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Here Be Leviathans
A collection of funny, brilliant, boundary-pushing stories from the bestselling author of Mammoth. A grizzly bear goes on the run after eating a teenager. A hotel room participates in an unlikely conception. A genetically altered platypus colony puts on an art show. A sabretooth tiger falls for the new addition to his theme park. An airline seat laments its last useful day. A Shakespearean monkey test pilot launches into space. The stories in Here Be Leviathans take us from the storm drains under Las Vegas to the Alaskan wilderness; the rainforests of Queensland to the Chilean coastline. Narrated in Chris Flynn's unique and hilarious style by animals, places, objects and even the (very) odd human, these short fictions push the boundaries of the form by examining human behaviour from the perspective of the outsider.
240 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2022
21 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Chris Flynn
14 books35 followersChris Flynn is the author of A Tiger in Eden (2012), which was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize. He edited ‘Terra Australis: Four Stories from Aboriginal Australian Writers’ in McSweeney’s 41, and his writing has appeared in Griffith Review, Meanjin, Paris Review Daily, Monster Children, Smith Journal, Age, Australian, Big Issue and many other publications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 23, 2022
“I ate a kid called Ash Tremblay yesterday. Parts of him, at least. The good bits. The crunchy skull, the brain, a juicy haunch.” Surely an unmatchable opening!
Here Be Leviathans is a collection of nine short stories by Northern Ireland-born Australian columnist and author, Chris Flynn. As with his previous work, he employs a range of unconventional narrators.
In Inheritance, an Alaskan grizzly bear is busy eating parts of a sixteen-year-old boy taking a short cut during a summer fun-run when a park ranger shoots him, injuring his snout. That’s going to be a problem: he still has a lot of eating to do before hibernation, but he lumbers off, now endowed with the knowledge and memories of one Ash Tremblay. After an unusual third encounter with ranger Frances Locklear, they realise that survival is unlikely, and devise a way to ensure a dignified and memorable exit.
In 22F, a sentient aircraft seat describes their tragic last flight.
In Monotreme, Parker the platypus saves a pair of German tourists from a saltwater croc by bringing them into the platypus den, where they meet the autonomous collective of platypus, all capable of speech, self-awareness, complex thoughts and the sense to keep quiet about it all, the result of scientific experimentation.
In Here Be Leviathans, a Smilodon fatalis and his mate roam a wildlife reserve populated with resurrected prehistoric megafauna, a place that hosts caveman survival camps where two-legs are armed only with Pleistocene era tools. They get wind of a plot by two of them to hunt sabre-toothed tigers with modern weapons: can they turn the tables?
In The Strait of Magellan, a cruise ship hosting tours in South American waters observes how passengers and crew handle the outbreak of a global pandemic, a variation of Herpes Simplex with Alzheimer’s dementia effects. As the ship relates their search for a safe haven, the narrative is interspersed with comments from an as-yet-undetected stowaway.
In Alas Poor Yorick, it’s 1951, and US Air Force Second Lieutenant Albert Six, a macaque test pilot, chats with the Brendas, mice who will accompany him in the rocket that will shoot them beyond the earth’s atmosphere before a re-entry that will likely cost them all their lives. The humans don’t realise just how smart their test animals are, though.
In Shot Down In Flames, a creek, a red fox, a shotgun, and a bushfire tell the story of the Boy and the Girl who, over the years, regularly meet at the creek to swim. Then the Boy has a problem, the Girl, a simple solution that gets complicated.
In A Beautiful And Unexpected Turn, Room 719 of a chain hotel observes as Hector and Diane spend their wedding night, then is delighted by their return at irregular intervals for anniversary celebrations. #719 is pleased to be privy to updates in their lives over the ensuing decade and feels invested in their ultimate happiness.
In Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, street kid and squatter in the Blue Fountain, an abandoned casino complex in Neon City (Las Vegas), JessiKa offers refuge to a graffer (graffiti artist) on the run from the Metros, and makes a series of surprising and pleasurable discoveries.
With these tales, Flynn gives the reader a variety of genres: quite a bit of speculative fiction, some tragic but much of it blackly funny, some contemporary human drama, some history, and even a feel-good tale. But with one exception, the perspective is a very different one from that readers are used to, so many of those points of view provide a unique insight.
The final tale seems to be a stream of consciousness narrative that uses phonetic spelling and lacks any form of punctuation, but readers who might dismiss this as “too hard” will be rewarded for persevering with an excellent story.
Readers not usually in the habit of bothering with the acknowledgements would do well to check out the Afterword/Acknowledgements/Blame Apportioned, when Flynn explains the inspiration and genesis of these stories, including the revelation that the pandemic story began well before COVID reared its ugly head. Imaginative, original and very entertaining.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by University of Queensland Press.
Here Be Leviathans is a collection of nine short stories by Northern Ireland-born Australian columnist and author, Chris Flynn. As with his previous work, he employs a range of unconventional narrators.
In Inheritance, an Alaskan grizzly bear is busy eating parts of a sixteen-year-old boy taking a short cut during a summer fun-run when a park ranger shoots him, injuring his snout. That’s going to be a problem: he still has a lot of eating to do before hibernation, but he lumbers off, now endowed with the knowledge and memories of one Ash Tremblay. After an unusual third encounter with ranger Frances Locklear, they realise that survival is unlikely, and devise a way to ensure a dignified and memorable exit.
In 22F, a sentient aircraft seat describes their tragic last flight.
In Monotreme, Parker the platypus saves a pair of German tourists from a saltwater croc by bringing them into the platypus den, where they meet the autonomous collective of platypus, all capable of speech, self-awareness, complex thoughts and the sense to keep quiet about it all, the result of scientific experimentation.
In Here Be Leviathans, a Smilodon fatalis and his mate roam a wildlife reserve populated with resurrected prehistoric megafauna, a place that hosts caveman survival camps where two-legs are armed only with Pleistocene era tools. They get wind of a plot by two of them to hunt sabre-toothed tigers with modern weapons: can they turn the tables?
In The Strait of Magellan, a cruise ship hosting tours in South American waters observes how passengers and crew handle the outbreak of a global pandemic, a variation of Herpes Simplex with Alzheimer’s dementia effects. As the ship relates their search for a safe haven, the narrative is interspersed with comments from an as-yet-undetected stowaway.
In Alas Poor Yorick, it’s 1951, and US Air Force Second Lieutenant Albert Six, a macaque test pilot, chats with the Brendas, mice who will accompany him in the rocket that will shoot them beyond the earth’s atmosphere before a re-entry that will likely cost them all their lives. The humans don’t realise just how smart their test animals are, though.
In Shot Down In Flames, a creek, a red fox, a shotgun, and a bushfire tell the story of the Boy and the Girl who, over the years, regularly meet at the creek to swim. Then the Boy has a problem, the Girl, a simple solution that gets complicated.
In A Beautiful And Unexpected Turn, Room 719 of a chain hotel observes as Hector and Diane spend their wedding night, then is delighted by their return at irregular intervals for anniversary celebrations. #719 is pleased to be privy to updates in their lives over the ensuing decade and feels invested in their ultimate happiness.
In Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, street kid and squatter in the Blue Fountain, an abandoned casino complex in Neon City (Las Vegas), JessiKa offers refuge to a graffer (graffiti artist) on the run from the Metros, and makes a series of surprising and pleasurable discoveries.
With these tales, Flynn gives the reader a variety of genres: quite a bit of speculative fiction, some tragic but much of it blackly funny, some contemporary human drama, some history, and even a feel-good tale. But with one exception, the perspective is a very different one from that readers are used to, so many of those points of view provide a unique insight.
The final tale seems to be a stream of consciousness narrative that uses phonetic spelling and lacks any form of punctuation, but readers who might dismiss this as “too hard” will be rewarded for persevering with an excellent story.
Readers not usually in the habit of bothering with the acknowledgements would do well to check out the Afterword/Acknowledgements/Blame Apportioned, when Flynn explains the inspiration and genesis of these stories, including the revelation that the pandemic story began well before COVID reared its ugly head. Imaginative, original and very entertaining.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by University of Queensland Press.
September 25, 2022
Flynn really pushes the boundaries of what we can expect from perspective. It takes a special, rare writing talent to pull it off. I mean, a hotel room that tells the story of a marriage plagued by fertility issues? Who even comes up with stuff like that, let alone manages to actually write it, let alone makes it one of the most beautiful and moving stories you’ll ever read? Absolutely brilliant.
My full review of Here Be Leviathans can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of Here Be Leviathans can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
September 20, 2025
3.5⭐️
Non-human and non-sentient narrators is such a fun thread to tie together a series of short stories. I definitely enjoyed some more than others and while I found all the unique narrators interesting in their own way, I do think the novelty and magic of the narration wore off in the second half.
Non-human and non-sentient narrators is such a fun thread to tie together a series of short stories. I definitely enjoyed some more than others and while I found all the unique narrators interesting in their own way, I do think the novelty and magic of the narration wore off in the second half.
October 25, 2022
humans r truly truly terrible
September 14, 2022
Bizarre and totally brilliant! My fave collection of short stories ever :))
February 5, 2023
This collection of short stories from Chris Flynn, like his novel Mammoth, which I recently read, share a variety of unusual narrators, most of which would normally not be considered sentient beings. This gives his tales an unusual angle and makes for interesting reading, although the repetitiveness of the approach across the entire selection does see it lose its sheen eventually.
January 14, 2024
I loved this book! So whimsical and fun to read.
September 25, 2022
A witty, clever and incredibly unique collection of short stories narrated by hillarious non-human characters. I loved it!
In my opinion the best short story is the 3rd: momotreme.
In my opinion the best short story is the 3rd: momotreme.
November 4, 2022
i loved this. some really, really great and imaginative fiction. i’ve never read anything like it and i want more. some of these stories really were just phenomenal and i can’t pick a favourite. some of them i didn’t like as much as the others, but i honestly don’t have a single not good thing to say about this book.
August 23, 2023
I am not one of those readers who shun weird narrators. Indeed, you'll find several in this blog, including a skeleton, a dead baby, a foetus and a mammoth fossil. The critical thing for me is not who the narrator is, but whether that narrator is convincing and offers a perspective that engages my mind and heart. Of all the writers I've read over the last decade, one that stands out in his ability to surprise and excite me with different voices is Chris Flynn. His short story collection, Here be Leviathans, is astonishing from its first page to its last in its array of narrators.
There are nine stories in this collection, and it is a testament to Flynn that by the second or third one I was fully invested in who would be the narrator this time. I was never disappointed, albeit they ranged from the animate (like the grizzly bear which opens the collection, in "Inheritance") to the inanimate (such as the airplane seat which narrates the second story, "22F").
For my full review please check my blog: http://whisperinggums.com/2023/08/03/...
There are nine stories in this collection, and it is a testament to Flynn that by the second or third one I was fully invested in who would be the narrator this time. I was never disappointed, albeit they ranged from the animate (like the grizzly bear which opens the collection, in "Inheritance") to the inanimate (such as the airplane seat which narrates the second story, "22F").
For my full review please check my blog: http://whisperinggums.com/2023/08/03/...
August 2, 2023
3.75
Want to know what an airplane seat thinks? Or what it’s like to be an genetically engineered Aussie platypus that has a penchant for creating art and saving German tourists from crocs? Then this is for you.
Really weird but interesting but also a little gory (some stories)
I liked all except the last story which I couldn’t read because of how it was written.
The Aussie platypodes was my fave story.
Want to know what an airplane seat thinks? Or what it’s like to be an genetically engineered Aussie platypus that has a penchant for creating art and saving German tourists from crocs? Then this is for you.
Really weird but interesting but also a little gory (some stories)
I liked all except the last story which I couldn’t read because of how it was written.
The Aussie platypodes was my fave story.
January 13, 2023
Definitely a unique style of writing, nothing like I've ever read before. Hilarious, but also challenging. Who in their right mind decides to write a story using phonetic spelling and no punctuation? It was like reading a story written by a Year 6! Crazy.
July 20, 2023
How I loved this collection!!!
Such fresh and original ideas took me by surprise. I selected this book to read during my English classes 10 minutes wide reading at the beginning of each class. I was sorely tempted to keep the wide reading going for the whole of each lesson.
Such fresh and original ideas took me by surprise. I selected this book to read during my English classes 10 minutes wide reading at the beginning of each class. I was sorely tempted to keep the wide reading going for the whole of each lesson.
July 28, 2024
Wow.
I'm not usually one who enjoys short stories, but Chris Flynn somehow managed to pull me in and have me feeling ALL of the emotions for these characters in such a short amount of time. Fabulous! Highly recommend!
I'm not usually one who enjoys short stories, but Chris Flynn somehow managed to pull me in and have me feeling ALL of the emotions for these characters in such a short amount of time. Fabulous! Highly recommend!
July 8, 2024
Loved the rogue story tellers. So fun. Wish it had finished without the last story though, without that one I would have said 5/5.
June 29, 2025
Loved this. Chris Flynn has such a great knack for different voices and here he draws us into different perspectives of the world in a quirky wonderful way.
September 23, 2022
Fun, quirky, unexpected. I really like the completely original method of storytelling that Chris uses and the point of view through which he tells each story.
October 5, 2022
“Here Be Leviathans by Chris Flynn” Book review.
I finished this book this morning but had held off putting up my review.
PLEASE NOTE THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOMEWHAT SPOILERS!
I wanted to give this one the proper time and attention it deserves.
Where do I even start!
I came into this book thinking I would find a collection of quirky, bizarre, fun tales each from the point of an animal or anthropomorphic object.
While it is true that each short story is through the eyes of animals and objects (much like my own old published poetry), what I had not expected was to be taken on one hell of a emotional roller-coaster ride!
Each story touched on some very deep, very real subject presented in a, at times, heart wrenching story.
Inheritance.
A bear who deals in stories of memories retained through consumption, reminiscent of the Aztecs who believed they acquired the strength of those they consumed.
This one was such a beautiful read.
22F.
A favourite of mine who had me so utterly devoted to it’s sad tale. This one hit me hard and had me stranded in the very jungle with 22F. Wishing to hear just one more complaint from 20C, and heartbroken for 22E.
Monotreme was quirky and fun in all the best ways possible.
Visioning every one of those art pieces as if i, too, were in that mud den.
This was also the time I started to realised just how much work Chris put into his stories.
Here Be Leviathans had to be most favourite story.
It hit me hard, transporting me straight back to a poem I wrote in high school about a tiger and her cubs being hunted, written through the eyes of the tigress herself.
This story really cemented what I thought.
The attention to scientific names truly showing his working at a museum is quite justified.
Touching on the harsh truths on elitist paid trophy hunting.
How no animal, no matter how endangered, is off limits if you can provide the right moolah!
A subject that has haunted me for many years.
So much loss from greed, for sport, the utter horror.
I was happy for the ending.
The Strait of Magellan was your general end of the world outbreak story with a twist.
Again Chris shows us his attention to fine details, his long exhaustive research.
All evident in the way he writes.
Alas, Poor Yorick.
This one was a hard read for me, touching on a subject I know quite well, one that has sent me to tears many times from when I first heard about the NASA space chimps, and poor Yorick himself.
This story was so well written, but much like how it’s hard for me to stomach watching Project X, this was the same.
Virgil and Yorick tear at every single heart string I have.
Having this true story based through the eyes of Yorick was beautiful and painful.
Shot Down In Flames
While this one wasn’t on my list of favourites, though written quite well with an ending I had not seen coming, I really appreciated the use of traditional river name and people.
As a Bundjalung and Gadigal woman myself, I really loved that.
A Beautiful and Unexpected Turn..
I could read this one over and over again.
I don’t think there was a single part of this story I didn’t love.
Each and every emotion was felt, but that ending, that ending almost had me grabbing the tissues with happy tears.
I feel kinship to Seven-one-nine, Hector, and Diane.
I would of loved “hearing” about more of Seven-one-nine’s patrons through it’s eyes.
This was a truly beautiful story and was sad when it ended, but what a magical story to end on last night!
Last, but not least...
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
This one was a hard read for many reasons.
The style of language for one, but the contents of the story itself.
Once I had gotten to figure out what this was based on, I felt nothing but deep sadness and pitty for JKa and her mom.
Poor poor Jka, she really has no idea, and I just wanted to wrap her up and save her from it all.
This was such a beautiful read, so much more than I had ever expected.
So much more than can be written here.
I could discuss the stories in this book for ages.
The richness of each character, the very real topics that each story focused on, and the emotions each brought.
A truly beautiful book that I am very glad to have stumbled upon.
Colour me a new Chris Flynn fan!
I finished this book this morning but had held off putting up my review.
PLEASE NOTE THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOMEWHAT SPOILERS!
I wanted to give this one the proper time and attention it deserves.
Where do I even start!
I came into this book thinking I would find a collection of quirky, bizarre, fun tales each from the point of an animal or anthropomorphic object.
While it is true that each short story is through the eyes of animals and objects (much like my own old published poetry), what I had not expected was to be taken on one hell of a emotional roller-coaster ride!
Each story touched on some very deep, very real subject presented in a, at times, heart wrenching story.
Inheritance.
A bear who deals in stories of memories retained through consumption, reminiscent of the Aztecs who believed they acquired the strength of those they consumed.
This one was such a beautiful read.
22F.
A favourite of mine who had me so utterly devoted to it’s sad tale. This one hit me hard and had me stranded in the very jungle with 22F. Wishing to hear just one more complaint from 20C, and heartbroken for 22E.
Monotreme was quirky and fun in all the best ways possible.
Visioning every one of those art pieces as if i, too, were in that mud den.
This was also the time I started to realised just how much work Chris put into his stories.
Here Be Leviathans had to be most favourite story.
It hit me hard, transporting me straight back to a poem I wrote in high school about a tiger and her cubs being hunted, written through the eyes of the tigress herself.
This story really cemented what I thought.
The attention to scientific names truly showing his working at a museum is quite justified.
Touching on the harsh truths on elitist paid trophy hunting.
How no animal, no matter how endangered, is off limits if you can provide the right moolah!
A subject that has haunted me for many years.
So much loss from greed, for sport, the utter horror.
I was happy for the ending.
The Strait of Magellan was your general end of the world outbreak story with a twist.
Again Chris shows us his attention to fine details, his long exhaustive research.
All evident in the way he writes.
Alas, Poor Yorick.
This one was a hard read for me, touching on a subject I know quite well, one that has sent me to tears many times from when I first heard about the NASA space chimps, and poor Yorick himself.
This story was so well written, but much like how it’s hard for me to stomach watching Project X, this was the same.
Virgil and Yorick tear at every single heart string I have.
Having this true story based through the eyes of Yorick was beautiful and painful.
Shot Down In Flames
While this one wasn’t on my list of favourites, though written quite well with an ending I had not seen coming, I really appreciated the use of traditional river name and people.
As a Bundjalung and Gadigal woman myself, I really loved that.
A Beautiful and Unexpected Turn..
I could read this one over and over again.
I don’t think there was a single part of this story I didn’t love.
Each and every emotion was felt, but that ending, that ending almost had me grabbing the tissues with happy tears.
I feel kinship to Seven-one-nine, Hector, and Diane.
I would of loved “hearing” about more of Seven-one-nine’s patrons through it’s eyes.
This was a truly beautiful story and was sad when it ended, but what a magical story to end on last night!
Last, but not least...
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
This one was a hard read for many reasons.
The style of language for one, but the contents of the story itself.
Once I had gotten to figure out what this was based on, I felt nothing but deep sadness and pitty for JKa and her mom.
Poor poor Jka, she really has no idea, and I just wanted to wrap her up and save her from it all.
This was such a beautiful read, so much more than I had ever expected.
So much more than can be written here.
I could discuss the stories in this book for ages.
The richness of each character, the very real topics that each story focused on, and the emotions each brought.
A truly beautiful book that I am very glad to have stumbled upon.
Colour me a new Chris Flynn fan!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2024
Here Be Leviathans is an anthology of short stories by Chris Flynn. The stories focus on a variety of animals or inanimate objects; as well as the way they affect humans/ the way humans affect these things. The types of animals featured are things like a grizzly bear, a platypus colony or monkeys. The types of inanimate objects are things like an airplane seat and a hotel room.
I borrowed this from BorrowBox at the same time I borrowed the Mammoth book, by the same author. Originally, I borrowed both books because I thought they sounded interesting. With this book… I chose it because I liked the premise. However, upon actually reading the book, I don’t think I enjoyed it very much. While I understood the point of the book, it felt like the author didn’t convey the stories very well. Just in my opinion. I don’t know how to explain this, but I think my main issue was the way the author added a lot of very human personalities and traits to all these animals and inanimate objects. And the personalities of each story get boring, because it feels like only one or two personalities, that are repeated throughout the book. In that respect… To me, a lot of the narrators feel very unlikeable because of the personality, too.
Just be warned that this is the type of book where you need to suspend your belief a lot. Because there’s a LOT about the book that just doesn’t make sense. For example, with the way so many of these animals are so well-versed in human technology; to the point where one of them mentions that the drones that fly overhead the area might have cameras that might put footage of them on human shows. Another instance, from the same story, is when one of the animals has impregnated his mate, and they have a conversation about the humans and the way the humans are probably going to take the babies; they theorise what the humans are going to do with the babies. But… Animals wouldn’t know that kind of thing… And it has a lot of iterations throughout all the stories; there’s a lot of references to very human things that animals would know nothing of. Not to mention the way that the animals talk the same way humans might, as well as swear. Though, having said that, one of the later stories is written in a very basic spelling and grammar version of English. And… Wow, it was so difficult to read. It was very clear that the author was doing the spelling and grammar errors deliberately, but it made it very illegible in many places. So, yeah… For me, that’s another aspect of where the author made these narrators too human; by giving them way too many human characteristics. So, I recommend suspending your belief.
The book description here lists the book as, “A collection of funny…” and “Narrated in Chris Flynn's unique and hilarious style…” It also lists the book under the “Humor” genre. Which… No… I don’t know why the description pushes the idea that it’s a funny book… But I just did not see it that way. It was quite the opposite, in my opinion. For a lot of the stories within the book, a lot of the remarks these narrators would make were definitely cringey and awkward. There was a weirdly forced amount of swearing. If any of that was meant to be a “joke”… I don’t get it. The bad language reminds me of the way some people will swear an unnecessary amount, because they think it makes them seem cool. But that’s just from my perspective of the book, and in my opinion. It’s things listed as “humor” where I sometimes feel like someone needs to sit with me while I read it and point out the bits, “see, that’s a joke there!” And then perhaps explain the bits that I would never have thought to be funny.
Overall… I think the author had a few interesting ideas for the stories… But, ultimately, I just didn’t like any of the stories. I don’t get the humour of them, or even where these “funny” aspects are meant to be. I don’t like any of the characters… I don’t recommend the book. But that’s all just my opinion; you will likely feel differently about the book, if and when you choose to read it. Though, I do appreciate that the author did make a good attempt to be creative with some unlikely narrators. In life, a lot of our stories focus on human narrators, and many humans often forget that animals have sentience.
I borrowed this from BorrowBox at the same time I borrowed the Mammoth book, by the same author. Originally, I borrowed both books because I thought they sounded interesting. With this book… I chose it because I liked the premise. However, upon actually reading the book, I don’t think I enjoyed it very much. While I understood the point of the book, it felt like the author didn’t convey the stories very well. Just in my opinion. I don’t know how to explain this, but I think my main issue was the way the author added a lot of very human personalities and traits to all these animals and inanimate objects. And the personalities of each story get boring, because it feels like only one or two personalities, that are repeated throughout the book. In that respect… To me, a lot of the narrators feel very unlikeable because of the personality, too.
Just be warned that this is the type of book where you need to suspend your belief a lot. Because there’s a LOT about the book that just doesn’t make sense. For example, with the way so many of these animals are so well-versed in human technology; to the point where one of them mentions that the drones that fly overhead the area might have cameras that might put footage of them on human shows. Another instance, from the same story, is when one of the animals has impregnated his mate, and they have a conversation about the humans and the way the humans are probably going to take the babies; they theorise what the humans are going to do with the babies. But… Animals wouldn’t know that kind of thing… And it has a lot of iterations throughout all the stories; there’s a lot of references to very human things that animals would know nothing of. Not to mention the way that the animals talk the same way humans might, as well as swear. Though, having said that, one of the later stories is written in a very basic spelling and grammar version of English. And… Wow, it was so difficult to read. It was very clear that the author was doing the spelling and grammar errors deliberately, but it made it very illegible in many places. So, yeah… For me, that’s another aspect of where the author made these narrators too human; by giving them way too many human characteristics. So, I recommend suspending your belief.
The book description here lists the book as, “A collection of funny…” and “Narrated in Chris Flynn's unique and hilarious style…” It also lists the book under the “Humor” genre. Which… No… I don’t know why the description pushes the idea that it’s a funny book… But I just did not see it that way. It was quite the opposite, in my opinion. For a lot of the stories within the book, a lot of the remarks these narrators would make were definitely cringey and awkward. There was a weirdly forced amount of swearing. If any of that was meant to be a “joke”… I don’t get it. The bad language reminds me of the way some people will swear an unnecessary amount, because they think it makes them seem cool. But that’s just from my perspective of the book, and in my opinion. It’s things listed as “humor” where I sometimes feel like someone needs to sit with me while I read it and point out the bits, “see, that’s a joke there!” And then perhaps explain the bits that I would never have thought to be funny.
Overall… I think the author had a few interesting ideas for the stories… But, ultimately, I just didn’t like any of the stories. I don’t get the humour of them, or even where these “funny” aspects are meant to be. I don’t like any of the characters… I don’t recommend the book. But that’s all just my opinion; you will likely feel differently about the book, if and when you choose to read it. Though, I do appreciate that the author did make a good attempt to be creative with some unlikely narrators. In life, a lot of our stories focus on human narrators, and many humans often forget that animals have sentience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2022
It’s not usual to see a short story collection reviewed here, generally, I avoid them; my reasons are many. However, I was a big fan of Mammoth and really enjoy Chris Flynn’s humour and how experimental he is with his perspectives and style, so I put my hand up for a copy of Here Be Leviathans, and I’m so glad I did. Once again, we are treated to a variety of perspectives, from animals to inanimate objects, he makes it work. Each of the stories are so different from each other, even in pacing and tone, so it’s almost a collection that you want to take a break between each story with, rather than reading it like a novel. Indeed, there were a few stories that left me in a state of contemplation about things I’d never really given much thought to.
As is to be expected with a collection of stories, some appealed more than others. I particularly enjoyed the one about the grizzly bear (Inheritance) and the one about the sabretooth tigers (Here Be Leviathans) the most, but I do really love how Chris writes from the perspective of animals, so perhaps I’m showing some unconscious bias here. Plus, the sabretooth tiger one also reminded me of Mammoth, so it was probably always going to be a standout for me on that basis alone.
If you are new to the work of Chris Flynn, be prepared to have your mind boggled. He is without doubt, one of the most creative storytellers I’ve read. A total legend on breaking all the rules and redefining what you can do with fiction if you just let go and use your imagination. Fans of Mammoth will be thrilled with this new release. I enjoyed reading the endnotes on each story, as is to be expected, there is so much in each one and I was awed by the fact that this collection took 10 years to come into being. As you read each story, you are given a sense of hidden depths, from the inspiration through to the intent. This is definitely a short story collection of note. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
As is to be expected with a collection of stories, some appealed more than others. I particularly enjoyed the one about the grizzly bear (Inheritance) and the one about the sabretooth tigers (Here Be Leviathans) the most, but I do really love how Chris writes from the perspective of animals, so perhaps I’m showing some unconscious bias here. Plus, the sabretooth tiger one also reminded me of Mammoth, so it was probably always going to be a standout for me on that basis alone.
If you are new to the work of Chris Flynn, be prepared to have your mind boggled. He is without doubt, one of the most creative storytellers I’ve read. A total legend on breaking all the rules and redefining what you can do with fiction if you just let go and use your imagination. Fans of Mammoth will be thrilled with this new release. I enjoyed reading the endnotes on each story, as is to be expected, there is so much in each one and I was awed by the fact that this collection took 10 years to come into being. As you read each story, you are given a sense of hidden depths, from the inspiration through to the intent. This is definitely a short story collection of note. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
October 16, 2022
Flynn has returned to the pseudo-animist style he perfected in Mammoth. He executed superbly with Inheritance, 22F and Monotremes. The latter had me in stitches while still contemplating the way we treat animals and nature.
The titular story is a good romp with a most satisfying end.
The Strait of Magellan lacked the charm and sensitivity of the earlier stories and I felt that it didn’t quite shape up.
Alas, Poor Yorick’s hapless hero is charming and I loved his description of the relationship with his keeper. Brave Brenda was a beut. It was a well told story, another shocking indictment on us humans, with a not-quite-so-satisfying end.
Shot down in flames was the most original concept I’ve read in a while and explores a number of distressing themes. It is a very solid, concise and contained short story. Not as much fun as some of the others but very worthy.
A Beautiful and Unexpected Turn was a balm for the soul.
The final story is what led me to the three star rating. Admittedly I hate unpunctuated text so we did not get off on the right foot from the beginning. Persisting I became interested in where he was going, but sadly it was nowhere. For the structure, there were too many balls in the air and those that did land weren’t all on target.
NB, I just relented and changed my rating to four. The ones t that are good are very, very good.
I will read him again, unless he produces something else unpunctuated.
The titular story is a good romp with a most satisfying end.
The Strait of Magellan lacked the charm and sensitivity of the earlier stories and I felt that it didn’t quite shape up.
Alas, Poor Yorick’s hapless hero is charming and I loved his description of the relationship with his keeper. Brave Brenda was a beut. It was a well told story, another shocking indictment on us humans, with a not-quite-so-satisfying end.
Shot down in flames was the most original concept I’ve read in a while and explores a number of distressing themes. It is a very solid, concise and contained short story. Not as much fun as some of the others but very worthy.
A Beautiful and Unexpected Turn was a balm for the soul.
The final story is what led me to the three star rating. Admittedly I hate unpunctuated text so we did not get off on the right foot from the beginning. Persisting I became interested in where he was going, but sadly it was nowhere. For the structure, there were too many balls in the air and those that did land weren’t all on target.
NB, I just relented and changed my rating to four. The ones t that are good are very, very good.
I will read him again, unless he produces something else unpunctuated.
June 16, 2024
I purchased Here be Leviathans at a belated book launch, held at the recent Sydney Writer’s Festival. It is probably not the sort of book that I would have been instantly attracted to, but attend the SWF event was too tempting as it was being held at the Woollahra Library directly across from where I was staying at the time. That too, and a commitment to read across more genre than in previous years. Why only read one colour in the rainbow, hey?
I am so glad I attended the event. Flynn was entertaining, articulate and refreshing in his perspectives. Perspectives that are reflected in his writing.
Each of the nine short stories is written in the first person, from a different, sometimes inanimate object viewpoint. Flynn admits that the length of the stories was part of the reason for his decision to put them in his own anthology. Some are too short and others are too long for traditional avenues of publication. He also admitted, without telling too much, that sometimes he would start a tale that he initially believed had enough legs to warrant a full novel, only to get part way through and find that he was done. He didn’t let on if any of the short stories in ‘Here be Leviathans’ fell into this category, and it’s impossible to tell by reading them as each story skilfully captures a world unto itself.
A worthwhile and refreshingly entertaining read.
I am so glad I attended the event. Flynn was entertaining, articulate and refreshing in his perspectives. Perspectives that are reflected in his writing.
Each of the nine short stories is written in the first person, from a different, sometimes inanimate object viewpoint. Flynn admits that the length of the stories was part of the reason for his decision to put them in his own anthology. Some are too short and others are too long for traditional avenues of publication. He also admitted, without telling too much, that sometimes he would start a tale that he initially believed had enough legs to warrant a full novel, only to get part way through and find that he was done. He didn’t let on if any of the short stories in ‘Here be Leviathans’ fell into this category, and it’s impossible to tell by reading them as each story skilfully captures a world unto itself.
A worthwhile and refreshingly entertaining read.
November 21, 2022
Here Be Leviathans is a solid collection of short stories by Chris Flynn. Binding them together is Flynn's use of an unusual narrator for each story. Some are animals, some are inanimate objects, others are natural phenomena and one is an unusual person.
Although all the stories in this collection are fun to read, some felt a little unfulfilling. Others were surprisingly touching. For example, one of my favourites, 'A Beautiful and Unexpected Turn', had me emotionally invested in not just a young couple, but the hotel room that (who?) narrates events. Another 'Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye' does a similarly excellent job of connecting the reader emotionally with the characters, even though it uses a style of prose reminiscent of Jeff Vandemeer or David Foster Wallace's more oblique writing.
As much as I enjoyed this latter story, it was also an example of one that left me wanting more. It seemed that there was more to tell about the key characters JKa and Cagney. I felt similarly about 'The Strait of Magellan', which reminded me of a less developed Galapagos . Perhaps it was just the setting.
Minor quibbles aside- this is a good book well worth reading.
Although all the stories in this collection are fun to read, some felt a little unfulfilling. Others were surprisingly touching. For example, one of my favourites, 'A Beautiful and Unexpected Turn', had me emotionally invested in not just a young couple, but the hotel room that (who?) narrates events. Another 'Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye' does a similarly excellent job of connecting the reader emotionally with the characters, even though it uses a style of prose reminiscent of Jeff Vandemeer or David Foster Wallace's more oblique writing.
As much as I enjoyed this latter story, it was also an example of one that left me wanting more. It seemed that there was more to tell about the key characters JKa and Cagney. I felt similarly about 'The Strait of Magellan', which reminded me of a less developed Galapagos . Perhaps it was just the setting.
Minor quibbles aside- this is a good book well worth reading.
September 14, 2023
4.5 stars
Chris Flynn caught my attention a few books ago. He’s become one of those writers I’d buy but hadn’t read. One of those writers you know you’ll love but just haven’t read yet. Til now.
And thankfully I really loved this remarkable short story collection. His inventive use of narrator both animate (a grizzly bear, a platypus) and inanimate (a boat, an airplane seat) is fabulist and sensational.
It’s always tempting to pick favourites in a collection, and I think Inheritance, the first story, narrated by the grizzly bear certainly counts as one. How can an opening sentence of
“I ate a kid called Ash Tremblay yesterday.”
not grab your attention? But then Chris Flynn holds your attention masterfully with themes of estranged family, bullying and memory. Amazing. I knew I haven’t read anything like this before.
22F was also gripping,and I loved The Strait of Magellan.
I’m slowly becoming a keen short story reader and Chris Flynn has certainly nudged that along. I will be picking up the recent release New Australian Fiction 2023 next. And happily it has a new Chris Flynn story waiting for me.
Chris Flynn caught my attention a few books ago. He’s become one of those writers I’d buy but hadn’t read. One of those writers you know you’ll love but just haven’t read yet. Til now.
And thankfully I really loved this remarkable short story collection. His inventive use of narrator both animate (a grizzly bear, a platypus) and inanimate (a boat, an airplane seat) is fabulist and sensational.
It’s always tempting to pick favourites in a collection, and I think Inheritance, the first story, narrated by the grizzly bear certainly counts as one. How can an opening sentence of
“I ate a kid called Ash Tremblay yesterday.”
not grab your attention? But then Chris Flynn holds your attention masterfully with themes of estranged family, bullying and memory. Amazing. I knew I haven’t read anything like this before.
22F was also gripping,and I loved The Strait of Magellan.
I’m slowly becoming a keen short story reader and Chris Flynn has certainly nudged that along. I will be picking up the recent release New Australian Fiction 2023 next. And happily it has a new Chris Flynn story waiting for me.
May 16, 2023
Here Be Leviathans is a small collection of short stories - weird short stories, as all good ones are.
Most of the stories in this collection are somewhat experimental, told from the point of view of things that you would not expect to have points of view, from animals to an airplane seat to a hotel room. Some also use unique ways of expressing themselves, with weird styles of prose - like the last story in this collection.
All of this adds up to make a collection where each story is unique, with readers unsure of what to expect from the next story. But at the same time, the unusual viewpoint characters created a sense of a running theme throughout the collection, which I found quite enjoyable.
The stories themselves were great as well, with most of them having original and unique ideas. Short and punchy, they were fun to read and enjoy in a single sitting - making the whole book feel like a light and pleasant read, even when the topics were a little dark.
If you're a fan of short stories, especially short stories that are maybe a little unusual, I highly recommend this book.
Most of the stories in this collection are somewhat experimental, told from the point of view of things that you would not expect to have points of view, from animals to an airplane seat to a hotel room. Some also use unique ways of expressing themselves, with weird styles of prose - like the last story in this collection.
All of this adds up to make a collection where each story is unique, with readers unsure of what to expect from the next story. But at the same time, the unusual viewpoint characters created a sense of a running theme throughout the collection, which I found quite enjoyable.
The stories themselves were great as well, with most of them having original and unique ideas. Short and punchy, they were fun to read and enjoy in a single sitting - making the whole book feel like a light and pleasant read, even when the topics were a little dark.
If you're a fan of short stories, especially short stories that are maybe a little unusual, I highly recommend this book.
August 30, 2023
Chris Flynn's previous novel Mammoth inhabited the voice of a woolly mammoth, or rather his skeleton, as it awaited auction in a storeroom in New York. In this collection of nine short stories Flynn considerably expands the vocal gymnastics to encompass not just animals — a bear, a genetically modified platypus, a sabretooth tiger and a Rhesus macaque — but objects too: a seat on an airplane, a luxury yacht, a hotel room, and, in one story, a river, a bushfire and a rifle. Part of the fun of these stories is the puzzle of being dropped into someone or something else's mind — where am I? When? Who? — and in Flynn's imagination the answers to these questions are potentially limitless. To deal with such a menagerie of narrators Flynn concocts a cacophony of voices, from Ocker Australian (the platypus) to a kind of pidgin (a fox in Shot Down In Flames) to torrents of unpunctuated vernacular (the rifle in the same story). Read more on my blog.
January 3, 2023
A series of short stories written from unexpected perspectives.
The first of the stories is written from the perspective of a bear who is shot after having eaten a boy in a National park - the bear was incredulous - he thought he and the park ranger who shot him had an understanding.
Another story follows a rough talking platypus who saves two hapless German backpackers from a crocodile in order to keep their idilic location a secret. The Germans get an unexpected insight into the contrasting aesthetic sensibilities of each platypus sharing the burrow they hole up in for protection.
1 of the short stories focussed on a hotel room that assisted a couple conceive a child. Clever concept, but this story had some explicit content it could have done without. You’d not miss out greatly if you skipped this story.
(3 start = quite a good read)
The first of the stories is written from the perspective of a bear who is shot after having eaten a boy in a National park - the bear was incredulous - he thought he and the park ranger who shot him had an understanding.
Another story follows a rough talking platypus who saves two hapless German backpackers from a crocodile in order to keep their idilic location a secret. The Germans get an unexpected insight into the contrasting aesthetic sensibilities of each platypus sharing the burrow they hole up in for protection.
1 of the short stories focussed on a hotel room that assisted a couple conceive a child. Clever concept, but this story had some explicit content it could have done without. You’d not miss out greatly if you skipped this story.
(3 start = quite a good read)
November 13, 2022
Here Be Leviathans by Chris Flynn is an eclectic series of short stories featuring a range of unusual voices from animals such as grizzly bears, platypuses, sabre tooth tigers, space monkeys to inanimate objects such as airplane seats, bushfires, hotel rooms, a virus and abandoned casinos and locations are far apart as Queensland and Alaska.
Written in Chris Flynn unique style of humour and at times blunt frankness that holds you spellbound. There is also one story which follows a stream of consciousness will no punctuation - while initially daunting it is well worth preserving with.
It is always difficult to write a review of short stories but all the stories offered the reader unique experiences that make this a brilliant collection.
Highly recommended read!!!
Written in Chris Flynn unique style of humour and at times blunt frankness that holds you spellbound. There is also one story which follows a stream of consciousness will no punctuation - while initially daunting it is well worth preserving with.
It is always difficult to write a review of short stories but all the stories offered the reader unique experiences that make this a brilliant collection.
Highly recommended read!!!
November 2, 2022
I have a hard-on for Chris Flynn. Thanks to this book my love for him just gets deeper and a bit more creepy.
His sense of humour combined with his ability to present things from a completely different perspective (hello! an aeroplane seat!) gives his reader an absolutely wild ride. One can’t underestimate the power of a unique literary device done well.
This book makes me happy. It makes me think. Most importantly, it has given me something to talk about with all my book-loving friends and the not-so-avid readers who are up to hear about an interesting tale.
For more reviews check me out @stephaniesbookclub on Instagram.
His sense of humour combined with his ability to present things from a completely different perspective (hello! an aeroplane seat!) gives his reader an absolutely wild ride. One can’t underestimate the power of a unique literary device done well.
This book makes me happy. It makes me think. Most importantly, it has given me something to talk about with all my book-loving friends and the not-so-avid readers who are up to hear about an interesting tale.
For more reviews check me out @stephaniesbookclub on Instagram.
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