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Bus Driver Man
School bus driver Mr. McAllister plays it by the book, but when one of his kids gets in trouble with a bully standing up for the bus chaperon, Mr. McAllister takes matters into his own hands, devising a plan to rid the students of the worst kid in school.
21 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2014
23 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Duncan Ralston
81 books2,059 followers**CVLT: Lonely Motel Book 3 out now!!!**
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Winter 2026**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.
For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
**Sequel to the hit novel PUZZLE HOUSE coming Winter 2026**
Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.
For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.
Photo © Josh Silver 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 14, 2022
Fitting!
A school bus driver is sick and tired of the schoolbus bully.
He wants to put a stop to his bullying, but the boy is the mayor’s son.
One day, he thinks up a plan to put a stop to him.
A school bus driver is sick and tired of the schoolbus bully.
He wants to put a stop to his bullying, but the boy is the mayor’s son.
One day, he thinks up a plan to put a stop to him.
August 23, 2019
Very short story from author, Duncan Ralston.
Revenge is sweet in this tale of bus driver, Mr. McAllister handling a bully that rides his bus everyday. Jesse a/k/a the bully, just likes picking on other kids on the bus and doing things to them not caring about the consequences of his actions. Mr. McAllister tries to think of ways to handle Jesse without getting backlash from the school board and possibly getting fired. What he does and how he does it makes an interesting read. Giving it 3.5 stars so rounding it up to 4 stars for this one.
Revenge is sweet in this tale of bus driver, Mr. McAllister handling a bully that rides his bus everyday. Jesse a/k/a the bully, just likes picking on other kids on the bus and doing things to them not caring about the consequences of his actions. Mr. McAllister tries to think of ways to handle Jesse without getting backlash from the school board and possibly getting fired. What he does and how he does it makes an interesting read. Giving it 3.5 stars so rounding it up to 4 stars for this one.
January 3, 2026
“Bus Driver Man” by Duncan Ralston is a quick short story written by one of the kings of splatterpunk. Ever since I read “WOOM” back in 2022, I’ve been hooked on anything Ralston writes. I grabbed a bunch of his older books and short stories in a book haul last year, and figured I'd get a head start in 2026 by reading some of these “quickie” books under 30 pages. This short story was decent, but I expected a little more.
Before I dive into my book review, here are the trigger warnings I found while reading…
- Kidnapping
- Suicide
- Bullying
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this book. Moving along, I enjoyed how short, sweet, and to the point this was. It had a good buildup for some revenge horror, but when it got to the end, I expected a bit more. Perhaps a crazy twist or it ending in precisely what the reader wanted if you’re in a particular mood for revenge horror, but it never came.
Regardless, it was an interesting ending, and I still enjoyed the story. The bus driver, Mr. McAllister, was very relatable as a character, and for those of you who tend to hate bullying, especially by kids, you’ll connect with him as well. Again, if the ending had just been a final twist or something in the splatterpunk realm, this would have been even better.
I give “Bus Driver Man” by Duncan Ralston a 3/5 for being a decent read, but I just wanted a bit more, especially with the ending. I still enjoyed it as it wasn’t a complete dud, but it wasn’t extraordinary either. It was a good story, and I’m excited to continue reading more of Ralston’s work. He has a great writing style, and I was impressed that he was able to jam-pack this story into just 21 pages.
Before I dive into my book review, here are the trigger warnings I found while reading…
- Kidnapping
- Suicide
- Bullying
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this book. Moving along, I enjoyed how short, sweet, and to the point this was. It had a good buildup for some revenge horror, but when it got to the end, I expected a bit more. Perhaps a crazy twist or it ending in precisely what the reader wanted if you’re in a particular mood for revenge horror, but it never came.
Regardless, it was an interesting ending, and I still enjoyed the story. The bus driver, Mr. McAllister, was very relatable as a character, and for those of you who tend to hate bullying, especially by kids, you’ll connect with him as well. Again, if the ending had just been a final twist or something in the splatterpunk realm, this would have been even better.
I give “Bus Driver Man” by Duncan Ralston a 3/5 for being a decent read, but I just wanted a bit more, especially with the ending. I still enjoyed it as it wasn’t a complete dud, but it wasn’t extraordinary either. It was a good story, and I’m excited to continue reading more of Ralston’s work. He has a great writing style, and I was impressed that he was able to jam-pack this story into just 21 pages.
January 27, 2022
Shorty but Goody!!
This may have been a short story but Duncan Ralston sure packs a lot in. Mr McAllister (bus driver man) saw the very same bully every day, and who could blame him for wanting to take out Jessie. But high five 🙌🏼 to Mr McAllister for doing the ‘right’ thing in the end. This was a good little short!
This may have been a short story but Duncan Ralston sure packs a lot in. Mr McAllister (bus driver man) saw the very same bully every day, and who could blame him for wanting to take out Jessie. But high five 🙌🏼 to Mr McAllister for doing the ‘right’ thing in the end. This was a good little short!
August 1, 2022
Revenge of the school bus driver. Nicely done.
December 13, 2024
i was watching home alone while reading this (iykyk)
November 29, 2020
Short story of revenge. Like the book says, liars seem to do well in life LOL.
December 14, 2021
I am a sucker for any revenge story, so I find this satisfying despite its length, or lack thereof.
Thank you, Duncan Ralston for giving me free e-copies of your books. Guys, if you're interested in horror short stories and novellas, please go to this author's website. He gives it for free when you subscribe to his newsletter.
Thank you, Duncan Ralston for giving me free e-copies of your books. Guys, if you're interested in horror short stories and novellas, please go to this author's website. He gives it for free when you subscribe to his newsletter.
February 8, 2021
Oh, no.. I feel bad for being the only one to give this story 1 star 😒 Sorry Mr Ralston!
June 16, 2024
Revenge is great or is it?
Mr McAllister a bus driver who has just about had it with a kid called Jessie Kinsmen. Jessie torments not just the driver and the bus chaperone but the kids too. But is anything ever done? No, not at all.
Mr McAllister finally has enough but will his conscience get in the way?
I really enjoyed this, something different but easy to read. It's definitely helping me out of my slump.
Mr McAllister a bus driver who has just about had it with a kid called Jessie Kinsmen. Jessie torments not just the driver and the bus chaperone but the kids too. But is anything ever done? No, not at all.
Mr McAllister finally has enough but will his conscience get in the way?
I really enjoyed this, something different but easy to read. It's definitely helping me out of my slump.
July 10, 2023
Super short story, but enjoyed it!
January 27, 2022
Revenge is sweet
...especially when it's on a school bully.
...especially when it's on a school bully.
February 9, 2025
Mr. McAllister is a humble bus driver, tired of feeling helpless witnessing the antics of the local school bully. That is, until the day that the bully decides to take things too far. Bus Driver Man is a short but satisfying little revenge story that delivers on the premise. I really enjoyed the animated characters and small town charm of the story while highlighting the bravery of those that choose to stand up for others. The narrative accomplishes a lot in a short amount of pages and it was an enjoyable read.
November 26, 2023
Cynical, Hardcore Revenge
This is a story about a bus driver pushed to the limit over a bully on his bus. His philosophy of life is hard and cynical, but when the bully picks on a kid who stood up for the bully’s target and pays a hard price, the bus driver opts for revenge.
The story is entertaining and we-written with characters that aren’t caricatures.
This is a story about a bus driver pushed to the limit over a bully on his bus. His philosophy of life is hard and cynical, but when the bully picks on a kid who stood up for the bully’s target and pays a hard price, the bus driver opts for revenge.
The story is entertaining and we-written with characters that aren’t caricatures.
February 16, 2023
Interesting idea
Interesting concept. What bus driver in this day and age doesn't wish a little pay back on the entitled brat run amuck? Love stories where the bullies get their comeuppance. Disappointing ending though.
Interesting concept. What bus driver in this day and age doesn't wish a little pay back on the entitled brat run amuck? Love stories where the bullies get their comeuppance. Disappointing ending though.
June 29, 2024
Revenge
I've heard so many things about Duncan Ralston books. This was such a perfect way to be introduced. A short story of a bus driver's revenge. While disturbing it was executed in a way that kept you entertained. Now I'll have to check out another book.
I've heard so many things about Duncan Ralston books. This was such a perfect way to be introduced. A short story of a bus driver's revenge. While disturbing it was executed in a way that kept you entertained. Now I'll have to check out another book.
June 2, 2025
The story is fast-paced and unsettling, with a dark twist that lingers. Duncan Ralston does an excellent job of building tension in a short amount of time. It’s a quick but powerful read about how far someone might go when the system fails.
A solid pick for fans of dark fiction and moral dilemmas.
A solid pick for fans of dark fiction and moral dilemmas.
December 3, 2022
Another good short story.
January 9, 2023
Duncan Ralston has done it again with a wonderful no words wasted tale. The ending was a bit of a surprise to me. Master of shorts!
January 25, 2023
Short read from Ralston. It didn't end the way I thought it would. Better watch how you act. You never know who's watching or who will take revenge. Good short read.
March 12, 2023
A super fun and dark short story by one of my fave new masters of horror!!
April 4, 2023
This was a fun little guy. The bus driver's revenge on the school bully! Pretty clever plot packed into less than 30 pages.
May 14, 2023
Short but Meaningful
School bus bully, what would you have done to handle him? Read the story and decide. I did and I know I would have kicked his a**e
School bus bully, what would you have done to handle him? Read the story and decide. I did and I know I would have kicked his a**e
October 13, 2024
This is a 3.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 4 🌟.
I read the Google Play Books ebook version of the story.
I read the Google Play Books ebook version of the story.
May 28, 2025
Fun little read that brought back school bus memories, good and bad, with a little life or death tension thrown in.
August 16, 2025
Jesus christ, the duality of man. Home not wants to reach a airhead kid a lesson, freaks out when it happens, then saved the day.
August 18, 2025
Very short story from Duncan Ralston. A bully needs to be taught a lesson. What should the bus driver do? Read this interesting story to find out what happens.
October 25, 2025
This was terrible I couldn't even read it because there were so many curse words.
January 6, 2026
Nice little short story. I need more horror with bus drivers now.
July 21, 2022
This is the perfect revenge short story! I would highly recommend this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews