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Something Estranged: Stories
SOMETHING ESTRANGED is a collection containing the final unpublished works of Edward Lorn, including stories from his pen names, Ward Nerdlo and Drew Roland. Table of There Were Other Versions of Us (first published as an audiobook from HorrorBabble on YouTube) Untitled Out of Sight, Out of Mind Key A Drawer Full of Pretty Cupid A Sound that Haunts Hangman (first published under the name Drew Roland) Something Else Give Him to Us Freedom Popsicle Oh Holy Shit (first published under the name Ward Nerdlo) Uncle Boobs (first published under the name Ward Nerdlo)
- GenresHorror
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2021
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Edward Lorn
63 books2,919 followersEdward Lorn (E. to most) is a reader, writer, and content creator. He's been writing for fun since the age of six, and writing professionally since 2011. He can be found haunting the halls of Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
E. lives in Alabama with his wife and two children. He is currently working on his next novel.
E. lives in Alabama with his wife and two children. He is currently working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 9, 2021
If you want a proper showcase of Edward Lorn's work then look no further.
Seriously, this is a terrific place to start.
I've been lucky enough to read a few of these stories in the past in other collections or through Patreon, and I am always genuinely surprised where his mind takes us.
The opening story THERE WERE OTHER VERSIONS OF US is easily one of my favourite short stories of all time. Then the next one, UNTITLED comes along and I'm like... jeez... that's got to be up there as well. The imagination running throughout here is off the charts.
Of course, not every story is going to be a five star read, but that's always down to personal taste. But I would predict there would be at least couple of five star reads for every one here. I have no doubts.
For me, I'd say there are probably 5 in total with the lowest score being around a 3.5, but that's one hell of an achievement when you consider what you are getting here. Some are novella length and could easily have been sold as such.
Last thing I want to say is about POPSICLE: a skateboarding story so well realised it's ridiculous. I was a skater for ten years, making the skate scene videos in Edinburgh Scotland during the 90's, and I was thinking that no way he'll get this right. It's not just the trick names, it's the vibe, the character interaction. Everything is spot on. Trust me, I was determined to find faults.
Man, I can't recommend this collection highly enough. It deserves a lot of love.
If you've been meaning to check out Edward Lorn's work, start here.
Absolutely five star worthy.
Get to it. Review it. Tell your friends about it.
Seriously, this is a terrific place to start.
I've been lucky enough to read a few of these stories in the past in other collections or through Patreon, and I am always genuinely surprised where his mind takes us.
The opening story THERE WERE OTHER VERSIONS OF US is easily one of my favourite short stories of all time. Then the next one, UNTITLED comes along and I'm like... jeez... that's got to be up there as well. The imagination running throughout here is off the charts.
Of course, not every story is going to be a five star read, but that's always down to personal taste. But I would predict there would be at least couple of five star reads for every one here. I have no doubts.
For me, I'd say there are probably 5 in total with the lowest score being around a 3.5, but that's one hell of an achievement when you consider what you are getting here. Some are novella length and could easily have been sold as such.
Last thing I want to say is about POPSICLE: a skateboarding story so well realised it's ridiculous. I was a skater for ten years, making the skate scene videos in Edinburgh Scotland during the 90's, and I was thinking that no way he'll get this right. It's not just the trick names, it's the vibe, the character interaction. Everything is spot on. Trust me, I was determined to find faults.
Man, I can't recommend this collection highly enough. It deserves a lot of love.
If you've been meaning to check out Edward Lorn's work, start here.
Absolutely five star worthy.
Get to it. Review it. Tell your friends about it.
July 29, 2021
I've been really looking forward to this collection since E first announced it. This collection collects some rare stories, one example being Key. My top 3 stories are
1) Cupid
2) Give Him To Us
3) Uncle Boobs.
There isn't a bad story in this collection. Highly recommend to fans of Horror. If you haven't read Edward Lorn you need to asap.
1) Cupid
2) Give Him To Us
3) Uncle Boobs.
There isn't a bad story in this collection. Highly recommend to fans of Horror. If you haven't read Edward Lorn you need to asap.
May 2, 2022
So I've finally finished all the reading wonder that is the material published under the name "Edward Lorn". Starting with Bay's End in New Year's 2014, I realise it has only been 8 years, which is way too little... It has been a brilliant journey and one I'm definitely looking forward to embark upon again!
So this book of odds and bits is a great treat for a completist, quick rundown follows:
There Were Other Versions Of Us 4*
I had the great privilege and pleasure of beta reading this one. Not much changed and it certainly held up! Chilling cosmic horror.
Untitled 3*
This is a tough one, a bold experiment and not an easy read - 5 for effort, loses some because of the rough content.
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind 3*
"Dead Ringers" and future noir echoing chilling piece.
Key 4*
This is an escape room so weird you'll doubt your comprehension.
A Drawer Full Of Pretty 3*
Shape-shifting weirdness.
Cupid 3*
Not bad, too short and a bit too obvious for me.
A Sound That Haunts 3*
I really liked this one all up to the ending. really 3.5, but graded to a very high (Lorn) standard.
Hangman 4*
This betters "High Plains Drifter" - loved the ending!
Something Else 4*
This one lands it's 4 stars mainly on originality, a great accomplishment.
Give Him To Us 3*
Packs a punch. Short, brutal. Bit obvious.
Freedom 4*
This is another really hard read, manages better than "Untitled" I thought, but quite tough.
Popsicle 3*
Absurd, unique, dark (humour)
Oh Holy Shit 4*
This one is just loads of fun.
Uncle Boobs 4*
Not sure what I read, this could have been a late 'Bay's End' short - or a 'Cruelty' connected one - or a trial run for either. It's a good read either way.
So this book of odds and bits is a great treat for a completist, quick rundown follows:
There Were Other Versions Of Us 4*
I had the great privilege and pleasure of beta reading this one. Not much changed and it certainly held up! Chilling cosmic horror.
Untitled 3*
This is a tough one, a bold experiment and not an easy read - 5 for effort, loses some because of the rough content.
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind 3*
"Dead Ringers" and future noir echoing chilling piece.
Key 4*
This is an escape room so weird you'll doubt your comprehension.
A Drawer Full Of Pretty 3*
Shape-shifting weirdness.
Cupid 3*
Not bad, too short and a bit too obvious for me.
A Sound That Haunts 3*
I really liked this one all up to the ending. really 3.5, but graded to a very high (Lorn) standard.
Hangman 4*
This betters "High Plains Drifter" - loved the ending!
Something Else 4*
This one lands it's 4 stars mainly on originality, a great accomplishment.
Give Him To Us 3*
Packs a punch. Short, brutal. Bit obvious.
Freedom 4*
This is another really hard read, manages better than "Untitled" I thought, but quite tough.
Popsicle 3*
Absurd, unique, dark (humour)
Oh Holy Shit 4*
This one is just loads of fun.
Uncle Boobs 4*
Not sure what I read, this could have been a late 'Bay's End' short - or a 'Cruelty' connected one - or a trial run for either. It's a good read either way.
December 25, 2021
Love this collection....there was not one story I wasn't like OMG! by the end of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2021
Something Estranged is a great showcase of E’s work, I’d watched Edward’s Youtube channel for a while and I think I recall it was his birthday, and I stick to my guns when it comes to supporting Indie Authors, so the opportunity presented itself and I snapped up this anthology.
There are a lot of shorts in this anthology, 14 I think, and the range is impressive and inclusive. The sheer diversity is a credit, and some of the stories are way, way out there. Some of the stories are a little tongue in cheek. Some of them are a lot of tongue in cheek. Lorn also hits hard when it comes to rape and revenge – the fantastic “Give him to us” is relentless in the tension Edward plucks from the air, and it’s one of the highlights for me. Likewise, “Untitled” was just straight-up fantastic writing. Hard emotional horror, Lorn smacks you with remorse and emotionally driven horror, it’s both impressive and horrific to read, the kind of story that you want to say “That was fantastic”, but know that the subject matter will never allow you to be able to say that, that you almost have to apologize for liking it so much. Great work.
Interestingly for me, a total subgenre of horror was showcased here, something I haven’t really come across before – that of horror self-irony. It’s abundant in horror films, the almost ridiculous way people get killed made somehow hysterical by the sure ludicrousness of it all. I am, of course, referring to Uncle boobs and her killer boobs. It took me a while to be able to understand the self-irony, Lorn made that possible but muddied the waters so-to-speak by making Uncle Boob’s life companion so damn likable, and used him to deliver a very real perspective on her character, which in turn added extra weight to boob’s character (not the boobs themselves). So a very human dilemma (massive breasts hindering the talent of the person that had them by overshadowing her character and abilities in the minds of small-minded men and women) transposed by killer breasts. I think the death by electrocution from the friction created by the breasts rubbing together, shot as a blast of electric death is a perfect example of what I’m getting at here. Or spinning breasts, almost Thor-like in presentation, his hammer replaced by the weightier boobies of doom – well – let’s say it’s a new one on me, but in retrospect, hilarious. Plus there were Easter eggs, WRB makes an appearance, I wondered if Guarino was being referenced as a name drop, etc
There were a couple of shorts here that missed my interest range, but the level of tension reached by my favorites – previously mentioned, made sure I’ll be checking out more of Lorn’s work.
Four ⭐ ‘s out of five.
There are a lot of shorts in this anthology, 14 I think, and the range is impressive and inclusive. The sheer diversity is a credit, and some of the stories are way, way out there. Some of the stories are a little tongue in cheek. Some of them are a lot of tongue in cheek. Lorn also hits hard when it comes to rape and revenge – the fantastic “Give him to us” is relentless in the tension Edward plucks from the air, and it’s one of the highlights for me. Likewise, “Untitled” was just straight-up fantastic writing. Hard emotional horror, Lorn smacks you with remorse and emotionally driven horror, it’s both impressive and horrific to read, the kind of story that you want to say “That was fantastic”, but know that the subject matter will never allow you to be able to say that, that you almost have to apologize for liking it so much. Great work.
Interestingly for me, a total subgenre of horror was showcased here, something I haven’t really come across before – that of horror self-irony. It’s abundant in horror films, the almost ridiculous way people get killed made somehow hysterical by the sure ludicrousness of it all. I am, of course, referring to Uncle boobs and her killer boobs. It took me a while to be able to understand the self-irony, Lorn made that possible but muddied the waters so-to-speak by making Uncle Boob’s life companion so damn likable, and used him to deliver a very real perspective on her character, which in turn added extra weight to boob’s character (not the boobs themselves). So a very human dilemma (massive breasts hindering the talent of the person that had them by overshadowing her character and abilities in the minds of small-minded men and women) transposed by killer breasts. I think the death by electrocution from the friction created by the breasts rubbing together, shot as a blast of electric death is a perfect example of what I’m getting at here. Or spinning breasts, almost Thor-like in presentation, his hammer replaced by the weightier boobies of doom – well – let’s say it’s a new one on me, but in retrospect, hilarious. Plus there were Easter eggs, WRB makes an appearance, I wondered if Guarino was being referenced as a name drop, etc
There were a couple of shorts here that missed my interest range, but the level of tension reached by my favorites – previously mentioned, made sure I’ll be checking out more of Lorn’s work.
Four ⭐ ‘s out of five.
November 20, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for this contemporary collection of horror stories. What I think I like best about Lorn's writing is the way he is able to make anything seem scary. From Cupid to The Nativity to clowns and monkeys. If you are a fan of bizzare and comic horror, check this one out on Amazon. I promise you will not regret it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2021
The first two stories in this book are amazing! I would love to ask several questions about the story "Something Else" as well. That one has been rolling around in my head since I read it! A frightening, funny, and thought-provoking collection of goodness!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews