What do you think?
Rate this book
A Single Round: A Collection of Short Stories from a Hard Place
A Single Round is a collection of short stories from a hard place. Stories of moonshine and shotguns, obsession and transcendence, love and darkness, and the blindness of human desire. Each tale follows a painful path to one ultimate The devil’s deal always ends badly and often with a single round.
The head that was found on the blacktop tells a tale in "Johnny F--king Carson".
Tommy watches his dream love become a nightmare in "Together Forever".
Fame has a dark side, "Becoming Famous" echoes the age-old warning, "be careful what you wish for".
A story of realization, loss, and transformation takes flight in "Redwing".
Never judge a book by its cover, even one with fangs, as a surprise awaits in "Doc’s Choice".
"The Grounded", sometimes the dream of escape should remain a dream.
A tale of a man who fell in love with a woman who forgot him in "The Dog Walker".
"The Ride" will make you second guess what you thought you were sure of.
The head that was found on the blacktop tells a tale in "Johnny F--king Carson".
Tommy watches his dream love become a nightmare in "Together Forever".
Fame has a dark side, "Becoming Famous" echoes the age-old warning, "be careful what you wish for".
A story of realization, loss, and transformation takes flight in "Redwing".
Never judge a book by its cover, even one with fangs, as a surprise awaits in "Doc’s Choice".
"The Grounded", sometimes the dream of escape should remain a dream.
A tale of a man who fell in love with a woman who forgot him in "The Dog Walker".
"The Ride" will make you second guess what you thought you were sure of.
Audible Audio
Published February 19, 2021
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Jacobson
19 books386 followersAfter leaving the north forests and farmland of Saskatchewan, Rick headed to Calgary and the Alberta College of Art. After 4 years of hard work, he came out confused and somewhat lost. Now what?
Rick has been a bouncer (1 week), he has been a radio switcher (1 night), he worked at the CBC (1 month), he was a stuntman (2 action movies that he never saw, but he’s not alone in that) and he modelled briefly (he was the Jolly Green Giant for a time). Rick has built houses, packed groceries, cut grass and has written four and illustrated nineteen children’s books. He has worked as a painter, a designer, an illustrator and a writer.
Rick has won awards for his work in advertising and publishing, including the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award and numerous national and international awards including the Toronto Art Directors’ Awards, Communication Arts Magazine’s Award of Excellence, American Illustration Award of Excellence, and the New York Art Directors’ Award of Excellence. He has been featured in Smithsonian magazine, Applied Arts Magazine and in The Artist’s Magazine. His commissioned portraits include Robertson Davies, Margaret Atwood, Christopher Ondaatje, and David Thomson.
His collection of short stories "A Single Round" is scheduled for release Oct 24, 2020. He is currently working on his first novel called 'HARD PLACE'.
Rick has been a bouncer (1 week), he has been a radio switcher (1 night), he worked at the CBC (1 month), he was a stuntman (2 action movies that he never saw, but he’s not alone in that) and he modelled briefly (he was the Jolly Green Giant for a time). Rick has built houses, packed groceries, cut grass and has written four and illustrated nineteen children’s books. He has worked as a painter, a designer, an illustrator and a writer.
Rick has won awards for his work in advertising and publishing, including the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award and numerous national and international awards including the Toronto Art Directors’ Awards, Communication Arts Magazine’s Award of Excellence, American Illustration Award of Excellence, and the New York Art Directors’ Award of Excellence. He has been featured in Smithsonian magazine, Applied Arts Magazine and in The Artist’s Magazine. His commissioned portraits include Robertson Davies, Margaret Atwood, Christopher Ondaatje, and David Thomson.
His collection of short stories "A Single Round" is scheduled for release Oct 24, 2020. He is currently working on his first novel called 'HARD PLACE'.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 26, 2020
A Single Round is a series of short stories that are tied together with the theme of making a deal with the devil. Every deal is different and they all turn out in interesting ways. Never do they turn out as the characters expect.
At a crossroads, if you go there at midnight, you will meet a man who drives a big black car and calls himself the Judge. You'd be wise to stay away from him except... he can offer you your heart's desire. He can give you the one thing you want most in the world and all it will cost is your soul. For some people, maybe even a lot of people, that's a price they are willing to pay.
All of the stories in A Single Round play out with this setup. Some deliver better than others but for the most part the stories are interesting and engaging. While this could get overly repetitive, the book avoids this by making the stories somewhat interrelated and some characters tend to show up more often than others. There is some depth in most, but not all of the stories. On the surface of it, some of the things people sell their souls for might be considered trivial but later in the story the reader is shown that there is more to the story.
R A Jacobson does a fine job of setting the mood and making the reader quickly get to know the characters and feel for their plight. Although, some characters are much easier to sympathize with than others due to some of the choices they make.
Reminiscent of Needful Things by Stephen King or short stories where the buyer should beware such as The Monkey's Paw by W.W Jacobs, this is a great collection of bite sized terror and tragedy to read through right before bed at night.
At a crossroads, if you go there at midnight, you will meet a man who drives a big black car and calls himself the Judge. You'd be wise to stay away from him except... he can offer you your heart's desire. He can give you the one thing you want most in the world and all it will cost is your soul. For some people, maybe even a lot of people, that's a price they are willing to pay.
All of the stories in A Single Round play out with this setup. Some deliver better than others but for the most part the stories are interesting and engaging. While this could get overly repetitive, the book avoids this by making the stories somewhat interrelated and some characters tend to show up more often than others. There is some depth in most, but not all of the stories. On the surface of it, some of the things people sell their souls for might be considered trivial but later in the story the reader is shown that there is more to the story.
R A Jacobson does a fine job of setting the mood and making the reader quickly get to know the characters and feel for their plight. Although, some characters are much easier to sympathize with than others due to some of the choices they make.
Reminiscent of Needful Things by Stephen King or short stories where the buyer should beware such as The Monkey's Paw by W.W Jacobs, this is a great collection of bite sized terror and tragedy to read through right before bed at night.
March 25, 2026
A Single Round by R. A. Jacobson is a dark and unflinching collection of short stories that explores the raw edges of human desire, consequence, and moral ambiguity. Set against a backdrop of grit and emotional intensity, the collection presents a series of narratives that each build toward a singular, often unsettling truth, that every choice carries a cost, and some bargains are never meant to be made.
What makes this collection particularly compelling is its thematic consistency. While each story stands on its own, they are unified by a shared atmosphere of tension and inevitability. From obsession and loss to fleeting moments of transcendence, Jacobson crafts stories that feel grounded in realism while carrying an almost mythic sense of consequence. The recurring idea of the “devil’s deal” serves as both a narrative thread and a philosophical anchor, reinforcing the weight of each character’s decisions.
The storytelling is direct and impactful, allowing the emotional core of each piece to come through without distraction. Stories like Johnny Fucking Carson and Together Forever highlight the author’s ability to navigate both shock and introspection, while others introduce moments of reflection that linger beyond their conclusion. There is a deliberate rawness to the writing that complements the subject matter, enhancing the sense of authenticity across the collection.
Another strength lies in the variety of perspectives and situations presented. Whether examining the consequences of ambition, the fragility of relationships, or the illusion of control, each story offers a distinct lens while contributing to the overarching tone of the collection. This balance keeps the reading experience engaging while maintaining a cohesive identity.
A Single Round is well suited for readers who appreciate dark, thought provoking fiction that does not shy away from difficult truths. It is a collection that invites reflection, challenging readers to consider the nature of choice, consequence, and the often irreversible paths we take.
What makes this collection particularly compelling is its thematic consistency. While each story stands on its own, they are unified by a shared atmosphere of tension and inevitability. From obsession and loss to fleeting moments of transcendence, Jacobson crafts stories that feel grounded in realism while carrying an almost mythic sense of consequence. The recurring idea of the “devil’s deal” serves as both a narrative thread and a philosophical anchor, reinforcing the weight of each character’s decisions.
The storytelling is direct and impactful, allowing the emotional core of each piece to come through without distraction. Stories like Johnny Fucking Carson and Together Forever highlight the author’s ability to navigate both shock and introspection, while others introduce moments of reflection that linger beyond their conclusion. There is a deliberate rawness to the writing that complements the subject matter, enhancing the sense of authenticity across the collection.
Another strength lies in the variety of perspectives and situations presented. Whether examining the consequences of ambition, the fragility of relationships, or the illusion of control, each story offers a distinct lens while contributing to the overarching tone of the collection. This balance keeps the reading experience engaging while maintaining a cohesive identity.
A Single Round is well suited for readers who appreciate dark, thought provoking fiction that does not shy away from difficult truths. It is a collection that invites reflection, challenging readers to consider the nature of choice, consequence, and the often irreversible paths we take.
October 27, 2020
Initially I thought this book was interesting. I was craving for some noir-horror anthology story the moment I saw the cover and the free price tag. However, my disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined.
The stories were interesting to be fair. But the writing is horrible, with problems such as missing commas or periods, too much spaces or lack of spaces, adverbs galore (like “excitedly”, “slightly”, ‘tasty”), and sentences that basically look like drafts, such as: “It was too big and made too much noise, but when it came out people noticed which sometimes was all you needed.”
Also, there are bad grammar/repetitions in the prose that are weird to read, like “Just bright headlights blaring in its eyes, then a roar and rush of wind or a roar and a rush of the wind and tail lights disappearing down the road in front of it."
Again, interesting concept, but poor editing ruined it.
The stories were interesting to be fair. But the writing is horrible, with problems such as missing commas or periods, too much spaces or lack of spaces, adverbs galore (like “excitedly”, “slightly”, ‘tasty”), and sentences that basically look like drafts, such as: “It was too big and made too much noise, but when it came out people noticed which sometimes was all you needed.”
Also, there are bad grammar/repetitions in the prose that are weird to read, like “Just bright headlights blaring in its eyes, then a roar and rush of wind or a roar and a rush of the wind and tail lights disappearing down the road in front of it."
Again, interesting concept, but poor editing ruined it.
January 13, 2021
The illustrations are worth the price of admission, they are gorgeous, top notch. I loved the stories and yes it could use better editing, but the story telling is really great and the stories although echoing classic themes are told in an original voice. Simple and appropriate for the era and the culture it portrays. It sets the mood and is descriptive without being over the top about it. I can feel it and that is a sign of a great story teller. I chuckled and I cringed and the twists and turns keep it interesting and fun. One finds oneself immersed in a world that rings of authenticity.
Great job and I look forward to much more from R.A. Jacobson!
Great job and I look forward to much more from R.A. Jacobson!
June 7, 2021
Excellent read, a wonderful fresh take on making deals with the devil. The compilation of short stories are well crafted, drawing the reader into explore the next story. Highly recommend.
August 25, 2021
Enjoyed these short stories. Once I got past the American dialect. Some were better than others, but overall found them a good read.
February 2, 2021
So this is the book that a poster in Reddit claimed about the author who reviewed his own book with a freaking 5 star rating. I managed to get a kindle copy of it and yep, it's true. This is a book that needs a LOT of editing and shame anyone who tries to review their own work. It's horrible and hard to read. Didn't even bother finishing it. That said, cool illustrations though. They look amazing and haunting. All you need Mr. Jacobson is some editing, maybe even some beta readers to make it easier to read through.
EDIT: Went back to this and it's good that the author removed his own rating on it.
EDIT: Went back to this and it's good that the author removed his own rating on it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews