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(Almost) Average Anthology: tales of adventure, loss, and oddity
A Speculative Flash Fiction Collection Sixteen odd tales await the adventurous reader. An eclectic collection of stories, they span from fantastical realms to the vastness of space and to the madness within us. Horror, science fiction, and fantasy weave through this collection of stories all with a touch of darkness.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
98 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2017
4 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Jason J. Nugent
23 books78 followersJason J. Nugent has been a paperboy, pizza maker, dishwasher, restaurant manager, promotional products sales rep, chamber of commerce director, and one time BBQ champion. He has skated with Tony Hawk, had a babysitter with a serial killer brother, and is followed by rapper Chuck D on Twitter. He and his wife share a home in beautiful Southern Illinois with their son, four cats, and one dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 11, 2018
An interesting and varied collection.
This interesting and varied collection opens with an astounding personification of death that challenges the reader to confront their fear and think more philosophically about death as an entity rather than an event.
Once he has the reader’s attention, Nugent carries them from scene to scene, ranging from bleak to grim, to macabre. Each story delivers a thought-provoking punch or a clever twist that takes the reader by surprise.
I chose to enjoy these short stories individually rather than one after another in close succession, but as a collection they display the range and power of Nugent’s dark imagination and his ability to deliver each story with a profound effect.
This interesting and varied collection opens with an astounding personification of death that challenges the reader to confront their fear and think more philosophically about death as an entity rather than an event.
Once he has the reader’s attention, Nugent carries them from scene to scene, ranging from bleak to grim, to macabre. Each story delivers a thought-provoking punch or a clever twist that takes the reader by surprise.
I chose to enjoy these short stories individually rather than one after another in close succession, but as a collection they display the range and power of Nugent’s dark imagination and his ability to deliver each story with a profound effect.
June 28, 2017
A nice, little book of weird tales. It was a quick read and I really enjoyed a good number of the stories. Some of them were just too short, though - and that's a good thing. I wanted to give this 4-stars, but gave it 3 instead being as there are some punctuation issues throughout many of the stories. Otherwise, well done. I'm looking forward to the other two titles by this author that I have on hand.
September 1, 2017
Uncaged Review: A short collection of tales featuring adventures, loss, and oddity. We learn of a young man trying to make a living from his plant’s. Only to be meet with a gruesome end. Or a jealous cheerleader who can see the future in a bubble above your head. This is a very short read perfect for New reader’s or Teens who don’t have much time to read. You can read this book at anytime of your life. A enjoyable read. Reviewed by Jennifer
May 11, 2017
Dark and (almost) twisted
Nice collection of shorts that will have you keeping the lights on at night. There is some sci-fi, a little fantasy and a bit of horror. All in all some good bedtime or campfire stories. Some deal with karma and then we learn what a down on his luck alcoholic is willing to do for a bottle of vodka. Good reading!
Nice collection of shorts that will have you keeping the lights on at night. There is some sci-fi, a little fantasy and a bit of horror. All in all some good bedtime or campfire stories. Some deal with karma and then we learn what a down on his luck alcoholic is willing to do for a bottle of vodka. Good reading!
September 24, 2019
Just about every story in this slim collection is too underdeveloped. It’s as if the author tried to challenge himself by limiting each tale to a certain number of words or pages, but it’s not in favor of the final product. Of note, though, is “Dreamwraith” - this story shows what the author is capable of writing within a (very) short story.
October 16, 2017
Wow! This is a great collection that is perfect to be carried around and read in those down moments throughout the day. Creepy enough to give you a chill, but it won't make you hide under your desk and weep. Loved it.
August 22, 2017
Received from Goodreads First Read
February 12, 2016
Always leave your audience wanting more... runs the old maxim, and this collection of 16 pieces of flash fiction does just that, in a good way.
I'll admit, flash fiction isn't always for me. Sometimes, it feels like just dipping your toe in the pool when you want to dive in headlong. But Jason Nugent's collection hits the spot in its genre. By turns a little bit fantasy, a little bit horror, a little bit thoughtful reflection, a little bit science fiction, you get the sense of a bigger world beyond each of the stories here.
Some hit the mark more than others - as you'd expect with a collection of so many different stories - and tales such as the darkly, ruefully wry Vacation or the tantalising beginning of Aimee's Quest stand out in particular. Dreamwraith could be a Twilight Zone episode on its own, while The Long Sleep winds the collection up leaving you asking the question "What next?"
Not all of the stories quite worked for me - and while the opening story might be poetic in nature enough to make me think of something like Ted Hughes' The Thought Fox, it's perhaps a little slight as a starter for the collection. The third story, Beneath The Clouds, was where I felt it started to make its mark.
In the end, the anthology leaves me wanting more... so I'll be looking out for just that with future releases from the author!
I'll admit, flash fiction isn't always for me. Sometimes, it feels like just dipping your toe in the pool when you want to dive in headlong. But Jason Nugent's collection hits the spot in its genre. By turns a little bit fantasy, a little bit horror, a little bit thoughtful reflection, a little bit science fiction, you get the sense of a bigger world beyond each of the stories here.
Some hit the mark more than others - as you'd expect with a collection of so many different stories - and tales such as the darkly, ruefully wry Vacation or the tantalising beginning of Aimee's Quest stand out in particular. Dreamwraith could be a Twilight Zone episode on its own, while The Long Sleep winds the collection up leaving you asking the question "What next?"
Not all of the stories quite worked for me - and while the opening story might be poetic in nature enough to make me think of something like Ted Hughes' The Thought Fox, it's perhaps a little slight as a starter for the collection. The third story, Beneath The Clouds, was where I felt it started to make its mark.
In the end, the anthology leaves me wanting more... so I'll be looking out for just that with future releases from the author!
May 10, 2016
It has taken me too long to review this book, but now seems the perfect time to do so. I’ve been a fan of this author for some time now, though this is his first book. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of reading his past works and have thoroughly enjoyed watching him grow and develop as a writer.
This collection is primarily comprised of stories originally posted on his blog, though some are original to this book. His stories come from every genre; sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and some that don’t fit neatly into a box. Colorfully written, and always containing a hint of darkness, no story goes where you expect it to.
Not to speak poorly of any piece, my favorites are “Sebastian (I Am Death)” and “Dreamwraith”. Both explore a darker side of reality with a hint of fantasy. His work vaguely reminds me of some of Neil Gaiman’s work, but influence from a variety of authors is obvious. Influence aside, Jason has a very unique written voice that I always look forward to reading.
I highly recommend this book! We are sure to see bigger and better things from him in the future, but this is a great introduction to his work.
This collection is primarily comprised of stories originally posted on his blog, though some are original to this book. His stories come from every genre; sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and some that don’t fit neatly into a box. Colorfully written, and always containing a hint of darkness, no story goes where you expect it to.
Not to speak poorly of any piece, my favorites are “Sebastian (I Am Death)” and “Dreamwraith”. Both explore a darker side of reality with a hint of fantasy. His work vaguely reminds me of some of Neil Gaiman’s work, but influence from a variety of authors is obvious. Influence aside, Jason has a very unique written voice that I always look forward to reading.
I highly recommend this book! We are sure to see bigger and better things from him in the future, but this is a great introduction to his work.
April 8, 2016
I liked these little stories. The writer has a good voice and style and presents a good range of subjects. There is something about flash fiction that leaves me wanting more. This book reminded me of Impromptu Scribe, in that the author develops a lot of interesting ideas, but doesn't craft a whole, satisfying story out of many.
August 5, 2017
Almost Average resists being tethered to any particular genre. There are futuristic and post-apocalyptic settings, but also elements of fantasy. This book kept me constantly intrigued, and I rarely anticipated the dark twists it had in store. Out of the collection, my favorite stories would have to be "Sunshine and Asteroids" and "Dreamwraith."
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews