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DEATH IS FUNNY SOMETIMES
DEATH IS FUNNY SOMETIMES through this collection of 13 stories of horror and science fiction. Among them are…
ANOTHER WILD NIGHT AT THE FUCKED HEN – A former punk rocker turned bar owner protects his patrons from the latest blitz of vampires who aren’t thirsty for beer.
ONE HUNDRED DEGREES AFTER MIDNIGHT – A wrongly convicted man’s final hours on the planet before his execution on death row.
DEAD KID AT A SLEEPOVER – Fun nostalgia trip of a typical sleepover with friends in the 1980s. Just with a dead kid.
SAL & SON – A butcher shop owner seeks revenge against New York mobsters after his father is killed for failing to pay protection money. This one is for slasher fans.
POSTCARDS FROM CHERNOBYL – A young girl who is immune to radiation takes a stand against a government experiment to dominate the world during the nuclear arms race of the 1980s.
MIKE & MANDY FIGHT THROUGH THE END OF THE WORLD – Mike and Mandy were ready to finalize their divorce and start a new life. But the zombie apocalypse screwed it all up. It was just one of those days.
HOW TO CATCH CRAWFISH AS TOLD BY RUFUS WHEELER – In the Louisiana bayou a down on his luck father makes a strange discovery while crawfishing and has hope it can give his son a better life.
SUPERFICIAL CRACKS IN A PORCELAIN FACE – An aging star of Italian Giallo cinema is not ready to retire.
ANOTHER WILD NIGHT AT THE FUCKED HEN – A former punk rocker turned bar owner protects his patrons from the latest blitz of vampires who aren’t thirsty for beer.
ONE HUNDRED DEGREES AFTER MIDNIGHT – A wrongly convicted man’s final hours on the planet before his execution on death row.
DEAD KID AT A SLEEPOVER – Fun nostalgia trip of a typical sleepover with friends in the 1980s. Just with a dead kid.
SAL & SON – A butcher shop owner seeks revenge against New York mobsters after his father is killed for failing to pay protection money. This one is for slasher fans.
POSTCARDS FROM CHERNOBYL – A young girl who is immune to radiation takes a stand against a government experiment to dominate the world during the nuclear arms race of the 1980s.
MIKE & MANDY FIGHT THROUGH THE END OF THE WORLD – Mike and Mandy were ready to finalize their divorce and start a new life. But the zombie apocalypse screwed it all up. It was just one of those days.
HOW TO CATCH CRAWFISH AS TOLD BY RUFUS WHEELER – In the Louisiana bayou a down on his luck father makes a strange discovery while crawfishing and has hope it can give his son a better life.
SUPERFICIAL CRACKS IN A PORCELAIN FACE – An aging star of Italian Giallo cinema is not ready to retire.
- GenresHorror
178 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 6, 2024
A pleasingly varied and very satisfying short story collection. Broadly speaking it's horror, but there is some crime and sci fi in here too. There's a definite movie theme to a number of the stories (one is about a middle aged giallo actress, another concerns snuff movies) and what struck me as the author's greatest strength was the characters' dialogue, which really is pretty great.
As the title suggests, there is a string vein of black humour running through it all, which helps make the goings on seem not too horrible, even when they are pretty horrible.
All in all a very enjoyable set of shorts to sit down with. I particularly enjoyed the descriptively titled 'Dead Kid at a Sleepover'.
As the title suggests, there is a string vein of black humour running through it all, which helps make the goings on seem not too horrible, even when they are pretty horrible.
All in all a very enjoyable set of shorts to sit down with. I particularly enjoyed the descriptively titled 'Dead Kid at a Sleepover'.
April 22, 2023
Well, it’s no secret that I’m not a fan of anthologies/collections, but my mind is being gradually changed by the amazing and talented stories that I’ve been reading just lately, with the ARC’s I’ve received...this is one of those awesome collections.
Each story deals with different aspects of death, which is obvious by the title (duh Leeanne 🙄).
Anyways, these thirteen tales are all awesome, and completely different, and I enjoyed each one immensely. Of course I had my favourites...
Another Wild Night at the Fucked Hen - bikers deal with a group of vampires, who descend upon a bar.
Postcards from Chernobyl - which is heartbreaking, but has a happy ending.
Dead Kid at a Sleepover - with its 80’s vibe.
Each story has something special, and I am grateful to M.C August for sending me a copy. This is the second book I have read of his, and look forward to reading more from this talented author.
5 deathly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Each story deals with different aspects of death, which is obvious by the title (duh Leeanne 🙄).
Anyways, these thirteen tales are all awesome, and completely different, and I enjoyed each one immensely. Of course I had my favourites...
Another Wild Night at the Fucked Hen - bikers deal with a group of vampires, who descend upon a bar.
Postcards from Chernobyl - which is heartbreaking, but has a happy ending.
Dead Kid at a Sleepover - with its 80’s vibe.
Each story has something special, and I am grateful to M.C August for sending me a copy. This is the second book I have read of his, and look forward to reading more from this talented author.
5 deathly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 11, 2022
I finished this last night and all I can keep thinking about is the variety compiled within. Each story is unique and reflects a talented mind. Being an 80s kid myself, I really enjoyed all the references sprinkled in many of the tales. I would point out that Dead Kid at a Sleepover, Postcards from Chernobyl, Hidden Hills, and Itch You Just Can't Scratch were my favorites; the last causing my own fingers to twitch at my scalp. Each story draws you in until the very end. I'll definitely keep my eye peeled for M.C. August and his future work. Highly recommended if you're in the mood for a variegated collection of horror shorts!
October 11, 2022
I really enjoyed this book from a new to me author. A lot of the stories were funny or had elements of irony which worked well for this collection. It has bits of revenge, thriller, mafia, sci-fi-ish, supernatural and body horror elements. It really does a little bit of everything.
The author's writing style is easy to read and the storylines are straight forward which is great for short stories.
Out of the collection, I believe my favorite stories were:
- MIKE & MANDY FIGHT THROUGH THE END OF THE WORLD, which is a couple who find themselves in the start of the apocalypse while getting divorced. Super funny.
- DEAD KID AT A SLEEPOVER, a group of kids have a sleepover and a school bully invites himself over to cause trouble. This ending was so wild, absolutely loved it.
- HOW TO CATCH CRAWFISH AS TOLD BY RUFUS WHEELER, a father and son catch a mysterious animal while fishing for crawfish. The father will do anything to get out of poverty. This is a great concept for a story and a little bit sad--perfect for me.
- HIDDEN HILLS, a young man confronts his celebrity father who abandoned him. The ending was unpredictable and done really well.
I would recommend this collection to fans of Tales from the Crypt or Donnie Goodman's collection, The Razorblades in My Head.
4/5
*Tons of CW--look them up
**Thank you again to the author for this review ebook in exchange for my honest review.
The author's writing style is easy to read and the storylines are straight forward which is great for short stories.
Out of the collection, I believe my favorite stories were:
- MIKE & MANDY FIGHT THROUGH THE END OF THE WORLD, which is a couple who find themselves in the start of the apocalypse while getting divorced. Super funny.
- DEAD KID AT A SLEEPOVER, a group of kids have a sleepover and a school bully invites himself over to cause trouble. This ending was so wild, absolutely loved it.
- HOW TO CATCH CRAWFISH AS TOLD BY RUFUS WHEELER, a father and son catch a mysterious animal while fishing for crawfish. The father will do anything to get out of poverty. This is a great concept for a story and a little bit sad--perfect for me.
- HIDDEN HILLS, a young man confronts his celebrity father who abandoned him. The ending was unpredictable and done really well.
I would recommend this collection to fans of Tales from the Crypt or Donnie Goodman's collection, The Razorblades in My Head.
