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A Small Fiction
For fans of the popular Twitter account @ASmallFiction comes a little book with a lot of big stories and images; some funny, some scary, but always thought-provoking!
From the humorous to the bleak, the dystopian to the dog-filled, there’s a story for every occasion, and an occasion for every story. With stories told in 140 characters or less, A Small Fiction delivers brilliant yet brief tales destined to stick with readers long after they turn the page. Through the genre lenses of science fiction, fantasy, contemporary fiction, folklore, and humor, each of these illustrated micro-fictions is a peephole that reveals a bigger world.
From the humorous to the bleak, the dystopian to the dog-filled, there’s a story for every occasion, and an occasion for every story. With stories told in 140 characters or less, A Small Fiction delivers brilliant yet brief tales destined to stick with readers long after they turn the page. Through the genre lenses of science fiction, fantasy, contemporary fiction, folklore, and humor, each of these illustrated micro-fictions is a peephole that reveals a bigger world.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2018
33 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 30, 2020
5★
I have always enjoyed small, witty jokes, aphorisms, wise sayings, and silly ditties. Since my childhood, I have been a fan of Ogden Nash, who wrote thought-provoking nonsense and just nonsense. Some of his most famous poems are very short.
These small fictions are the current tweet-length of 280 characters or less, and you can follow them on @ASmallFiction. I recommend that you don’t try to read this book alone, because there are some entries you may feel compelled to share immediately.
Some are poetic:
Following that, on the lower half of the page, is this:
There are small illustrations.
“Who’s a good dog?”
There are many small dialogues. Some are funny:
Some are more philosophical, which made me read them again. And then nod . . . and hope.
The last page.
”The End”
The authors are brothers, and I can imagine what it would be like to hang out with them and swap jokes and wise sayings. Their joint website is https://www.embroscreative.com/
I loved this, and I know I will enjoy going back to it from time to time to find a quote. Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the preview copy from which I’ve pinched a few samples.
“‘Describe destination,’ the time machine said.
‘Take me to a time when I can make a difference,’ she said.
A brief hum.
‘You are here.’”
I have always enjoyed small, witty jokes, aphorisms, wise sayings, and silly ditties. Since my childhood, I have been a fan of Ogden Nash, who wrote thought-provoking nonsense and just nonsense. Some of his most famous poems are very short.
“Candy is dandy,
But liquor is quicker.”
Ogden Nash
These small fictions are the current tweet-length of 280 characters or less, and you can follow them on @ASmallFiction. I recommend that you don’t try to read this book alone, because there are some entries you may feel compelled to share immediately.
Some are poetic:
“They sat by the well, and they dropped down
their sorrows.
He cast in his Yesterdays, and she her Tomorrows.”
Following that, on the lower half of the page, is this:
“He told her he was leaving, and as she cried, he
held her hand.
If hell is other people, are we the devils or
the damned?”
There are small illustrations.
“Who’s a good dog?”
There are many small dialogues. Some are funny:
“I caught a ghost!”
“Did you? Where is it?”
“Wherever I go, of course.”
“So it’s not caught; you’re haunted.”
“She said you’d say that.”
Some are more philosophical, which made me read them again. And then nod . . . and hope.
“‘People are still good, mostly,’ she said.
‘Not from what I’m hearing,’ he said.
‘Love is quieter than gunshots. But there’s
more of it.’”
The last page.
”The End”
The authors are brothers, and I can imagine what it would be like to hang out with them and swap jokes and wise sayings. Their joint website is https://www.embroscreative.com/
I loved this, and I know I will enjoy going back to it from time to time to find a quote. Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the preview copy from which I’ve pinched a few samples.
July 13, 2020
“’I read your story.’
‘And?’
‘It’s so short. Why did it take so long to write?’
‘It took time to get all the extra words out of the way.’”
A Small Fiction is an illustrated collection of little stories by James Mark Miller, with illustrations by Jefferson Miller. The author describes the collection as the seeds of stories; a few lines each, they are succinct and evocative, often able to convey a thought, a feeling or an idea better than a much longer work. Many of these are so good, it is difficult to limit the quotes in a review.
These little gems, dipping into various genres, will have the reader smiling, frowning, gasping and, very often, laughing out loud. They are wise, clever, poignant, insightful, witty, sad, profound, funny (sometimes darkly so), scary and really quite wonderful!
“Ownership is an illusion, the cat knew. Nothing is forever.
They needed to learn.
He began pushing another glass toward the table’s edge.”
“’This model is perfect. It will even think it’s human.’
‘What about the optical flaws?’
‘The “floaters”? We’ll just say we all have them.’”
This one is reminiscent of Hitchhikers Guide B ark: “’Robots will replace us all pretty soon,’ he said.
‘Not everyone. Not you.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, no one needs what you do. You can go,’”
“’Dad, why do Santa’s deer have bells?’
‘Remember how we put the bell on the cat because he kept eating birds?’
‘Yeah?’
‘That. But kids’”
“’Teach me how to be happy,’ she said.
The dog whuffed at her, then flopped down to nap.
‘I wish you could talk.’
He wished she would listen.”
And there are many more, just as marvellous. What a great little collection!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing.
‘And?’
‘It’s so short. Why did it take so long to write?’
‘It took time to get all the extra words out of the way.’”
A Small Fiction is an illustrated collection of little stories by James Mark Miller, with illustrations by Jefferson Miller. The author describes the collection as the seeds of stories; a few lines each, they are succinct and evocative, often able to convey a thought, a feeling or an idea better than a much longer work. Many of these are so good, it is difficult to limit the quotes in a review.
These little gems, dipping into various genres, will have the reader smiling, frowning, gasping and, very often, laughing out loud. They are wise, clever, poignant, insightful, witty, sad, profound, funny (sometimes darkly so), scary and really quite wonderful!
“Ownership is an illusion, the cat knew. Nothing is forever.
They needed to learn.
He began pushing another glass toward the table’s edge.”
“’This model is perfect. It will even think it’s human.’
‘What about the optical flaws?’
‘The “floaters”? We’ll just say we all have them.’”
This one is reminiscent of Hitchhikers Guide B ark: “’Robots will replace us all pretty soon,’ he said.
‘Not everyone. Not you.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, no one needs what you do. You can go,’”
“’Dad, why do Santa’s deer have bells?’
‘Remember how we put the bell on the cat because he kept eating birds?’
‘Yeah?’
‘That. But kids’”
“’Teach me how to be happy,’ she said.
The dog whuffed at her, then flopped down to nap.
‘I wish you could talk.’
He wished she would listen.”
And there are many more, just as marvellous. What a great little collection!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing.
December 19, 2020
Absolutely delightful. I wish I wrote this book.
September 1, 2020
This is a delightful little book of tiny stories in 140 characters or less with charming illustrations. Some whimsical, some serious, some funny, some thoughtful, some profound, covering a wide range of topics from fairy tales to science fiction, relationships to contemporary issues. Something for everyone.
A sample of a few of my favourites to whet your appetite:
'"How curious," Alice said. "This bottle says 'Drink Me' on it!"
And so she did, because apparently her parents had done a very poor job.'
'His future branched ahead, a tree of possibility.
With each failure, a branch was severed.
Pruned, he hoped, so better things could follow.'
'People are strangely like magnets.
Drawn so strongly together by invisible forces.
Compelled to join.
But one wrong turn: repelled.'
'Gotta be quiet as a cat thought the burglar.
So she sprinted through the house and jumped on a table, knocking everything off it.'
With thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of the book to read
A sample of a few of my favourites to whet your appetite:
'"How curious," Alice said. "This bottle says 'Drink Me' on it!"
And so she did, because apparently her parents had done a very poor job.'
'His future branched ahead, a tree of possibility.
With each failure, a branch was severed.
Pruned, he hoped, so better things could follow.'
'People are strangely like magnets.
Drawn so strongly together by invisible forces.
Compelled to join.
But one wrong turn: repelled.'
'Gotta be quiet as a cat thought the burglar.
So she sprinted through the house and jumped on a table, knocking everything off it.'
With thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of the book to read
December 24, 2020
There were some entertaining moments...and some that didn't rise to the occasion.
August 27, 2020
English Review Below.
مجموعة مصورة لقصص قصيرة جدا، أو ما تُسمى بالقصة الومضة، وهي في نظري من أصعب أنواع الكتابات، لأنها إما قد تكون مذهلة جدا أو خالية من المعنى لقصرها الشديد والعجز عن اختيار الكلمات المناسبة. وأغلب القصص هنا أعجبتني جدا. مواضيعها تتراوح بين الديستوبيا ونهاية العالم واحتلال الفضائيين لكوكبنا والسحر وسيطرة الروبوتات والذكاء الاصطناعي علينا وحتمية موت البشر لتدميرهم الكوكب.
ببساطة دي اأفكار الرئيسية للمجموعة، بعض القصص تصحبها رسومات جميلة، وكنت أتمنى لو أن الرسومات أكتر، والقصص أغلبها مضحكة وكثير منها بتتمتع بطابع الكوميديا السوداء، وهو يُعتبر نوعي المفضل من الكوميديا. أقدر أرشحه لمحبي النوع الخيالي ده من الأدب وعايزين منه تجارب قصيرة جدا.
An illustrated collection of very short stories, or flash fiction, which in my opinion, is one of the hardest types of writings, because it's either very amazing or meaningless because the author couldn't choose the right words in such a short space. I liked most of the stories in this collection. Its topics vary between dystopia, end of the world, alien invasion, magic, robots and AIs taking over and the inevitability of human extinction.
These are the main ideas of this collection accompanied by beautiful illustrations, and I would've preferred if there were more illustrations. Most of the stories are humorous in the dark humorous way, which is my favorite kind of humor. I highly recommend.
I thank Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the digital ARC, and this is my honest review.
مجموعة مصورة لقصص قصيرة جدا، أو ما تُسمى بالقصة الومضة، وهي في نظري من أصعب أنواع الكتابات، لأنها إما قد تكون مذهلة جدا أو خالية من المعنى لقصرها الشديد والعجز عن اختيار الكلمات المناسبة. وأغلب القصص هنا أعجبتني جدا. مواضيعها تتراوح بين الديستوبيا ونهاية العالم واحتلال الفضائيين لكوكبنا والسحر وسيطرة الروبوتات والذكاء الاصطناعي علينا وحتمية موت البشر لتدميرهم الكوكب.
ببساطة دي اأفكار الرئيسية للمجموعة، بعض القصص تصحبها رسومات جميلة، وكنت أتمنى لو أن الرسومات أكتر، والقصص أغلبها مضحكة وكثير منها بتتمتع بطابع الكوميديا السوداء، وهو يُعتبر نوعي المفضل من الكوميديا. أقدر أرشحه لمحبي النوع الخيالي ده من الأدب وعايزين منه تجارب قصيرة جدا.
An illustrated collection of very short stories, or flash fiction, which in my opinion, is one of the hardest types of writings, because it's either very amazing or meaningless because the author couldn't choose the right words in such a short space. I liked most of the stories in this collection. Its topics vary between dystopia, end of the world, alien invasion, magic, robots and AIs taking over and the inevitability of human extinction.
These are the main ideas of this collection accompanied by beautiful illustrations, and I would've preferred if there were more illustrations. Most of the stories are humorous in the dark humorous way, which is my favorite kind of humor. I highly recommend.
I thank Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the digital ARC, and this is my honest review.
January 27, 2022
I ADORE micro-fiction. This collection was no exception. And while I understand it’s micro-fiction, and therefore by it’s very nature, quite short, I would like something that took longer than an hour to read.
”People are still good, mostly,” she said.
“Not from what I’m hearing,” he said.
“Love is quieter than gunshots. But there’s more of it”
”People are still good, mostly,” she said.
“Not from what I’m hearing,” he said.
“Love is quieter than gunshots. But there’s more of it”
August 6, 2020
Little bits. Tiny snippets. Just enough to wet the whistle and keep curiosity flowing. Loved it!!!!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and James Miller for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and James Miller for an ARC in return for an honest review.
September 22, 2021
A collection of four(ish) sentence microstories harvested from the @ASmallFiction Twitter account. As with any anthology, it's a mixed bag. But when they're good, they're pretty good.
There's something here for everyone.
Grimdark revisionist:
Scathing:
Triumphant:
Ironic:
Shyamalanesque:
Melancholy:
Thought-provoking:
Risqué:
Philosophical:
Pious:
Chilling:
Nerf herder-ish.
There's something here for everyone.
Grimdark revisionist:
Hansel held the oven shut until the shouting stopped. The candy cottage fell quiet.
"We'll say she was a witch," Gretel said, her mouth full.
Scathing:
"It's time you knew about the birds and the bees."
"What?"
"Well, before climate change there were lots of living things, and some could fly."
Triumphant:
"Damn, this puzzle has a piece missing," he said.
"Poor puzzle piece," she said. "It must be so sad."
But it wasn't. It was finally free.
Ironic:
"Can't talk now, I'm driving," I texted.
"k, drive safe," he replied.
"I think you mean drive safely," I typed as I veered off the bridge.
Shyamalanesque:
"This model is perfect. Even it will think it's human."
"What about the optical flaws?"
"The 'floaters'? We'll just say we all have them."
Melancholy:
Dr. Frankenstein lowered the defibrillator paddles and sighed.
It just wasn't the same.
Thought-provoking:
"Are we alone in the universe?" she asked.
"Yes," said the Oracle.
"So there's no other life out there?"
"There is. They're alone too."
Risqué:
The small hooded figure perched on her vanity.
"Death? Damn. I'll miss my date," she said.
"No, I'm Little Death. The date will go fine."
Philosophical:
Ownership is an illusion, the cat knew. Nothing is forever.
They needed to learn.
He began pushing another cup toward the table's edge.
Pious:
And God said, "Let there be dog," and there was dog.
God saw that dog was good, and said,
"Who's a good dog?"
And it was dog. Yes it was.
Chilling:
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider,
and she ate him too.
Nothing could sate her dark hunger.
Nerf herder-ish.
"I do."
"I know."
The priest cleared his throat.
"Mr. Solo, you need to say the words so we can end the ceremony."
November 2, 2018
A collection.
Of very short stories.
SF. Fantasy. Mundane. Surreal. Horror.
Some clunkers. Most with bite.
Of very short stories.
SF. Fantasy. Mundane. Surreal. Horror.
Some clunkers. Most with bite.
March 12, 2021
I'm a huge fan of the Twitter account, so it's no wonder I adored this book.
November 6, 2018
This was a super fast and very fun read.
I backed this project on unbound.com and am very happy I did so. There are so many great little stories in here, some make you think and some just make you happy.
I recommend this to anyone who wants to smile.
I backed this project on unbound.com and am very happy I did so. There are so many great little stories in here, some make you think and some just make you happy.
I recommend this to anyone who wants to smile.
January 30, 2019
I loved this. I only read a few pages everyday, so that I could fully enjoy each little story.
I follow him on instagram, and there is always something thought provoking, funny, or both.
My daughter and I both gifted this book to each other for Christmas. And that was NOT a planned exchange.
I follow him on instagram, and there is always something thought provoking, funny, or both.
My daughter and I both gifted this book to each other for Christmas. And that was NOT a planned exchange.
October 20, 2018
A quick read but an enjoyable one. Crafted micro-stories that in three lines often tell more than 300 page novels.
January 28, 2023
2.5 stars.
A Small Fiction, by??? (James Mark Miller? Or Jefferson Miller? In Hoopla the cover and the cataloged authors shown are incongruous; it's ambiguously confusing.) I read 29 out of 149 pages, and am ditching it.
A friend on Goodreads was reading it. It sounded interesting, but my libraries didn't have it. Mentioned it. Shrug. Move on. The friend says, try Hoopla. (I always forget about Hoopla...) I check it out. Here's what I wrote back after reading the first two chapters:
OK, just found it, read the first two chapters, 29 pages... I'm not too excited about it. A lot of them are so depressing, just hopeless.
There was one I liked, wanted to quote. But Hoopla, although it let me highlight it, would not let me copy and paste, nor take a screenshot of the text so I could use Google lens to highlight and copy and paste that way. Frustrating. I'll have to type it out. It was the funnier one I found (meant to say, the only funny one I found).
"He wasn't sure what to do at parties.
Everyone said he just needed to find a way to break the ice.
That sounded like a easy way to drown."
This was probably the best one so far.
Tell me, if you read further already, is it worth continuing? Do they get less sad?
***
That one sardonic quote, was the only story worth reading, and I have better books to try and read right now. I'm glad I only spent maybe ten minutes on the book.
A Small Fiction, by??? (James Mark Miller? Or Jefferson Miller? In Hoopla the cover and the cataloged authors shown are incongruous; it's ambiguously confusing.) I read 29 out of 149 pages, and am ditching it.
A friend on Goodreads was reading it. It sounded interesting, but my libraries didn't have it. Mentioned it. Shrug. Move on. The friend says, try Hoopla. (I always forget about Hoopla...) I check it out. Here's what I wrote back after reading the first two chapters:
OK, just found it, read the first two chapters, 29 pages... I'm not too excited about it. A lot of them are so depressing, just hopeless.
There was one I liked, wanted to quote. But Hoopla, although it let me highlight it, would not let me copy and paste, nor take a screenshot of the text so I could use Google lens to highlight and copy and paste that way. Frustrating. I'll have to type it out. It was the funnier one I found (meant to say, the only funny one I found).
"He wasn't sure what to do at parties.
Everyone said he just needed to find a way to break the ice.
That sounded like a easy way to drown."
This was probably the best one so far.
Tell me, if you read further already, is it worth continuing? Do they get less sad?
***
That one sardonic quote, was the only story worth reading, and I have better books to try and read right now. I'm glad I only spent maybe ten minutes on the book.
September 30, 2020
I have seen multiple mini-stories online before, and when I first picked up this book, I did not know what I was expecting. There is no pattern in the flow of the narration, some focus on fairy tales, others were on AI, but all of them were thought-provoking (as the blurb rightly claims). Every next couple of lines had me itching to discuss it with more people. Finally, I showed a few to my husband, and then I ordered my own copy!
I very rarely give in to the temptation to own a book I read, mostly because I am not a very big re-reader. This will probably be an exception for a while because I know for a fact that my husband wants to check them all out. It is not something that can be read silently. The illustrations in this copy do seem to add something extra to the work. A certain basic sense of humour and maybe a little bit of knowledge of the more popular stories is essential to relish the content (or so I feel).
I highly recommend this to people who either follow the author online or like bite-sized, intriguing stories.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. The review, however, is solely based on my reading experience.
I very rarely give in to the temptation to own a book I read, mostly because I am not a very big re-reader. This will probably be an exception for a while because I know for a fact that my husband wants to check them all out. It is not something that can be read silently. The illustrations in this copy do seem to add something extra to the work. A certain basic sense of humour and maybe a little bit of knowledge of the more popular stories is essential to relish the content (or so I feel).
I highly recommend this to people who either follow the author online or like bite-sized, intriguing stories.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. The review, however, is solely based on my reading experience.
February 28, 2021
A strange but delightful collection of flash fiction that is somehow both insightful and shitpost worthy
September 4, 2022
"Are you here to conquer Earth?"
The aliens exchanged a look.
«No;
» one said, "this is more like an
intervention. You guys need to relax."
The aliens exchanged a look.
«No;
» one said, "this is more like an
intervention. You guys need to relax."
October 18, 2018
Wonderful small fictions and accompanying illustrations. Each little gem has a something special to recommend it: humor, wit, pathos, insight, prescience, tenderness, etc. Marked quite a few to read again and again!
August 29, 2020
Do you remember what Forrest Gump's mother always said?
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
"The same applies to A Small Fiction," says Tau and as a Belgian she can know
That the chocolates in this book are really delicious. In one word: "Wow!"
Don't be fooled by the packaging
Whether the cover appeals to you or not, pick up this book!
You will be pleasantly surprised.
Over and over again.
Because - like the title already says - it is all about 'small fiction'.
As in: lots of little stories of just a few sentences and maximum 140 characters.
What started as an exercice in creativity on Twitter, became an almost daily habit and resulted in this book.
There's no arguing about taste
That is a truism.
But the good news is: there's for everyone's taste in here.
Philosophical and poetic observations, science-fiction with robots and aliens, fantasy with ghosts and death and oracles, romances with a twist, …
Even a true wedding proposal!
You never know what you're gonna get
At first sight the stories are published in random order and not by theme or genre (although several themes keep coming back throughout the book and some may appeal more to you than others).
But when you look a little closer, you begin to see that there is always some connection between two successive stories. Sometimes it's the setting, sometimes just a keyword. Anyway, it's nice to see that the book was compiled with so much eye for detail.
Although you never know where the next story may take you, there are a few constants.
Several stories contain references to poems, books, … (always fun if you recognize them)
Others are supported by pictures made by Jefferson Miller, the brother of James Miller (the author). These black and white pictures often form a beautiful symbiosis with the words.
There is also a lot of inventive wordplay, which will delight language lovers.
And most importantly, there is humour in abundance. From witty over absurd to mostly dark.
Beware: as addictive as chocolate
This is definitely a book to read and reread, especially when you can use a bit(e) of inspiration or humour to brighten up your day!
And if you need a higher dose, you can always take a look on the Twitter-account of A Small Fiction where new stories are still regularly posted or on the website ;-)
*Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
** This review was also placed in an article on my blog World of Tau.
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
"The same applies to A Small Fiction," says Tau and as a Belgian she can know
That the chocolates in this book are really delicious. In one word: "Wow!"
