You're Ruining the Dystopia for Everyone!

by Frank Conniff, Len Peralta (Illustrator)

DISCLAIMER: The dystopia portrayed in this book is not the real kind of dystopia that you are all too familiar with. It is the fun kind of dystopia, with mutant zombies, vicious post-apocalyptic biker gangs, adolescent killer robots, sinister aliens with strange digestive systems, and attractive young adults engaged in a deadly competition (well, it's an essay contest, but brutal on a metaphorical level). This collection of linked short stories is just the kind of in-the-not-too-distant-futuristic fiction you’d expect from Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Frank Conniff.

Genres: Short Stories, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopia

134 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2020

About the author

Frank Conniff is a comedy writer and performer who began his TV career writing for the Peabody Award winning Comedy Central series Mystery Science Theater 3000, where he also played TV's Frank, the bumbling yet lovable mad scientist sidekick. He then went on to be a writer, producer and actor on the ABC TV series Sabrina the Teenage Witch and he was a writer and producer on The Drew Carey Show on ABC, The New Tom Green Show on MTV, and the satirical series O2BE on the Oxygen Network, where he was also a cast member. He was head writer of the animated Nickelodeon series Invader Zim, and also was a writer and producer for the Air America Radio network, where he provided material for on-air personalities Rachel Maddow, Marc Maron, Lizz Winstead, Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, and Randi Rhodes. He was a writer and performer on Viewpoint with John Fugelsang on Current TV, and on Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell on the FXX network, and he also writes and performs on The Jimmy Dore Show and appeared regularly on Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang on the SiriusXM Insight channel. He is the writer and star of a live stage show, Cartoon Dump, and he writes, produces and directs original musical comedy radio plays for his podcast, Podhouse 90. He is currently touring the country with Trace Beaulieu in a live movie-riffing show, The Mads Are Back, and podcasting regularly on Mother May I Podcast with Frank & Irene.

Reviews

[Abolfazl Nasri · Rating 3 out of 5]

یکی از کارهایی بود که قبلاً دلی ترجمه کرده بودمش. یه دور بازخوانیش کردم که در اختیار دیگران قرار بدم.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining book! It reminded me very much like an episode of MST3K where the movie itself was self aware and making comments. This book had all the smart, entertaining, clever snark of the show. You have to make sure you read the memos because those are are story unto itself.

The one negative to my enjoyment is the "stories" are short and somewhat disjointed and stream of consciousness storytelling. I mean it was all fun and entertaining with twists, but frankly my Brother is a better writer (especially his near future dystopian novel of emergent AI - if you are interested and can't find it let me know and I will share a link).

Oh wait, yes, this collection of stories by TV's Frank is a good read check it out.

[Keith Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully entertaining, wildly funny, and occasionally quite gross short story-essays.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what we need right now.

Frank! For crying out loud, dontcha know how much we needed this humor and wry wit just now. Your writing just keeps getting better and better. Recommend for all Misties, new and "vintage". I also recommend Frank's shows with Trace B (Dr. F) on The Mads are Back. Give Millie a hug for us. Looking forward to your next book.

[Michael Heitmanek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best but definitely not his worst. Has some great running motifs. The “memos” between chapters are well worth the price of admission. Overall a fun reading experience. I would definitely recommend to anyone.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The structuring concept gave this book texture and fun, and some of the "essays" were just plain bonkers fun.
Still, I guess once I've read Frank Conniff's book about the films he screened for MST3K, the bar was set really high.

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

If only it were possible to give zero star reviews. It started promising but turned into straight-up pain to read near the middle. Skimmed most stories from there to the end because there was no rhyme, reason, nor skill with writing.

Do not read.

[Alex Fong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories from folks living through a zombie apocalypse. A quick and fun read.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dystopian, young adult, short (very short) stories. Pretty darn well done. If you're into this sort of thing. Spoiler alert, plenty of gore (think zombies) and drug references.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny sci-fi short stories, perfect for the pandemic era