought-provoking tales. Each story is a unique blend of creativity, wit, and a touch of the bizarre, making it impossible to put down. Troxell's ability to weave intricate narratives and evoke powerful emotions is truly commendable. Whether you're a fan of short stories or just looking for an escape into the world of the strange and the unknown, this book will not disappoint. A must-read for anyone who appreciates the art of storytelling at its finest.
July 24, 2023
As tender as it can be brutal, Lousy with Chaos gives us horror and heartbreak, mystery and murder, and sweethearts and scumbags. Troxell evokes a transgressive Rod Serling or Shirley Jackson. This is a collection of truly original, diverse, and engaging short stories from a writer sure of their craft.
January 30, 2024
I really enjoyed most of these short stories and I felt that the stories got better as the book progressed. There was a lot of originality and I will definitely remember the story about the Speak And Spell and about the lionhearted toy for a long time to come. Thanks for the ARC, Goodreads. I would really like to read more from this author.
March 23, 2024
**Goodreads Giveaway
Lots of different, great stories. Always amazed at how much can fit into a short story and be so well written and interesting.
Lots of different, great stories. Always amazed at how much can fit into a short story and be so well written and interesting.
January 27, 2024
Book review 📚 lousy with chaos and other peculiar short stories
(Thank you for sending it to me):-)
Genre- Science fiction/black comedy
Another book to add to my top 5⭐s of 2023!
Every story was wonderful and so creative!
I can't wait to read more by this author.
These short stories will take you through time and even space, where roads glow at night, a children's toy can change the present, a ghost can re live his life over and over, a simple app can give you all of your desires but to keep the memories comes at a price. And many more stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more even after the last page..
(Thank you for sending it to me):-)
Genre- Science fiction/black comedy
Another book to add to my top 5⭐s of 2023!
Every story was wonderful and so creative!
I can't wait to read more by this author.
These short stories will take you through time and even space, where roads glow at night, a children's toy can change the present, a ghost can re live his life over and over, a simple app can give you all of your desires but to keep the memories comes at a price. And many more stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more even after the last page..
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews