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The Underachiever: Collected Stories 2000-2010
Convenience store managers and diner waitresses. Tow truck drivers and prison guards.
These are tales of lonely characters longing for a change – and for honest connections with the people they encounter day after day.
Among these fifteen stories, you’ll also find two tales that were the foundation of Kings of the Earth (2019), as well as several stories involving mysterious beings and the supernatural.
These are tales of lonely characters longing for a change – and for honest connections with the people they encounter day after day.
Among these fifteen stories, you’ll also find two tales that were the foundation of Kings of the Earth (2019), as well as several stories involving mysterious beings and the supernatural.
126 pages, Paperback
Published December 15, 2021
2 people are currently reading
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About the author
Christopher Stanton
4 books7 followersChristopher Stanton is a creative writer and artist from Columbus, OH who has lived and worked in Los Angeles for thirty years. He received a BFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University and an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California.
His book Dandelion Crossing, about the first week of a controversial, brand-new suburban shopping mall in 1983, told through stories of fourteen characters who cross paths there, is now available.
Stanton also created the graphic novel Nick Pope, illustrated by the late Christopher Darling. It's the illustrated diary of a high school sophomore in 1987 who struggles with depression, bullying and low self-esteem. Nick draws to try to make sense of his chaotic world.
The book is on the shelves at more than forty libraries across the United States, both public and college, including Harvard, UCLA and Berkeley.
Stanton's horror thriller Kings of the Earth, about a haunted surfing town on Lake Michigan, was nominated for the 2020 TopShelf Book Award. He published a second book: The Underachiever: Collected Stories in 2021. Both books are available on Amazon.
Stanton has also completed his second novel Neon Muscle, about a huge fitness center in Los Angeles in 1983. Centering on five characters connected to the gym, the book explores the 80s fitness craze, the emergence of AIDS, the LA art scene and the world of male strip clubs.
His book Dandelion Crossing, about the first week of a controversial, brand-new suburban shopping mall in 1983, told through stories of fourteen characters who cross paths there, is now available.
Stanton also created the graphic novel Nick Pope, illustrated by the late Christopher Darling. It's the illustrated diary of a high school sophomore in 1987 who struggles with depression, bullying and low self-esteem. Nick draws to try to make sense of his chaotic world.
The book is on the shelves at more than forty libraries across the United States, both public and college, including Harvard, UCLA and Berkeley.
Stanton's horror thriller Kings of the Earth, about a haunted surfing town on Lake Michigan, was nominated for the 2020 TopShelf Book Award. He published a second book: The Underachiever: Collected Stories in 2021. Both books are available on Amazon.
Stanton has also completed his second novel Neon Muscle, about a huge fitness center in Los Angeles in 1983. Centering on five characters connected to the gym, the book explores the 80s fitness craze, the emergence of AIDS, the LA art scene and the world of male strip clubs.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 2, 2022
In his latest work “The Underachiever”, Stanton offers a melange of short stories written between the years 2000 and 2010. This unassuming collection highlights seemingly ordinary characters who through dreamlike sequences become extremely layered and complex. The writer’s extraordinary talent in painting not only a beautiful landscape of events, but more so a complete picture of feelings and motivations, has made this reader wish he didn’t ever have to wake up from its pages.
October 23, 2022
I had some heartfelt moments and intrigued feelings about the characters in these fifteen stories written by author, Christopher Stanton. I met the author many years ago at a café. In keeping with my focus to take a Photo a Day I took a photo of Christopher next to a telephone booth. I liked people as subjects for my photos. Years passed and I met Christopher again and learned of his writings (this book, another called KINGS OF THE EARTH). So, this was my first adventure in reading his words. I loved his dedication: ‘For my mom. I love you.’ This dedication, alone, tells you the kind of a gentleman he is. He paints beautiful and sometimes intensely dramatic visuals with his descriptions.
I like short stories. They fit in to my schedule nicely. I’d recommend Christopher’s book for those who want to squeeze in some real-life tidbits of people that need to make choices. Here are the lines (taken out of context) that captured me in some of his stories:
THE UNDERACHIEVER
I’m just not a big thinker; he told himself. Not everyone is.
As he removed more of the leaves from the drainpipe, the water began flowing toward the hole in a path that was clear and true.
TOBY THE GREAT
She was constantly telling him to get his feet on the ground, not to daydream so much. He believed it was the only thing that got him from one day to the next.
THE DUKE
He felt it was important to remember dead people who did good things.
He visualized the wide beaches of California spread out in front of him, with pelicans and lifeguards and little kids with plastic pails full of sand.
SECURITY
Whenever he started to feel down, he had trained himself to refocus and stay in the moment.
NIMBOSTRATUS MEANS RAIN
LP pointed his camera at the puddle and snapped a picture. His name stood for Little Professor, and he was only seven.
TREE MEN
“The ideas were feasible, in theory. That’s why I supported them. And sometimes, it’s good to take a risk. Otherwise, how will you ever know?”
He figured you never knew a person’s true worth until you gave them a chance to shine.
ASPHALT
Associating exercise with sex made him feel more motivated.
TEAGUE AT THE EDGE
His most valued material possession was a copy of THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING that he carried with him at all times. The title alone inspired him; it was the only book he had ever read more than once.
SOME SATURDAY NIGHT
He just positively loved the way he felt when he was with her.
DANDELIONS
He figured he should straighten out his own life himself.
He let himself be wrapped in the blanket of dandelions that he knew would keep them safe, once they got away from the terrible place.
RABBITS
Who’re you gonna talk to if ain’t me? she asked. It’s not right for you to carry things around with you. Not if I’m here.
DRIFTWOOD
He watched the shifting lights and heard the surf crashing on the point. It was during those times that he felt most at peace.
He wondered if miles away, on the other side of the world, someone was doing the same thing as he was.
I like short stories. They fit in to my schedule nicely. I’d recommend Christopher’s book for those who want to squeeze in some real-life tidbits of people that need to make choices. Here are the lines (taken out of context) that captured me in some of his stories:
THE UNDERACHIEVER
I’m just not a big thinker; he told himself. Not everyone is.
As he removed more of the leaves from the drainpipe, the water began flowing toward the hole in a path that was clear and true.
TOBY THE GREAT
She was constantly telling him to get his feet on the ground, not to daydream so much. He believed it was the only thing that got him from one day to the next.
THE DUKE
He felt it was important to remember dead people who did good things.
He visualized the wide beaches of California spread out in front of him, with pelicans and lifeguards and little kids with plastic pails full of sand.
SECURITY
Whenever he started to feel down, he had trained himself to refocus and stay in the moment.
NIMBOSTRATUS MEANS RAIN
LP pointed his camera at the puddle and snapped a picture. His name stood for Little Professor, and he was only seven.
TREE MEN
“The ideas were feasible, in theory. That’s why I supported them. And sometimes, it’s good to take a risk. Otherwise, how will you ever know?”
He figured you never knew a person’s true worth until you gave them a chance to shine.
ASPHALT
Associating exercise with sex made him feel more motivated.
TEAGUE AT THE EDGE
His most valued material possession was a copy of THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING that he carried with him at all times. The title alone inspired him; it was the only book he had ever read more than once.
SOME SATURDAY NIGHT
He just positively loved the way he felt when he was with her.
DANDELIONS
He figured he should straighten out his own life himself.
He let himself be wrapped in the blanket of dandelions that he knew would keep them safe, once they got away from the terrible place.
RABBITS
Who’re you gonna talk to if ain’t me? she asked. It’s not right for you to carry things around with you. Not if I’m here.
DRIFTWOOD
He watched the shifting lights and heard the surf crashing on the point. It was during those times that he felt most at peace.
He wondered if miles away, on the other side of the world, someone was doing the same thing as he was.
March 30, 2023
I came across this collection when I read something from the author on Twitter, or somewhere, and he said that Raymond Carver, one of my all-time favorite writers and the master of the short story form, was a big influence. In these introspective, literary, slice-of-life tales, you definitely get a sense of that Carver melancholy and longing. But Christopher Stanton also has some tricks up his sleeve. I don't want to spoil anything...but, man, there is a seemingly unassuming story about a babysitter called "Swoop" that takes a wild turn you never see coming.
Some of my other favorites included "The Duke" and "Teague at the Edge." The closing tale, "Driftwood" is nearly perfect.
All the stories have their moments, however, and leave an indelible impression.
Some of my other favorites included "The Duke" and "Teague at the Edge." The closing tale, "Driftwood" is nearly perfect.
All the stories have their moments, however, and leave an indelible impression.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews