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Out of Ordure: The Fairies
For countless ages, fairies have existed in human lore as protectors of children, sprinklers of magic dust, and bloomers of flowers. Yeah well, fairies have other jobs, too.
Enter Fecanya, Ordure Engineer at Fey World Maintenance Services. She hates her job. Not that anyone who processes…‘leavings’, would, but hey, you wanna trade?
When news of an impending meltdown at a wastewater treatment facility, and a messy war between two gorilla factions (ever seen a gorilla projectile?) arrives at the office, Fecanya must use her many talents to prevent both disasters. But is there a mischievous hidden presence behind this?
With the threat of a city covered in filth of epic proportions, and a jungle at the brink of great ape warfare, it will take more than a visit with her stuffy satyr therapist for Fecanya to prevent a disaster and unmask the hidden enemy, before the ‘leavings’ hit the fan.
Enter Fecanya, Ordure Engineer at Fey World Maintenance Services. She hates her job. Not that anyone who processes…‘leavings’, would, but hey, you wanna trade?
When news of an impending meltdown at a wastewater treatment facility, and a messy war between two gorilla factions (ever seen a gorilla projectile?) arrives at the office, Fecanya must use her many talents to prevent both disasters. But is there a mischievous hidden presence behind this?
With the threat of a city covered in filth of epic proportions, and a jungle at the brink of great ape warfare, it will take more than a visit with her stuffy satyr therapist for Fecanya to prevent a disaster and unmask the hidden enemy, before the ‘leavings’ hit the fan.
- GenresFantasy
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2016
4 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Ramon Terrell
25 books48 followersI have two addictions: Books, video games, and potatoes, (okay, that's three) but they are all well managed. *grin*
I am a writer who loves to write, and thinks about writing when I am not writing. When I am writing, the world around me fades into a dim background. :)
A native of Carson, California, I have found my love in Vancouver, BC and don't plan on leaving. :)
I am a writer who loves to write, and thinks about writing when I am not writing. When I am writing, the world around me fades into a dim background. :)
A native of Carson, California, I have found my love in Vancouver, BC and don't plan on leaving. :)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 24, 2017
I got this book after meeting the author Ramon Terrell at Pensacon in Pensacola, Florida. I was intrigued by his description of the book and couldn't resist giving it a try.
As observed by others, it's a quick read; it lasted me for the airplane ride from Pensacola to Houston. It's a fun and sprightly tale, a tongue-in-cheek take on the 'other' tasks that fairies might have to do in addition to painting frost on windows or coaxing buds to open or helping kittens learn to mew.
Fecanya is a poo fairy, an ordure engineer at Fey Wold Maintenance Services, in charge of dealing with 'waste products'. And she is more than a bit weary of that task, and of dealing with her satyr therapist. Her recent assignment has left her without friends and with a cynical attitude. A crisis in waste management for two warring gorilla tribes seems like it's just going to be another complication in her life, and a messy one at that.
Terrell dives into his tale with enthusiasm and imagination. Unlikely friendships blossom and Fecanya discovers that she has abilities she hasn't used before. I'd put this one on the Young Adult shelf.
As observed by others, it's a quick read; it lasted me for the airplane ride from Pensacola to Houston. It's a fun and sprightly tale, a tongue-in-cheek take on the 'other' tasks that fairies might have to do in addition to painting frost on windows or coaxing buds to open or helping kittens learn to mew.
Fecanya is a poo fairy, an ordure engineer at Fey Wold Maintenance Services, in charge of dealing with 'waste products'. And she is more than a bit weary of that task, and of dealing with her satyr therapist. Her recent assignment has left her without friends and with a cynical attitude. A crisis in waste management for two warring gorilla tribes seems like it's just going to be another complication in her life, and a messy one at that.
Terrell dives into his tale with enthusiasm and imagination. Unlikely friendships blossom and Fecanya discovers that she has abilities she hasn't used before. I'd put this one on the Young Adult shelf.
September 1, 2016
This was something out of the my normal genre, but glad I took the chance and read it. A fun and quick read. There is humor, action, it's fast paced, and kept me interested until the end. Not much more you could ask for. Looking forward to a Volume 2????
September 7, 2016
This is a light and breezy read, only took me about an hour or so. There's one typo (I always forgive any book for up to three or four). However, in numerous places, almost as much as once a chapter, the start of dialogue quotations were absent. It was sometimes difficult to discern what was thought, and what was speech, and it happened often enough that it was noticeable and annoying.
This is a proofreading problem, and I blame the publisher.
The author has created an interesting world, and I particularly liked the parallels to our own - the iberry smartphones. I loved that the fairy smokes, and I loved that her job is a faeces engineer. There were moments of real cleverness in the book, and I found some of it amusing, especially the TV obsessed gorillas.
On the other hand, the gorillas didn't connect to the main plot in anyway, and it felt it was detracting from the actual story.
Overall, it was a good, light, easy read that amused me for just over an hour, and left me smiling, and I've given it four stars for that.
This is a proofreading problem, and I blame the publisher.
The author has created an interesting world, and I particularly liked the parallels to our own - the iberry smartphones. I loved that the fairy smokes, and I loved that her job is a faeces engineer. There were moments of real cleverness in the book, and I found some of it amusing, especially the TV obsessed gorillas.
On the other hand, the gorillas didn't connect to the main plot in anyway, and it felt it was detracting from the actual story.
Overall, it was a good, light, easy read that amused me for just over an hour, and left me smiling, and I've given it four stars for that.
May 5, 2017
From The Musings of a Starving Author:
Today’s selection from the literary pantry is a light, fluffy pastry of a novella, but the size of the meal is never a measure of culinary quality. To be more specific, Out of Ordure promises a mix of humor and fantasy with a tale of a most unusual fairy. Will Mr. Terrell dish out the perfect mix to fill that pastry or will it just be too little to be filling?
