Fairies, Robots and Unicorns—Oh My!: Humorous Fantasy and Science Fiction

A Collection of Funny Short Stories

by Sarina Dorie

Adult Warning: These stories contain randy robots, naughty fairies and lawyers who fantasize about Star Trek. This quirky collection gathers the funniest fantasy and weirdest science fiction stories written by award winning author, Sarina Dorie. Included in this book of treats are previously published stories such as:
Debbie Does Delta Draconis
Eels for Heels
Roborotica
The Optimist Police
Lady Chatterley’s Computer
In all, there are seventeen tales to transport you to another world and tickle your funny bone.

Sarina Dorie is a published author who has sold over a hundred short stories to markets like Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Daily Science Fiction, and Orson Scott Card’s IGMS. She has won multiple RWA awards for her novels, and has won the Allasso Humor Award and the Penn Cove Literary Award multiple times.

Genres: Fantasy, Unicorns, Short Stories

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2016

Reviews

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of stories was weird, sometimes creepy and completely hilarious!
As much as I wanted to furiously consume these stories all at once, I found myself saving them for days when I needed a good giggle.
I highly recommend this to anyone who needs a strange and entertaining escape from the everyday!

Favourite stories:
Five tips for Slaying a Unicorn
The Office Messiah
Robo-rotica
Thank you NetGalley and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for this DRC.

[Amy BP · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I like to leave some feedback midway through a reading of a (NetGalley) book, and I do so for a variety of reasons. The first reason being to let the author know that I am indeed reading their work as I tend to be a slow reader. Second, I like to gauge where I myself am at as far as liking or disliking a book; this allows me to decipher when a book either goes south or takes a turn for the better. Finally, it allows me to make my notes and share my thoughts without forgetting them.*

So far, this book is hilarious! I tend to have issues with reading books that I know are meant to be funny. For the most part, I find that I either expect too much or the author is trying too hard to make me laugh so the humor has no genuine feel. Neither of these scenarios is the case with Fairies Robots, and Unicorns? -- Oh My!

For my hour long lunch break, I use the gym located in the basement of the building I work in. You're probably wondering how I am going to loop my gym time around to seamlessly connect with my reading of this book OR you're secretly shaming me for being some sort of fitness braggart. So that I don't get bored on the treadmill, I all out run for a song, and then I will walk for a song - you know, mix it up so I don't start to hate what I am doing. During my walking periods, I partook in reading this book, and I was laughing out loud, no holds barred, and zero respect for the quiet space others may prefer in order to enjoy their workout. So, now I'm the lunatic that laughs during her cardio! Thank you for that, Sarina Dorie.

This book read in such a way that I could imagine that the author and I were sitting over coffees while she was telling me a story, casually like a conversation between friends - I love books like that.

As per my usual disclaimer, I'm not one to summarize the plot - I don't dig for the deeper meaning(s) hidden in the text.. I'm going to tell you if the book is good, not good, why, or why not. This book is SO worth the read, especially if you enjoy laughing. Fairies Robots, and Unicorns? -- Oh My! is witty, it's clever, it's genuinely funny.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story collection to make your day happier. Definitely makes you laugh. Loved it.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and light-hearted.

[Wesley Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I’ve read more than my fair share of sci-fi, I haven’t read all that many short stories in the genre and even fewer intentionally humorous SF yarns. Some have stuck in my mind, such as one tale in which a female author had a group of “Wendys” rebelling from the adolescent chauvinism of Peter Pan and his Lost Boys expecting the Wendies to forever take care of all their domestic needs.

Excluding one anthology of Harry Harrison stories, Fairies, Robots and Unicorns was the first collection of light-hearted offerings I ever sat down to read. I’m glad I did. I don’t plan on it being the last collection of such fare I spend time with. In particular, Sarina Dorie is often wickedly clever, laugh out loud funny, and extremely original, one of my favorite characteristics from an author in any genre.

For example, “Five Tips for Slaying a Unicorn” is a bit of humorous advice told in a list, a literary device the author wanted to experiment with. “Speed Dating Books” is about a trip to a bookstore where books try their seductive best to get buyers to take them home. “Debbie Does Delta Draconis III” plays with thinly-disguised characters from Star Trek, or at least alien surrogates for them, who invade a lawyer’s dreams.

Some stories aren’t so much comical as offbeat or simply quirky.” Eels for Heels” is a weird modern fairy tale where a woman is cursed by a sea witch who gives her eels magically attached to her heels until she finds her true love. Not every tale tries to be comic. In one of my favorites, “The Quantum Mechanic,” a more straight-forward sci-fi story features some hiccups in the space-time continuum with happy results, at least for one soon to be involved romantic couple. Likewise, “Cinderella’s Holo-Wand” is a cautionary tale about wanting to use technology to transform from an undesirable body into hopeful physical perfection.

In such a collection, few readers are likely to like everything. I wasn’t too fond of “Red as a Pickle” which has aliens draining away all the colors on earth until they are outwitted by a housecat. “The Office Messiah” is a rather underdeveloped play on the philosophy of Jesus as juxtaposed against workplace realities. “Blackboard Galaxy” is a simply odd tale of a human teacher trying to deal with alien children who expect to be eaten when they are bad. Eaten but restored to health unlike digested human food.

Some yarns are obvious parodies as with “The Optimist Police” where negative thoughts are criminalized. I’m certain every reader who’s ever tried to work with tech support from any company you can think of will emphasize with a starship captain under attack from aliens unable to get help until he extends his warranty in “Interstellar Tech Support.” Speaking of parodies, “Lady Chatterly’s Computer” is a very clever take-off of the D.H. Lawrence novel.

Some titles, like “Confessions of the Orgasm Fairy” and “Robo-rotica,” might suggest the collection isn’t intended for YA readers. But the content really isn’t anything too heavy for most teenagers. “Robo-rotica” is the most explicit of the fantasies, describing hot sex between two machines. If that titillates you, then be concerned. Be very concerned.

Among the many characteristics we learn about Sarina Dorie is that she has a background of classroom teaching, that she has an Italian mother, she likes food, and, of course, enjoys sex. At least invoking it in her writing. This collection is but a thin slice of her 100 or so short stories which you can learn more about at—
http://sarinadorie.com/

Fairies, Robots and Unicorns is entertaining, light reading with its occasional social commentary delivered with more than a spoonful of sugar, sometimes just silly, often simply twisted, sometimes wickedly funny. It’s the sort of collection you can read in short sessions as some of the tales are extremely short indeed.


This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on April 7, 2018
https://waa.ai/zLIh

[Breane Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an arc from netgalley, even though the book has been out for a while. Loved this book, and laughed out numerous times! Definitely recommend it!

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 4 out of 5]

not kindle unlimited, does contain 'adult warning' below is list of all the stories in collection, at least this time it is collection, some have read singularly before but saw listing for both the collections, got both collections via instafreebie at time, going to go with 4 overall, an average {of sorts} because pretty sure most to all got at least 3, couple or so 4 or maybe even 5, not trying to say they are all 4's but on average, and being in set

Speed Dating Books
Debbie Does Delta Draconis III
Eels for Heels
The Quantum Mechanic
Red as a Pickle
Cinderella’s Holo-wand
doesn't list it but Optimist Police is here
You Say Potato, I Say Holy Crap
Interstellar Tech Support
The Last Supper
Lady Chatterley’s Computer
The Office Messiah
Blackboard Galaxy
not listed Gnocchi is here
Confessions of the Orgasm Fairy
Robo-rotica
also not listed 5 short chapters of MONSTERS AND MAGIC

Fairies, Robots and Unicorns?--Oh My!: A Collection of Funny Short Stories
Ghosts, Werewolves and Zombies-Oh My!: A Collection of Funny Short Stories

[George S. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some clever, funny stories in here. I particularly liked "Eels for Heels", "Red as a Pickle", and "The Office Messiah".

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of short stories by a great writer

I am a big fan of Sarina Dorie and her “Womby's School for Wayward Witches” series, so I was delighted to be able to obtain an advance reader copy for review purposes via Netgalley. This collection of short stories did not disappoint. They have the same well-paced fun to them as the Womby books. The stories were very short, so I fell into the “just one more” mode of reading and before I knew it, the book was done. My only criticism of the book is that it could have been longer with more stories. I recommend this book for fans of the genre and especially for Sarina Dorie fans.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My is right! Sarina took me on an imagination adventure with these short stories. Many made me laugh out loud, some made me think about the world differently and others were intriguing ideas. The label warning of adult content was a bit excessive. Most of these stories are mild with just a few that are a bit risque. I had so much fun reading this book of short stories and I have recommended it to everyone I know. Many of these stories are so compelling that I will be re-reading them for years to come. I received a free copy of this book. The honest opinions in this review are my own.

[Michaelann Dahlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories, delightful. Red as a pickle is exactly how I imaging cats & dogs would actually talk, if we could understand them. And a sexy Star Trek parody! Honestly, I'd love to have 1/100th of Sarina Dorie's brilliant imagination. I would definitely recommend this book! Although Sarina's books are clearly geared towards younger (Y/A, N/A) readers, I think they could be enjoyed by almost anybody.

[Wyatt Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read anything by Sarina Dorie, so I was pleasantly surprised by this most enjoyable collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories. The cover might look like a kid's book but the contents definitely is not. A fun collection of very short, quick, easy reads.

I received this book as an ARC and chose to write a review.

[Rose Mute · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection was a little bit disappointing. Some of the stories weren't funny and some were a super quick read through. Overall, one thing I can say is the stories were unique and out of this world.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairies, Robots and Unicorns?--Oh My! by Sarina Dorie.
A few of her favorite things include: gluten-free brownies (not necessarily glutton-free), Star Trek, steampunk aesthetics, fairies, Severus Snape, Captain Jack Sparrow and Mr. Darcy.
Great read. Good illustrations. 4*.

[Rebecca Goss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short stories that are easily read and humorous. These stories require an open and imaginative mind to embrace the predicaments readers find. As they are short, it would be easy to stop at just a couple and return later. Or would it? I sure couldn’t. I read this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alycia Canfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories that are easily read and humorous. These stories require an open mind. Good for when you just have a few minutes

[Sarah Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an copy of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to be perfectly transparent and say that I requested this novel based on the cover. I mean, how awesome is that? I really didn't look at the description at all so I was a bit surprised when it was a bunch of short stories. I normally don't enjoy short stories because I find them all to be a bit disjointed however I really enjoyed these. The author seems to have a natural flow and she uses similar content and writing styles. It all just works. My favourite story was about the toilet fairy; that was hilarious.

I would definitely recommend this for anyone who is a fan of the wild and zany. This will put a smile on anyone's face. I

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to read when you need to have a good laugh! The stories were hilarious and over the top! I definitely recommend this book!

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great on all fronts! The cover drew me in and the jacket description is a sure fire hit! The stories themselves were so entertaining you moved quickly onto the next one with no breaks. I laughed out loud on several of them and found myself trying to tell my friends about some of them. I finally just told them READ THE BOOK!!!!