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Past, Present, Future.
Three eras, three stories.
In “Hundredfingers,” a legendary guitarist reconnects with a figure of his past. In “Keyword,” a search engine falls in love with a user. And in “Mad Scientist Seeking Intern for Spring Semester”…well, you can guess what that’s about.
In “Hundredfingers,” a legendary guitarist reconnects with a figure of his past. In “Keyword,” a search engine falls in love with a user. And in “Mad Scientist Seeking Intern for Spring Semester”…well, you can guess what that’s about.
Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Kyle A. Massa
13 books80 followersKyle A. Massa is a comedy author of some sort living somewhere in upstate New York with his wife, their daughter, and three wild animals. His published works include numerous books, short stories, essays, and poems. When he’s not writing, he enjoys reading, running, and drinking cheap coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 19, 2022
An extremely short collection of intelligent stories that left me wanting more!
I have read this author’s ‘Monsters at Dusk’ and had become a fan of his imagination and his sense of humour. This collection maintains the same standard, though it must be about one-fourth the length. (I completed this in fifteen minutes flat!)
There are just three stories in this anthology.
1. ‘Hundredfingers’ (Past) – About a guitarist named Johnny Hundredfingers. Everyone is in awe of his guitar playing but no one knows the reason behind his skills.
While I have seen this kind of story many times (it’s a fairly common trope in the classics), I loved how Massa added his own twist to the proceedings. The characters are wonderfully developed for such a short tale.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
2. ‘Mad Scientist Seeking Intern for Spring Semester’ (Present) – Exactly as the title suggests. The entire "story" contains job specifications for the potential intern. Needless to say, the specifications are hilarious. I just wish the story were longer. It was fun but over before it even began.
🌟🌟🌟💫
3. ‘Keyword’ (Future) - The narrator has fallen in love with a girl who is getting married to someone else. That's it. The beauty of the story isn't in this plotline, which resembles that of almost half of the world's romcoms. If you know who the narrator is, you'll be stunned at the complex simplicity (oxymoron intentional) of the story.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
As is evident, I am a very happy reader right now. The book provided everything I look for in a short story anthology – pace, great writing, great story development, a precise ending (it’s surprising to see how many short stories fall flat simply because of their endings) and a medley of emotions and humour.
Heartily recommended. One more superhit collection such as this and I will become a lifelong Kyle A. Massa fan!
4.25 stars, based on the average of my ratings for the three stories.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
I have read this author’s ‘Monsters at Dusk’ and had become a fan of his imagination and his sense of humour. This collection maintains the same standard, though it must be about one-fourth the length. (I completed this in fifteen minutes flat!)
There are just three stories in this anthology.
1. ‘Hundredfingers’ (Past) – About a guitarist named Johnny Hundredfingers. Everyone is in awe of his guitar playing but no one knows the reason behind his skills.
While I have seen this kind of story many times (it’s a fairly common trope in the classics), I loved how Massa added his own twist to the proceedings. The characters are wonderfully developed for such a short tale.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
2. ‘Mad Scientist Seeking Intern for Spring Semester’ (Present) – Exactly as the title suggests. The entire "story" contains job specifications for the potential intern. Needless to say, the specifications are hilarious. I just wish the story were longer. It was fun but over before it even began.
🌟🌟🌟💫
3. ‘Keyword’ (Future) - The narrator has fallen in love with a girl who is getting married to someone else. That's it. The beauty of the story isn't in this plotline, which resembles that of almost half of the world's romcoms. If you know who the narrator is, you'll be stunned at the complex simplicity (oxymoron intentional) of the story.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
As is evident, I am a very happy reader right now. The book provided everything I look for in a short story anthology – pace, great writing, great story development, a precise ending (it’s surprising to see how many short stories fall flat simply because of their endings) and a medley of emotions and humour.
Heartily recommended. One more superhit collection such as this and I will become a lifelong Kyle A. Massa fan!
4.25 stars, based on the average of my ratings for the three stories.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
July 31, 2023
This collection contains three short and very different stories and is offered FREE as a taster of the author’s style and content.
All three tales are well-written and easy to read and really showcase the range of the author’s fiction, providing an ideal introduction for new readers. There is some dark fantasy about a deal with the devil, a humorous little snippet that satirises villain/henchman tropes and a forlornly touching sci-fi tale about AI that doesn’t feel all too far in the future at this point in time.
There isn’t a bad story among the three and each is unique and different from the others, so at the bargain price of COMPLETELY FREE, I strongly suggest you check this volume out on the author’s website!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
All three tales are well-written and easy to read and really showcase the range of the author’s fiction, providing an ideal introduction for new readers. There is some dark fantasy about a deal with the devil, a humorous little snippet that satirises villain/henchman tropes and a forlornly touching sci-fi tale about AI that doesn’t feel all too far in the future at this point in time.
There isn’t a bad story among the three and each is unique and different from the others, so at the bargain price of COMPLETELY FREE, I strongly suggest you check this volume out on the author’s website!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
November 29, 2020
A super quick and fun read.
The book contains three short stories in total where one is more fascinating than the other. The style of narration is mostly humorous, and the stories are pretty light and easy to follow. The first one features a story about a passionate guitarist from the past, the one that follows is about a mad scientist seeking internship at present, and the third story is about a future search engine falling in love. We don't see the last one quite often, so readers definitely won't regret giving it a shot.
In a couple of words, it was an enjoyable and relaxing read.
The book contains three short stories in total where one is more fascinating than the other. The style of narration is mostly humorous, and the stories are pretty light and easy to follow. The first one features a story about a passionate guitarist from the past, the one that follows is about a mad scientist seeking internship at present, and the third story is about a future search engine falling in love. We don't see the last one quite often, so readers definitely won't regret giving it a shot.
In a couple of words, it was an enjoyable and relaxing read.
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September 11, 2021Three eras, three stories.
In “Hundredfingers,” a legendary guitarist reconnects with a figure of his past. In “Keyword,” a search engine falls in love with a user. And in “Mad Scientist Seeking Intern for Spring Semester”…Scientist falls in love with intern. Three completely separate but yet oddly connected novels. Crisp dialogue without unnecessary fluff or filler, three dimensional characters that come to life on the pages and a believable storyline made for a quick, entertaining read
In “Hundredfingers,” a legendary guitarist reconnects with a figure of his past. In “Keyword,” a search engine falls in love with a user. And in “Mad Scientist Seeking Intern for Spring Semester”…Scientist falls in love with intern. Three completely separate but yet oddly connected novels. Crisp dialogue without unnecessary fluff or filler, three dimensional characters that come to life on the pages and a believable storyline made for a quick, entertaining read
July 26, 2021
These were three very unique short stories. I enjoyed them. Voice was clearly featured in each and in each the tone of the voice was quite different. Well thought out and cleverly executed.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2020
I truly enjoyed these short stories. I wasn’t able to put it down. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
September 8, 2021
Really fun and unique short stories. Would love to see a whole book of more like this!
November 20, 2024
Despite being a voracious reader, I will give unbiased review on this amazing work of art. It honestly deserves more readings, if I'm being honest.
It's so light hearted and sweet and easy to read and grasp. No over complicated words or dialogues. Amazing description of the scenes.
My favorite was the alien one. It was absolutely funny to me. But, I digress.
This is my second book by Kyle and honestly, I'm in love with his writing style. Also, the little tid bits he adds regarding his life is just... Amazing. And yes, I read the introduction and felt special afterwards.
There is just so much to love about this book and I'll know to read it again and again because that's how good it is.
I also appreciated the painting added. I don't know why. I do agree that the arc nemesis was the hero. If you wanna get more insights, maybe try this book out. I honestly have nothing but praise for it.
I sincerely hope that the author can keep on writing.
It's so light hearted and sweet and easy to read and grasp. No over complicated words or dialogues. Amazing description of the scenes.
My favorite was the alien one. It was absolutely funny to me. But, I digress.
This is my second book by Kyle and honestly, I'm in love with his writing style. Also, the little tid bits he adds regarding his life is just... Amazing. And yes, I read the introduction and felt special afterwards.
There is just so much to love about this book and I'll know to read it again and again because that's how good it is.
I also appreciated the painting added. I don't know why. I do agree that the arc nemesis was the hero. If you wanna get more insights, maybe try this book out. I honestly have nothing but praise for it.
I sincerely hope that the author can keep on writing.
March 1, 2022
I really liked this book because it really wasn't what I was expecting at all, to be honest. The first story is about a deal made long ago at the crossroads, and the power of music; the second story was about a job listing if a mad scientist was looking either for an assistant or a henchman (very brief and to the point) and the third story was about search terms and keywords; can a computer (or a search engine) fall in love? Incredibly short, this 'book' is 27 pages, and should take you about five minutes to read, but that shouldn't diminish how good the stories are, and hopefully it will leave you wanting more (like I do!) Enjoy!
April 2, 2022
I received a copy of this book from Voracious Readers.
These stories are very short, uncomplicated, easy reads. The first story's premise was not as original, but the other two were more interesting - particularly "Keyword." I think I would have appreciated "Mad Scientist Seeking Intern for Spring Semester" more if it was a bit less overt, although the idea of it is amusing. I also didn't feel a real connection to the different time periods in which these were supposed to occur. I expected the different "eras" to be more important, or at least apparent.
Overall, I liked the stories enough for a quick read before bed. They didn't require a commitment to time or deep thought.
These stories are very short, uncomplicated, easy reads. The first story's premise was not as original, but the other two were more interesting - particularly "Keyword." I think I would have appreciated "Mad Scientist Seeking Intern for Spring Semester" more if it was a bit less overt, although the idea of it is amusing. I also didn't feel a real connection to the different time periods in which these were supposed to occur. I expected the different "eras" to be more important, or at least apparent.
Overall, I liked the stories enough for a quick read before bed. They didn't require a commitment to time or deep thought.
June 3, 2022
I received this very short story from VRO in exchange for an honest review! Past, Present, Future is an interesting little tale - and I mean really little, I think it took me 20 minutes to read the entire story - with three distinct storylines. The Past is a take on the 27 Club's Robert Johnson if he didn't die at 27 which was pretty cool to think about. I didn't really understand the story of the Present but I thought the Future was cool. A mix of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "I Robot You Jane" and the movie Her, it was intriguing. Overall this was worth the read and I'd be curious to read Kyle Massa's other works.
January 22, 2025
Kyle A. Massa is quickly becoming one of my favourite indie authors! Past, Present, Future is such a funny and thoughtful little book. His writing had me laughing out loud, but it also made me stop and think about everyday life in a way that didn’t feel heavy or overly serious.
I really enjoyed how he blended fiction, non-fiction, and even poetry in this collection, it shows off how versatile he is as a writer. Whether he’s telling a story, reflecting on life, or crafting a poem, he brings such a unique voice to everything. After reading two of his books, I’m officially a fan! If you like stories that are clever, funny, and make you think just a little, I can’t recommend this one enough!
I really enjoyed how he blended fiction, non-fiction, and even poetry in this collection, it shows off how versatile he is as a writer. Whether he’s telling a story, reflecting on life, or crafting a poem, he brings such a unique voice to everything. After reading two of his books, I’m officially a fan! If you like stories that are clever, funny, and make you think just a little, I can’t recommend this one enough!
November 8, 2023
While short, I did enjoy the stories that Kyle A. Massa presented in this book. They were entertaining small snippets of different stories representing the 'past', 'present' and 'future'. While it was interesting to read, the stories were unrelated and stunted the flow of the book. To me, it felt a little disconnected to have these three stories within the same book. If they were separate from each other, I feel I may have enjoyed it more, but as stories one after each other, it felt like it did not work as well for me. However, these stories are still interesting as individual pieces.
December 22, 2022
3 stories from 3 eras, as the title suggests. Each glaringly different, each compelling in its own right. This is a very quick read, perfect for snatching some peace and quiet on a hectic day. Massa manages to address themes of mortality, morality, and matrimony in a few brief pages, and I look forward to exploring more that Massa has to offer.
I received a free review copy of this book
I received a free review copy of this book
July 24, 2022
Once again, Massa has floored me with these three brilliant short stories! Not only is he a master of writing good horror stories, but also fantasy and sci fi, as demonstrated in this small collection here. Another worth while read!
December 5, 2020
A light-hearted and funny collection of short stories.
Great for a day’s read (which I started/finished on the same day) 😊💖
Great for a day’s read (which I started/finished on the same day) 😊💖
February 9, 2021
Really enjoyed this book stories weren’t to long or short. Easy to understand would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants an easy read.
April 9, 2022
Different and interesting.
September 1, 2022
An interesting selection of three quick stories! As the title suggests! A good way to fill in your coffee break!
March 23, 2023
I only had a taster of this book to review it's not for me I'm afraid I didn't get what the author I was trying to do regarding the computer falling in love with someone
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2023
Was an OK read, quite interesting with the 2 stories and a great concept with the 2nd story.
November 14, 2023
This collection is so fun
March 26, 2024
This guy is really good. I highly recommend anything he writes.
May 12, 2024
Very smart and quirky short stories that I enjoyed reading. My favorite: Mad Scientist Seeking Intern.
June 3, 2024
This is a 3.25 🌟 read rounded ⬇️ to 3 🌟.
July 16, 2025
Love this author's style-humour with intelligence. Not usually a short stories reader but I truly enjoyed this.
December 29, 2020
I really enjoyed these short stories. I think the first one has to be my favorite of the 3.
May 20, 2023
I received a free copy of this book from VRO in exchange for an honest review.
This volume was a delightful, very quick read, broken into three separate, unrelated chapters. The first story gives a twist to an old, familiar trope. The second is simply am amusing, twisted job listing and the third is a glimpse of things possibly to come. The author does a great job of packing a huge amount of content and concepts into relatively few words.
This volume was a delightful, very quick read, broken into three separate, unrelated chapters. The first story gives a twist to an old, familiar trope. The second is simply am amusing, twisted job listing and the third is a glimpse of things possibly to come. The author does a great job of packing a huge amount of content and concepts into relatively few words.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews