Strange Dreams: Collected Stories & Drawings

by Brian Andreas

The fourth book of the trilogy, "Strange Dreams", appears to have been completed on the artist's birthday in September, 1996, but that's only because you can do what you'd like with time when you're printing books yourself. To be honest, he was actually trapped in Paris with an ear infection on his birthday. The books were safely boxed and sitting here at StoryPeople, waiting for his return. "I'd always planned on doing a trilogy", he says, "but I didn't figure out that meant I'd have to stop at three. So, I've developed a more relaxed attitude towards trilogies than people have been used to in the past..." The ninety, or so, stories in this book include some of his favorites, including 'Simple Rules' and 'Hindsight' ("I didn't listen to her because she was my mother & wouldn't know anything until I was much older").

Genres: Poetry, Art, Fiction, Philosophy, Short Stories

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Brian Andreas is the pen name of Kai Skye, the internationally recognized American writer and artist known for his simple short stories of 50 to 100 words.

He's published 13 books incorporating his signature work of pen and ink drawings, and gouache watercolors with original hand-written stories.

His latest writing & art is available exclusively at Flying Edna. He also has a substack for longer pieces of his writing. That's at flyingedna.substack.com

He continues to use the pen name Brian Andreas in his published work.

Reviews

[Casey Kiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I just found this book at a thrift shop. And just discovered this author. What a gem. I have to get all his books :)

'I learned 2 things early on, my sister said.
The first is don't blame people for being the way they are.
What's the second. I said.
She smiled.
If they're really stupid, she said, go ahead & blame them.

It's a really simple
philosophy, she added.'

The artwork is childlike and quirky, subtle in it's dark reality.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and half really..closer to 4.

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Brian Andreas. Lovely. Funny. Witty. Cautionary Tales.

I love his work, it's just honest with a mixture of fun and sincerity.

If you have not read any of his work, I highly recommend it.

If nothing else, it'll make you laugh.

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s no one like him!

[Kelsey Trinkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book when I went to a little town in Iowa. I thought it was a very interesting book. I've never seen a book written in this format before. There were drawings on every page, along with the stories. There is no real adjective for the drawings other than unique. They made me see the stories through different eyes. Though the stories were, at most, two pages long, they made sense. One of them has become one of my favorite quotes. It simply reads: "When she held out her arms, the world itself wrapped around me and held me tight." I'm not sure why, but I love that one. I know Brian Andreas has more of these types of books, and I plan on finding them and reading them. I really did enjoy this one. Also, it's a quick read. I read it during two silent reading sessions in class.

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Brian Andreas' Story People collections in an artsy store in Long Grove, IL long ago and fell in love with them. I was in college and on a budget, so I'd allow myself to "afford" just one every time we visited. Deciding which one was always the hardest (and most fun) part of my visits. The shop either closed or they stopped carrying them, so I've been without a new one for a long time now. I don't actually know if Brian Andreas has been publishing them since that time, but I'm still enjoying the ones I own. They make me smile. They hold the secrets of the universe - especially the small one I inhabit.

[Sarah Tollok · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure how to best describe this little collection. A curiosity cabinet of wise words and whimsical stick figures? A carnival of wit and wonder? A mishmash of subtle, sometimes silly truth bombs?

Whatever it is, I liked it. I think I'll go back through it again in the future, sit with each page a little longer, see what else I find.

[Reagan Formea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not a big fan of this author’s other book that I read but this one was much better. Mostly because there was nothing overly offensive in here lol. I loved a lot of the themes in this book but like his other work, some just seem a little too simple.

[shamsa ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“she turned to me & whispered, don’t you just love it when you get excited you forget to breathe? & the thought of her smiling eyes still makes me laugh.”


i read like 4 of this guys books today.

AGAIN I NEED HALF STARS GR!!!!
idk i really enjoyed how this made me feel

[Sarah Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Brian Andreas's work.

[Joey Culoper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I just wrote a review slamming the atrocious first book of Rupi Kaur, I’ll say this: This is the writing and artwork Rupi Kaur wishes she created. Great stuff.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty and charming and light

[Say ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[casey vieira · Rating 5 out of 5]

understood it in a strange way (the way it ought to be understood)

[Vicki Scullion · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are indeed strange dreams that somehow make sense.

[Melissa Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and so, so sweet.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lil reminiscent of hint fiction

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For as good as the other two of these books I read were (Mostly True and Going Somewhere Soon), this one had the feel of a "quicker write", the drawings were simpler, a few repeated pages from another book, and the stories not quite as edgy, funny, and thoughtful as the other. The criticism is relative to the other books because overall it was an enjoyable read.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apart from having two framed prints of Brian Andreas work on my walls and cards to boot - I have this wonderful book of drawings + stories, a gift from my sister Lisa bought at our once-favourite store, Kaleidoscope at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.

These stories and drawings always make me smile.

[Hannah Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorites:

"I told him if he kept being mean to his brother he might come back as a rodent in his next life & he shrugged & said that's the chance he'd have to take"

"You have to be blasé about something, she said, otherwise you'd die of overexcitement."

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! A must read!

[Alia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and happy and makes you feel good. :)

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great collections of Andreas' thoughts and drawings. "These knees have stories, she said, but they'd have to be a mouth to tell you."

[Gari Aber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever drawings and sound bites. "I only promise the little things. The big things don't pay attention to what I want anyhow."

[Jacqueline Cocklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first experience with this author/poet/artist and I was all kinds of in love.

I want a million copies to give to everyone I know!! <3

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love his stuff! Quirky magic!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, but I found all the "she said"s and "he said"s distracting.