Don't be fooled by the packaging
Whether the cover appeals to you or not, pick up this book!
You will be pleasantly surprised.
Over and over again.
Because - like the title already says - it is all about 'small fiction'.
As in: lots of little stories of just a few sentences and maximum 140 characters.
What started as an exercice in creativity on Twitter, became an almost daily habit and resulted in this book.
There's no arguing about taste
That is a truism.
But the good news is: there's for everyone's taste in here.
Philosophical and poetic observations, science-fiction with robots and aliens, fantasy with ghosts and death and oracles, romances with a twist, …
Even a true wedding proposal!
You never know what you're gonna get
At first sight the stories are published in random order and not by theme or genre (although several themes keep coming back throughout the book and some may appeal more to you than others).
But when you look a little closer, you begin to see that there is always some connection between two successive stories. Sometimes it's the setting, sometimes just a keyword. Anyway, it's nice to see that the book was compiled with so much eye for detail.
Although you never know where the next story may take you, there are a few constants.
Several stories contain references to poems, books, … (always fun if you recognize them)
Others are supported by pictures made by Jefferson Miller, the brother of James Miller (the author). These black and white pictures often form a beautiful symbiosis with the words.
There is also a lot of inventive wordplay, which will delight language lovers.
And most importantly, there is humour in abundance. From witty over absurd to mostly dark.
Beware: as addictive as chocolate
This is definitely a book to read and reread, especially when you can use a bit(e) of inspiration or humour to brighten up your day!
And if you need a higher dose, you can always take a look on the Twitter-account of A Small Fiction where new stories are still regularly posted or on the website ;-)
*Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
** This review was also placed in an article on my blog World of Tau.
December 9, 2018
A book full of tweet-sized stories that give you a lot to think about. They look so simple and short, but I am constantly surprised how deep they can go. I enjoyed reading them very much and will often return just to reread a few random stories.
November 14, 2018
I’m so happy I supported the pre-sale funding of this gem of a book. Two brothers, author and illustrator, 200 little stories (140 characters or less) that made me appreciate the power of words like never before! This book is substantial in your hand with a beautiful cover and glossy pages! It would make a wonderful gift for the upcoming holiday season. You won’t be disappointed!
December 20, 2020
The shortest stories!
I LOVE what James Mark Miller has been able to do with only a few short lines on a single page!
This book is chock full of creepy ghost stories, scary robot/dystopian stories, sad robot stories (lol), and a ton of sweet ones that pulled on my heartstrings.
Here are only some of my favorite stories from A Small Fiction:
Every dog has his day.
As he rolled on the grass, tail wagging, he knew this one was his.
As so was yesterday.
Tomorrow would be, too.
Pg. 3
"People are still good, mostly," she said.
"Not from what I'm hearing," he said.
"Love is quieter than gunshots. But there's more of it."
Page. 18
"Why is the world so cruel?" she asked.
"To remind us to be kind," said the Oracle.
"Really?"
"No. But it's a good enough reason to try."
Pg. 22
Her life story was being written in a different genre than she'd thought.
She'd expected drama. Maybe romance.
Dystopian was a surprise.
Page. 35
She set a distress signal to loop.
No ships would come before her air ran out.
She knew that.
She just wanted someone to know she'd gone.
Pg. 65
"Magic mirror, show me the source of my failures," he said.
"That's just a normal mirror," he realized.
Another failure.
Pg. 73
It wasn't the monster under her bed that upset her.
Nor the one in her closet.
It was their courtship. The growling of poetry in the dark.
Pg. 76
The monsters held a Halloween party.
They fussed over decorations, nervous and excited.
For a whole day people would be happy to see them.
Pg. 97
Those we sent back in time couldn't stop interfering when they saw suffering.
So we made them intangible observers.
Some call them ghosts.
Pg. 100
The old mapmaker wet his quill.
"Here be dragons," he labeled the wild beyond man's kingdom.
"Here be monsters," he wrote across the rest.
Pg. 101
"I want to curse an enemy."
"With misfortune," asked the witch, "or death?"
"A death curse? That works?"
"Sure, every time. Eventually."
Pg. 108
The assassin dealt in death by idiom. He glared daggers at his target.
They bounced off.
"Thick skinned," she said.
He'd met his match.
Pg. 120
"I challenge you to a duel!"
"Very well. The weapons?"
"Compliments."
"A capital choice!"
"Thank you, I- oh! I see you've dueled before!"
Pg. 121
"Well, I am rich where it counts: in friendship," I said.
Robin Hood, clearly disappointed, shoved my friends in his bag.
"It'll have to do."
Pg. 122
"When I die," he said, "I'm leaving you everything."
"When I die, I'm leaving you," was all she heard.
Because that was everything.
Pg. 135
A muffled bump. Something had moved in her attic.
She felt a jolt of fear.
She could have sworn everybody she'd hidden up there was dead.
Pg. 161
"Was that it?" she said.
"What more did you want? said the Grim Reaper.
"Just one more day?"
"Ah, but that's what I gave you yesterday."
Pg. 165
Was she worthless? she wondered.
It felt like it. She'd been so easily set aside.
But every treasure map leads to something left behind.
Pg. 187
I LOVE what James Mark Miller has been able to do with only a few short lines on a single page!
This book is chock full of creepy ghost stories, scary robot/dystopian stories, sad robot stories (lol), and a ton of sweet ones that pulled on my heartstrings.
Here are only some of my favorite stories from A Small Fiction:
Every dog has his day.
As he rolled on the grass, tail wagging, he knew this one was his.
As so was yesterday.
Tomorrow would be, too.
Pg. 3
"People are still good, mostly," she said.
"Not from what I'm hearing," he said.
"Love is quieter than gunshots. But there's more of it."
Page. 18
"Why is the world so cruel?" she asked.
"To remind us to be kind," said the Oracle.
"Really?"
"No. But it's a good enough reason to try."
Pg. 22
Her life story was being written in a different genre than she'd thought.
She'd expected drama. Maybe romance.
Dystopian was a surprise.
Page. 35
She set a distress signal to loop.
No ships would come before her air ran out.
She knew that.
She just wanted someone to know she'd gone.
Pg. 65
"Magic mirror, show me the source of my failures," he said.
"That's just a normal mirror," he realized.
Another failure.
Pg. 73
It wasn't the monster under her bed that upset her.
Nor the one in her closet.
It was their courtship. The growling of poetry in the dark.
Pg. 76
The monsters held a Halloween party.
They fussed over decorations, nervous and excited.
For a whole day people would be happy to see them.
Pg. 97
Those we sent back in time couldn't stop interfering when they saw suffering.
So we made them intangible observers.
Some call them ghosts.
Pg. 100
The old mapmaker wet his quill.
"Here be dragons," he labeled the wild beyond man's kingdom.
"Here be monsters," he wrote across the rest.
Pg. 101
"I want to curse an enemy."
"With misfortune," asked the witch, "or death?"
"A death curse? That works?"
"Sure, every time. Eventually."
Pg. 108
The assassin dealt in death by idiom. He glared daggers at his target.
They bounced off.
"Thick skinned," she said.
He'd met his match.
Pg. 120
"I challenge you to a duel!"
"Very well. The weapons?"
"Compliments."
"A capital choice!"
"Thank you, I- oh! I see you've dueled before!"
Pg. 121
"Well, I am rich where it counts: in friendship," I said.
Robin Hood, clearly disappointed, shoved my friends in his bag.
"It'll have to do."
Pg. 122
"When I die," he said, "I'm leaving you everything."
"When I die, I'm leaving you," was all she heard.
Because that was everything.
Pg. 135
A muffled bump. Something had moved in her attic.
She felt a jolt of fear.
She could have sworn everybody she'd hidden up there was dead.
Pg. 161
"Was that it?" she said.
"What more did you want? said the Grim Reaper.
"Just one more day?"
"Ah, but that's what I gave you yesterday."
Pg. 165
Was she worthless? she wondered.
It felt like it. She'd been so easily set aside.
But every treasure map leads to something left behind.
Pg. 187
August 14, 2020
"Are you here to conquer Earth?"
The aliens exchanged a look.
"No," one said, "this is more like an intervention. You guys need to relax."
Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for providing me with a temporary e-arc.A Small Fiction is an illustrated collection of micro-tales of 140 words or less exploring stories in every moment and moments in every story from dystopia to dog-filled through genres of humour, science-fiction, folklore and contemporary fiction in this world and beyond.
Written with impeccable crisp and excellent tones, every micro-tale in the collection hits you hard right on the spot, along with pretty and pleasant illustrations. The micro-tales range from adorable and hilarious to emotional and morbid yet remains thought-provoking throughout. It also contains micro tales that are either scary or makes you laugh for a minute until it actually sinks in and you double-take to read it again only to find it creepy AF. But in the end, you cannot not love 'em all!
Truly one of the best collections of micro-tales that I have read and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick yet a read that gives you a total experience of various sorts!
Note: I had trouble choosing one tale for this review because I am awful at making choices as such, and I just had to share this another tale in this review:
Was she worthless? She wondered.
It felt like it. She'd been so easily set aside.
But every treasure map leads to something left behind.
March 21, 2021
A collection of micro-fiction.
I'd say most of them are small variations on a repetitive theme ("humanity has lost its way" being a popular one and "lol, ghosts are funny" being another). There were only a few that made me stop to re-read in appreciation. Like this one:
"I am saturated in a deep and lingering melancholy," he wrote, "and I fear that one day I might drown in it."
"k," she texted back."
I love that because it's making a statement without prancing around in its own ego. A clean, good stroke of writerly genius. Some of the others felt more like the author was jabbing me in the ribs with his elbow going, "You see what I did there?"
Worth picking up from the library.
I'd say most of them are small variations on a repetitive theme ("humanity has lost its way" being a popular one and "lol, ghosts are funny" being another). There were only a few that made me stop to re-read in appreciation. Like this one:
"I am saturated in a deep and lingering melancholy," he wrote, "and I fear that one day I might drown in it."
"k," she texted back."
I love that because it's making a statement without prancing around in its own ego. A clean, good stroke of writerly genius. Some of the others felt more like the author was jabbing me in the ribs with his elbow going, "You see what I did there?"
Worth picking up from the library.
April 1, 2022
Rating: 5/5.
Wow.
I picked up this book after discovering and loving a couple of the Oatmeal comics based on Miller's microstories, and I'm so glad I did. No, it wasn't cheap and yes, I read it in one sitting. Still very much worth it.
I'm awed by Miller's creativity, by his ability to make stories that are by turns funny, creepy and thought-provoking. But above all, I'm impressed by how often his stories made me feel seen, in all my human fallibility and incongruence. How many stories managed to condense in three sentences the pure foolishness of us mortals.
And so I'll reread my favorites often and feel small again --in a good way.
Wow.
I picked up this book after discovering and loving a couple of the Oatmeal comics based on Miller's microstories, and I'm so glad I did. No, it wasn't cheap and yes, I read it in one sitting. Still very much worth it.
I'm awed by Miller's creativity, by his ability to make stories that are by turns funny, creepy and thought-provoking. But above all, I'm impressed by how often his stories made me feel seen, in all my human fallibility and incongruence. How many stories managed to condense in three sentences the pure foolishness of us mortals.
And so I'll reread my favorites often and feel small again --in a good way.
July 30, 2020
I received an advanced version of this book through NetGalley to review.
The book is a mix of sweet, thought-provoking, and melancholy tiny stories that come together beautifully. There are a few stories that turn common phrases or beliefs on their head. They will make you laugh and may give you some hope. I listed a couple of my favorites below.
We were the stars.
Meaningless alone.
Defined by our constellations.
The dog's tail wagged.
It was his tail's job: to synchronize all nearby moods to the measure of his joy.
A metronome of happiness.
The book is a mix of sweet, thought-provoking, and melancholy tiny stories that come together beautifully. There are a few stories that turn common phrases or beliefs on their head. They will make you laugh and may give you some hope. I listed a couple of my favorites below.
We were the stars.
Meaningless alone.
Defined by our constellations.
The dog's tail wagged.
It was his tail's job: to synchronize all nearby moods to the measure of his joy.
A metronome of happiness.
April 9, 2020
This may be a late review, but no book has made me feel sooooo many different things with such few words. It is by no means a hard or long read, but the way each "small fiction" is written, makes you think and feel such different things. Each entry is usually not related to any other but it doesn't detract from the overall sense while reading it. If someone asked me for a book recommendation for absolutely anyone, it would be this book. So in short, READ THIS BOOK.
August 17, 2020
This book is delightfully whimsical, bringing back an intense feeling of nostalgia. It makes me feel somewhat like a child again, bouncing from one idea/story to the next. Each story is connected through a common theme, word, or symbol, and I can tell there was careful thought concerning the positioning of each short story; if you're looking for a relaxing and fun read, give this book a chance! I'm sure you will not be disappointed.
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