4/5
*Tons of CW--look them up
**Thank you again to the author for this review ebook in exchange for my honest review.
July 20, 2022
Impressive!
This was a fun collection. The first story alone is worth the price of admission, and that momentum builds throughout the book. I'm looking forward to reading more from MC August. Highly recommended!
This was a fun collection. The first story alone is worth the price of admission, and that momentum builds throughout the book. I'm looking forward to reading more from MC August. Highly recommended!
May 8, 2025
A Diverse Collection of Dark Tales
“Death Is Funny Sometimes” by Michael Lietz is an incredible and varied collection of dark tales that really showcase the author’s creative imagination. It’s a diverse collection that will leave you wanting more, but not before he introduces you to Vampires, Aliens, a creature from the deep, Zombies, and so much more. There’s something for everyone. Highly recommended.
“Death Is Funny Sometimes” by Michael Lietz is an incredible and varied collection of dark tales that really showcase the author’s creative imagination. It’s a diverse collection that will leave you wanting more, but not before he introduces you to Vampires, Aliens, a creature from the deep, Zombies, and so much more. There’s something for everyone. Highly recommended.
July 14, 2022
This is an excellent introduction to the writing of M.C. August. The range of this collection is impressive, providing a wonderful shot of a gifted storyteller. And that's what this collection showcases: pure storytelling from a writer focused on the 'idea' of a tale.
The stories range from the poignant "Postcards from Chernobyl" with the engrossing idea of Project Fire Ring and the creation of radiation-immune children to the anxiety-inducing "Dead Kid at a Sleepover" to the hilarious zombie tale "Mike & Mandy Fight Through the End of the World."
August has command of setting with stories ranging from the 1980s to today and a wonderful grasp on creating distinct and memorable characters. The latter stood out more than anything to me: each story has a unique character at the center. That's an achievement that shows the depth of his imagination.
Highly recommend!
The stories range from the poignant "Postcards from Chernobyl" with the engrossing idea of Project Fire Ring and the creation of radiation-immune children to the anxiety-inducing "Dead Kid at a Sleepover" to the hilarious zombie tale "Mike & Mandy Fight Through the End of the World."
August has command of setting with stories ranging from the 1980s to today and a wonderful grasp on creating distinct and memorable characters. The latter stood out more than anything to me: each story has a unique character at the center. That's an achievement that shows the depth of his imagination.
Highly recommend!
July 23, 2022
An eclectic collection of 13 short stories all connected by death and the strange circumstances that can lead to it.
Each story is very different. We have Zombies, Genetic Experiments, A washed-up movie star, a tragedy at a sleepover, a corpse collector, Vampires, a creature from the deep, Aliens, a vengeful priest and much more.
Each story shocks and entertains in equal measure and with such a diverse accumulation of genres they’ll be something here for everyone.
Something you can read cover to cover or just dip into when the fancy takes you. Well worth a read
Each story is very different. We have Zombies, Genetic Experiments, A washed-up movie star, a tragedy at a sleepover, a corpse collector, Vampires, a creature from the deep, Aliens, a vengeful priest and much more.
Each story shocks and entertains in equal measure and with such a diverse accumulation of genres they’ll be something here for everyone.
Something you can read cover to cover or just dip into when the fancy takes you. Well worth a read
August 10, 2022
This is a darkly humourous, action packed, and bloody anthology that delivers a fun filled horror read!
If Tales From The Crypt and Creepshow combined in book form, this would be that book. I had a blast reading these stories and my only complaint is that I wanted more.
It doesn't take itself too seriously and each story gets right to the point and does so in an easy to read engaging manner. I highly recommend this book!
If Tales From The Crypt and Creepshow combined in book form, this would be that book. I had a blast reading these stories and my only complaint is that I wanted more.
It doesn't take itself too seriously and each story gets right to the point and does so in an easy to read engaging manner. I highly recommend this book!
April 27, 2023
A very fun collection of short stories with incredible range. The ‘pièce de résistance’ however for me was the AN ITCH THAT YOU JUST CANT SCRATCH; it was absolutely brilliant. The body horror in it was exquisite. I had to brace myself to continue reading. It made me physically squirm as I could quite literally feel the itch.
I enjoyed all the short stories in this collection and appreciated that each trope/theme was different from the next. Another stand out was ONE HUNDRED DEGREES AFTER MIDNIGHT. This has certainly peaked my interest for what else August has to offer. If you’re looking for a collection of horror short stories to dig into, I definitely recommend this one.
I enjoyed all the short stories in this collection and appreciated that each trope/theme was different from the next. Another stand out was ONE HUNDRED DEGREES AFTER MIDNIGHT. This has certainly peaked my interest for what else August has to offer. If you’re looking for a collection of horror short stories to dig into, I definitely recommend this one.
November 4, 2023
In Death is Funny Sometimes, MC August demonstrates a sincere commitment to storytelling. These horror stories range in style and influence, and August dives into each with a refreshing voice. He can swing through a tale about a sleepover turned violent, depositing grim details with a casualness that draws the reader in. Alternately, he can unfurl a cinematic Cold War epic that has the narrative legs to reach novel length. The most striking thing about this collection is August's ability to engage the reader with fantastical and wild storylines while never losing authorial authority.
August's technicolor stories demonstrate the massive potential to inject creativity and a sense of fun into the horror genre. While August makes these stories look effortless, one can see the dedication and care behind each of them. The author may set verisimilitude aside in favor of unique and eccentric plots, yet the narrative tension never diminishes, whether that story involves a blood-soaked search for vengeance or the desperate measures taken by a fading Giallo star.
In the contemporary horror scene, this collection shines. I look forward to future releases from this author.
August's technicolor stories demonstrate the massive potential to inject creativity and a sense of fun into the horror genre. While August makes these stories look effortless, one can see the dedication and care behind each of them. The author may set verisimilitude aside in favor of unique and eccentric plots, yet the narrative tension never diminishes, whether that story involves a blood-soaked search for vengeance or the desperate measures taken by a fading Giallo star.
In the contemporary horror scene, this collection shines. I look forward to future releases from this author.
June 23, 2022
Solid anthology of stories! Wasn’t a bad one on the bunch. Some filled with dark humor and some with endings that make you go wtf!? I loved it! Death is sometimes funny and fun to read.
June 28, 2023
A brilliant collection from a talented crafter of stories. There's a bit of weird, scary, gross (in a good way!), humorous, and roller-coaster wild.
M.C. weaves in so many cool references (including the 1980s, Giallo films, and Nintendo) and grabs you right from the start of each story. You're in the thick of things from the beginning and I damn well know you're going to love the ride! There aren't any excessive words or descriptions-everything is on-point and with no fluff.
I'm sad that there isn't more: each of these stories could easily be their own full-length novels and I really want to devour more.
M.C. weaves in so many cool references (including the 1980s, Giallo films, and Nintendo) and grabs you right from the start of each story. You're in the thick of things from the beginning and I damn well know you're going to love the ride! There aren't any excessive words or descriptions-everything is on-point and with no fluff.
I'm sad that there isn't more: each of these stories could easily be their own full-length novels and I really want to devour more.
December 5, 2023
I recently enjoyed Smorg War of 84 by this author. The mix of gangster violence and black comedy was very entertaining, so I was keen to dive into this collection. There was a clear love of the movies throughout, and I was pleased to see crime writing feature in the likes of Sal & Co and One Hundred Degrees After Midnight. There isn't a bad story here even though August clearly enjoys taking the reader out of their comfort zone. It's hard to pick my favourite, but I particularly enjoyed Sal & Co., Superficial Cracks in a Porcelain Face, and Hidden Hills. This collection is absolutely rock solid and well worth a read.
December 8, 2022
A great collection of shorts with just the right blend of campiness and macabre to make any diehard 80's fan smile!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews