Dead Men Can't Complain and Other Stories

by Peter Clines, Ralph Lister (Narrator), Ray Porter (Narrator)

A cop interrogates a perp in a lizard costume that seems all too real.

An all-powerful superhero protects his city - and they better like it.

An average Joe finds out that being undead isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

Including three never-before-published stories, Dead Men Can't Complain is the first-ever collection of short fiction by Peter Clines, author of 14, The Fold, and other Audible smash hits. Combining equal parts geekery and humor with the occasional dash of horror, Dead Men Can't Complain is ideal for Clines fans eagerly awaiting his next novel - or for brand-new listeners discovering this Audible favorite for the first time.

Genres: Audiobook, Horror, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Fiction, Anthologies

6 pages, Audible Audio

Published May 23, 2017

About the author

Peter Clines is the author of the genre-blending -14- and the Ex-Heroes series.

He grew up in the Stephen King fallout zone of Maine and--inspired by comic books, Star Wars, and Saturday morning cartoons--started writing at the age of eight with his first epic novel, Lizard Men From The Center of The Earth(unreleased).

He made his first writing sale at age seventeen to a local newspaper, and at the age of nineteen he completed his quadruple-PhD studies in English literature, archaeology, quantum physics, and interpretive dance. In 2008, while surfing Hawaii's Keauwaula Beach, he thought up a viable way to maintain cold fusion that would also solve world hunger, but forgot about it when he ran into actress Yvonne Strahvorski back on the beach and she offered to buy him a drink. He was the inspiration for both the epic poem Beowulf and the motion picture Raiders of the Lost Ark, and is single-handedly responsible for repelling the Martian Invasion of 1938 that occurred in Grovers Mills, New Jersey. Eleven sonnets he wrote to impress a girl in high school were all later found and attributed to Shakespeare.

He is the writer of countless film articles, several short stories, The Junkie Quatrain, the rarely-read The Eerie Adventures of the Lycanthrope Robinson Crusoe, the poorly-named website Writer on Writing , and an as-yet-undiscovered Dead Sea Scroll.

He currently lives and writes somewhere in southern California.

There is compelling evidence that he is, in fact, the Lindbergh baby.

Reviews

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked all of these creepy, funny, short stories.

[Bogdan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew it! Excellent and brilliant collection of short stories!
All of them were very good and enjoyable having a wide range of ideeas and subjects to debate on.
The texts aren't very long and this is a plus for the writer that in a short length of words he creates believable characters and unique worlds.
Like I said before, I love his writing and ideeas and listening to this audio I wasn't disappointed at all.
Recommended!

[Wayne Fenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may write a longer review, but for the moment I just want to say what a terrific collection this was, and one I intend to listen to again. I grabbed this in the £3 audible sale and couldn't be happier.
Some stories have a little HG Wells feel about them, but really, there is full of original ideas.
Great takes on Time Travel and Zombies for a start.
Anyway, pick it up. Promise you won't regret it.

5 stars all the way.

[Jorge Castanos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Men Can't Complain and Other Stories es una colección de cuentos exclusiva y original de Audible. Por el momento no está impresa en ninguna parte y escuchar el audiobook es la única opción.

El libro compila cuentos que abarca géneros desde ciencia ficción hasta suspenso, sazonado con un poco de horror y humor.

La colección está formada por 11 cuentos y tiene una duración de poco más de cinco horas. Ray Porter (uno de los mejores narradores, en mi opinión) se encarga de narrar ocho de los cuentos, mientras que Ralph Lister narra dos (The Hatbox y Forged).

Aquí el listado de los cuentos y una brevísima sinopsis de cada uno:

1. “Mulligan” - Un policía interroga a lo que aparenta ser un hombre disfrazado de lagarto. Pero el disfraz parece bastante real. Y su historia es más escalofriante aún.

2. “Bedtime story” - Un niño le cuenta a sus padres sobre su profesora; ella ha estado hablando mal sobre el superhéroe que cuida de su ciudad.

3. "The Long Deep Dream” - Con elementos Lovecraftianos, un detective investiga sucesos extraños en su ciudad.

4. “The End of the Experiment” - Un estudiante de física intenta convencer a sus amigos de que él ha construido una máquina del tiempo.

5. “Flesh Trade” - Un mafioso se reúne con uno de sus subordinados en un diner. La reunión no sale como era de esperarse.

6. “Redneckromancy” - Después de que su vaca muere, una pareja de granjeros intenta resucitarla utilizando un libro negro.

7. “The Hatbox” - Un estudiante de medicina del siglo XIX aplica su conocimiento hacia el estudio de un zombie.

8. “The Apocrypha of Gamma-202” - Un grupo de robots discuten sobre sus creencias religiosas.

9. “Dead Men Can’t Complain” - En el cuento que da título al libro, un hombre despierta para percatarse de que realmente está muerto y es, en realidad, un Ex-Humano. Una historia paralela a la serie Ex-Heroes y, en mi opinión, la mejor de todas.

10. “Forged” - Un hombre le pide a su amante, una gitana, que le otorgue inmortalidad.

11. “Contraption” - Un grupo de detectives investiga una escena del crimen dentro de una máquina de Rube Goldberg.

Como se puede ver, Dead Men Can't Complain and Other Stories es una colección muy variada. Es un libro que recomendaría a personas que recién empiezan a leer ciencia ficción o apenas se adentran al mundo de los audiobooks. También la recomendaría a fanáticos de The Twilight Zone y Black Mirror.

[MG · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Peter Clines, especially of his novels 14 and THE FOLD, but these short stories, while well crafted, read more like experimental scenes from possible novels than true short stories. Yes, they wrap up fine and have Twilight Zone twists at the end, but in most of the cases some vital ingredient is missing, making them bits of entertainment rather than memorable stories.

[Snakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stories very enjoyable and memorable; however, there were something like 10 to 12 stories in the collection, and the remaining stories were blah. My first read of anything by Clines. Hopefully his longer stuff is better.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun, but I do recommend people read the Threshold series first for optimum enjoyment :)

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird, creepy, clever, twisted short stories with abrupt endings. I liked all of them.

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Narrator: Ralph Lister and Ray Porter, 4*.

Most of the stories in Dead Men Can't Complain had clever endings, but the stories themselves didn't quite make it. And they took too long to get to what was essentially a punchline. A couple of the stories were okay, particularly the last one. But overall they didn't really hold my attention, despite the good narration.

[Kev · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
An enjoyable selection of short stories from an author whom I like very much. Hope he brings a new novel out soon.

[Jono · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title story is excellent and almost worth the price of admission alone. Some of the others are interesting at best, and completely baffling and skippable, at worst.

[Cristhian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los cuentos aquí reunidos (11 en total) son en su mayoría buenos, nada extraordinario ni malos. Son de ese tipo de cuentos de buena calidad que encontrarías publicado en alguna revista de vez en cuando.

Pero... el cuento que le da nombre al libro es perfecto. No tiene falla alguna. Es más, si lo hubiera publicado solo esta review sería un 5 completamente y de lo mejor que haya encontrado en lo que va del año.

Dicho eso y considerando los demás, 3.4/5

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag. The first couple of stories were good, then there were several forgettable ones that not even Ray Porter could save. Using a different narrator on some made it worse. A couple of the stories at the end made it worthwhile sticking with it and salvaged the three star rating.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Listened to audiobook*

A bunch of brilliant and sometimes creepy short stories. Each one sucks you in just enough to want to know more, then it ends!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

good set of short stories with wide variety of topics/subjects and some laugh out loud moments. Good narrators.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting anthology of sci-fi, mystery, and thriller stories. All of the stories are marked with unexpected endings and thought-provoking twists. Some stories fall flat however, but the stories that shine really carry the piece all throughout.

[Darren Dilnott · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is a finer, more original collection of short stories than Peter Clines Dead Men Can't Complain, i'd really, really like to read it. Astonishing journey that twists and winds in unexpected directions.
Mixtures of Lovecraft, and other Peter Clines characters makes this a collection an incredible journey that is well worth the time.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these short stories, and maybe they will tie me over until Peter can give us a new one...WRITE FASTER MR CLINES!!!!! LOL This was well written, narrated and a great listen for any true fan...dont hesitate buy it now!!

[Michael Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cool collection of stories. I'll rank each

MULLIGAN - A story about a time travelling dinosaur trying to reset the world. Felt like The Outer Limits and I loved that TV show. 5/5

BEDTIME STORY - A snippet of a family terrorised by an all powerful combination of Superman and Big Brother who allows no divergence of thought. Scary 5/5

LONG DEEP DREAM - Not quite sure what to make of that one. Muddled storytelling. 1/5

THE END OF THE EXPERIMENT - Kind of boring scientist tries to convince friends tale 1/5

FLESH TRADE - A strange tale of people trafficking, mobsters and body snatchers. 2/5

REDNECROMANCY - This is a funny one with farmers and black magic 4/5

THE HATBOX - Victorian era scientist goes off the rails in his research. 5/5

THE APOCYRPHA OF GAMMA 202 - Future robots arguing over the existence of man 3/5

DEAD MEN CAN'T COMPLAIN - I'm not a fan of stories that places the perpetrators of intolerance in that lower caste position to see how they like it at all. But I suppose it was well done. 3/5

FORGED - Guy tries to convince magic lady to grant him his wish. Without the final twist it's kind of boring 2/5

CONTRAPTION - A Heath Robinson machine that kills people. Odd 3/5

There some some boring stories and some are so so. But the ones that are good are REALLY good and make the collection worth reading.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, what is not to like about the writing of Peter Clines paired with Ray Porter's voice?!?!? This was an excellent compilation of short stories that were well narrated by both narrators. I particularly enjoyed the first short story (the title escapes me) and the title story. The stories were of varying lengths and all of them kept my interest. The only complaint I have is that some of them ended too abruptly; but perhaps that is just a sign that they were so good that I wanted more! The abrupt endings of some of the stories was what kept this from being a 5 star rating.

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short pieces by Clines. I enjoyed the book but must explain my rating is within the parameter of this being set pieces for Clines. The stories are short and not all are complete but rather set pieces for ideas. As I have greatly enjoyed his novels I can readily appreciate the ideas present here. A couple are not that original, but most at least have a outlook or aspect that is Clines' original.

[Gregory Mele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fantastic little collection of an author I just discovered. The first and last stories bracket the series by featuring two of the same characters, albeit in radically different stories.

In many ways, this collection reminds me of some of the best "Golden Age" SciFi short-stories with time-travel, Twilight Zone-like alternate realities, etc. There are also some fantastic horror stories: a Victorian zombie tale (particularly clever since the narrator has no idea what the term 'zombie' even means), a black-magic tale that could easily be a native's point of view from Lovecraft's horrible hamlet of Dunwich (despite not one word of the Mythos ever being mentioned), a story about Jacob Marley (of A Christmas Carol fame) and the titular tale, which is another zombie story, this one used as a critique of everything from the current paranoia over immigration to libertarian social-economics. (For those whose politics might rankle at that, this is the only story that really touches on contemporary issues so directly; the rest are apolitical.)

There are 11 stories in all, I'd say four I *loved* and only one did I think was "meh". None of them, were bad. That's pretty impressive for such an eclectic collection of SF , Fantasy and Horror, all written in different voice and tone. A great little gem

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read Peter Clines, the more I like him. Though my introduction to him was through his science fiction, it seems that he made his literary mark with zombies or vampires or some such thing —not my cup of tea. I purchased this book of short stories knowing the risk of zombies, and they were there, but only a couple. One was the same as every other zombie tale—a bit unremarkable. But the other, this was a twist. I should have known that he could reimagine even zombies.

The sci-fi stories were the bulk of the book, back in his wheelhouse. Not a single disappointment in the lot. The characters were fleshed out, the circumstances plausible with only the slightest suspension of disbelief. Good tales quickly told.

Science fiction can be a challenge in a short story. How can you create the unfamiliar setting quickly but with enough detail and context to have pages left for a plot? Economically and with conviction.

I’ve always liked short stories for bedtime reads. These tales might not be the soporific one desires if seeking sleep.

Ray Porter read all but a couple of the stories and brought his usual talent to the task—well performed.

I highly recommend this collection.

[Aninha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started and finished this book in one insomnia ridden night, and by the time it was over I wished there were more stories because this Audible exclusive collection of sci-fi shorts is incredible!

My favourite stories were the quirky "Red Necromancy" and the social commentary "Dead Men Can't Complain". Most stories bend the genre in some way or another and have surprising twists in the end. I loved them.

I would have given the book a glowing five-star review if it weren't for "The Hatbox". In that story there's the repeated use of the word "negress" to refer to a woman of color. I get that the story narrator is an old-timey Englishman, but is was a bad word choice in *our* day and age. Actually, the ethnicity of the woman could've been undisclosed. There would be no serious consequence to the plot. And in the same story the author makes a connection between black people, voodoo magic and zombie-making that I believe is quite racist and can be linked to a few tropes like https://allthetropes.fandom.com/wiki/... and https://allthetropes.fandom.com/wiki/...

[Bikram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second short story collection that I've read in recent times and I loved this one too. (I guess I should pick up more anthologies.) Some of the stories truly have unexpected twists (first and fourth story, both involving time machines, ) that blew my mind, while others' twists were kinda apparent (story #2 about the superhero, #6 about resurrection, and the last story.) from the very beginning. Couple of stories were simply good because of their content, without needing any twists - story #7 about the student studying zombies, the story about a robot finding Man and the title story. The other 3 of the total 11 stories were meh. Not boring or bad; just not as good as the others. So, overall a pretty good book.

The narration was top notch too. I was drawn into each of the story and it was like watching a netflix series.

Definitely would recommend.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these stories. I think it's partially because of the narrators. Clines books are done with two narrators, one with the British accent and one American. I like them both.

Redneckromancy might have have been my favorite, and it's super short. It was easy to see where it was going after the first half, but I still enjoyed it. I can see something like that happening if raising the dead was possible with sacrifice, and not just with rednecks. I didn't particularly like The Hatbox because HOLY COW, what a horrible person. He's Mengele, experimenting on people. The Apocrypha, Dead Men, Forged, and Contraption were all great, and all of them held some level of commentary on today's society. The Contraption is just Social Media, right? ...designed to force the mind stay engaged.

[Koen Wellens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of these stories are funny. Predictable, but funny. I really like the opener. It got me in a flow, so that I wanted to keep reading all the stories in this collection.

For an ex-heroes fan, this book is great. There’s even an ex-related short story in there. But sadly enough, most of the stories are quite the same. In the end, the plot of most stories resemble each other much more than I would have liked. Too bad!

Read the full review at my blog.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories, all told in interesting ways. You know a twist is coming, but that just adds to the anticipation, in my opinion.
I don't think I was disappointed with a single story, although I did audibly express dismay at how some were left!
The narrators were great, although the American narrator cannot do an English accent (speaking as an English person, it was very Austin Powers). He was good at building the mood (they both were), particularly the "noir" tale.
A really enjoyable listen, one of my favourites this year.

[Kristoffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some stories in this are great, and some are not as much. One story, Dead Men Can't Complain, seemed to possibly take place in the future of the Ex-Heroes universe. It was very depressing. Some of the stories were ones that I wanted to keep going. There was a really awesome one about time travel, and it was connected to another really good one about a Rube Goldberg machine and a dead body found near it. I enjoyed the book overall.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of eleven short stories all related in some way to death or the living dead. Some have abrupt cliffhanger endings, others have surprise endings, others are predictable, each is enjoyable in its own way.
I used this book for the 52bookclub 2022, prompt: "Author who's published in more than one genre." (Peter Clines writes science fiction, horror, speculative fiction, suspense.)