Before we take a bite, let’s recite the Starving Reviewer’s pledge:
1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
Well, I am happy to report that this is indeed a tasty, bite-sized treat. Centering around a company of fairies in the modern world tasked with the maintenance of the natural world, Ordure focuses on Fecana, a particular fairy whose job is, well, let us call a spade a spade: a poop fairy. Tasked with the proper distribution of excrement in the natural world and cleaning up horrible messes humanity leaves behind, it’s a job no one asks for and no one desires.
While it would be easy to play this concept purely for cheap laughs, the chef instead focuses more on the comedy of the situations presented and the interplay of Fecana and the rest of her team of fairies. That being said, you can’t approach the subject of an excrement engineer without the occasional poop joke but they are properly spaced out to avoid cheapening the jokes. I definitely got some good laughs and more than a few smiles.
The strength of the meal is naturally in that humor and the characters. The cast is kept appropriately tight, fitting the length of the piece and allowing them to be developed enough to fit their purpose in the story. If I have any criticism, it is in that some of the plot is a bit formulaic, with several turns and twists that most diners will see ahead of time. Still, as a character-centric tale, this doesn’t ruin the meal at all.
To sum it up, Out of Ordure is a fluffy, comedy-filled pastry of a tale, a bit by-the-numbers but the fun prevails over it! If you are looking for a fun, comedic fantasy or a quick, enjoyable read, definitely check this one out. If you’re in the mood for a deep, serious piece, you might want to save this one for when you’re in a lighter mood.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (A fluffy, comedy-filled pastry of a tale, a bit by-the-numbers but the fun prevails over it!)
Today’s selection from the literary pantry is a light, fluffy pastry of a novella, but the size of the meal is never a measure of culinary quality. To be more specific, Out of Ordure promises a mix of humor and fantasy with a tale of a most unusual fairy. Will Mr. Terrell dish out the perfect mix to fill that pastry or will it just be too little to be filling?
Before we take a bite, let’s recite the Starving Reviewer’s pledge:
1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible
Well, I am happy to report that this is indeed a tasty, bite-sized treat. Centering around a company of fairies in the modern world tasked with the maintenance of the natural world, Ordure focuses on Fecana, a particular fairy whose job is, well, let us call a spade a spade: a poop fairy. Tasked with the proper distribution of excrement in the natural world and cleaning up horrible messes humanity leaves behind, it’s a job no one asks for and no one desires.
While it would be easy to play this concept purely for cheap laughs, the chef instead focuses more on the comedy of the situations presented and the interplay of Fecana and the rest of her team of fairies. That being said, you can’t approach the subject of an excrement engineer without the occasional poop joke but they are properly spaced out to avoid cheapening the jokes. I definitely got some good laughs and more than a few smiles.
The strength of the meal is naturally in that humor and the characters. The cast is kept appropriately tight, fitting the length of the piece and allowing them to be developed enough to fit their purpose in the story. If I have any criticism, it is in that some of the plot is a bit formulaic, with several turns and twists that most diners will see ahead of time. Still, as a character-centric tale, this doesn’t ruin the meal at all.
To sum it up, Out of Ordure is a fluffy, comedy-filled pastry of a tale, a bit by-the-numbers but the fun prevails over it! If you are looking for a fun, comedic fantasy or a quick, enjoyable read, definitely check this one out. If you’re in the mood for a deep, serious piece, you might want to save this one for when you’re in a lighter mood.
FINAL VERDICT: **** (A fluffy, comedy-filled pastry of a tale, a bit by-the-numbers but the fun prevails over it!)
September 15, 2020
Funny
Love the story, funny, short and sweet. Fairies unlike any you have imagined. Doing the necessary jobs of life with an attitude.
Love the story, funny, short and sweet. Fairies unlike any you have imagined. Doing the necessary jobs of life with an attitude.
February 24, 2021
Quite a lot of word play here.
Amusing idea with entertaining characters.
Love the handling of the gorillas!
Amusing idea with entertaining characters.
Love the handling of the gorillas!
February 20, 2022
I enjoyed it! I wish there was a follow up!
March 14, 2017
A cute and fun little read.
September 23, 2025
I had a lot of fun reading this short book (125 pages). It did not take itself seriously, but at the same time it delivered a readable story with interesting characters. The main character, Fecanya, was so entertaining - sarcastic, a touch of grumpiness, but all the while endearing and believable.
I liked the interaction between the various fairies and their divergent personalities. I liked the overall story line that built into an entertaining finale. And I liked how the fey creatures and their jobs at Fey World Maintenance Services were turned into something light, quirky, and a bit comical.
This would be a great young adult book if not for the frequent use of the word "shit." Fecanya is an "ordure engineer" (excrement cleanup) who is not thrilled with her job, so she often grouses about, or gets teased about, being a "shit fairy." For grown-ups, the expression fits because it highlights how unpleasant the job is no matter what title you put on it. But for a younger audience, I would rather they not become acclimated to using vulgarity as acceptable speech. That's just my opinion.
I liked the interaction between the various fairies and their divergent personalities. I liked the overall story line that built into an entertaining finale. And I liked how the fey creatures and their jobs at Fey World Maintenance Services were turned into something light, quirky, and a bit comical.
This would be a great young adult book if not for the frequent use of the word "shit." Fecanya is an "ordure engineer" (excrement cleanup) who is not thrilled with her job, so she often grouses about, or gets teased about, being a "shit fairy." For grown-ups, the expression fits because it highlights how unpleasant the job is no matter what title you put on it. But for a younger audience, I would rather they not become acclimated to using vulgarity as acceptable speech. That's just my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews