The Failure Six

by Shane Jones

A modern fable set in a society that has come to favor written messages over talking. A young woman named Foe has lost her memory and six messengers who attempt to recite her past back to her inevitably - and creatively - fail. Parts Kafka, Lewis Carroll, and Aesop, the imagistic allegory warns that in a culture of texting, email, and Twitter, we can't forsake real conversation - or we could lose its art forever. - Interview Magazine, Dec/Jan 2010.

An exquisite memento of wildly imagined scenes, odd characters, and nightmares confused with waking life, a slipstream loop where bureaucracy and hallucination are so intertwined that you’re often confused which is the most absurd. - The Brooklyn Rail, April 2010.

Genres: Fiction

110 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Shane Jones is an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet.

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a bit in this book that I think really sums up shane jones but it's from the end. I don't think it spoils anything but just in case:
I'm sorry but I think you're magician.

I'm not a magician. My brother, perhaps you know him, is a magician. His name is David Hass.

I meant to write mistaken.

now people who didn't read that will have to go read the entire book to figure out what they missed.

This is a nice book it has the whimsy factor that was in Light Boxes with perhaps less direct purpose, but I think that really worked in this novel. it was in 6 parts/stories that really are the same story which becomes much more obvious near the end.

The failures/stories start to feel rushed around #4, but I would still recommend the book.

[February · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst book of the year, by far. There should be a The Failure Seven and this book would be it. I kept reading section after section thinking "this might be the worst book I've ever read" and then I got to the ending (which there isn't, it just stops) and I said to myself "Yes, this is the worst." Self indulgent, precious, no talent for plot or narrative arc, unlikeable characters, and just an overall sense that Jones doesn't care about his readers, who I imagine are maybe twenty people? Going to see if I can return this book now. Is it cold? Are you cold?

[Carah Naseem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmm.
"OH, this book's really good."
Bbbhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
"Read it."

[Kat Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming. Frightening.

[Anders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, skip this and read Light Boxes or The Crystal Eaters.

[Benjamin Niespodziany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! What a weird and surreal fable. Furry walls, smoking cats, hundreds of foxes, expensive revolvers, and a green mustache. This is my Shane Jones introduction and I can't wait to read more of his work.

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully articulated episodic tale by Shane Jones that would make for a brilliant small-screen show.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the very first pages, for mysterious reasons, I felt like I was reading a story set in the world of Mateusz Skutnik's Daymare Town . And when I reached the description of DH with his black coat, black hat, etc. -- and he sounded so much like the mysterious lurking fellows in Skutnik's game -- the connection became stronger if still coincidental. Like a game, though, The Failure Six feels totally self-contained and seems to be playing by its own rules, which made the world of the story vivid and convincing but also left me feeling a bit disconnected. It didn't provoke me the way Jones' earlier Light Boxes did, because that novel's world seemed to grow bigger and bigger, taking on more and more resonance, while this one stayed about the same size. And once I'd explored every stage of the story, as with completing the levels of game, it felt final rather than extending its ideas or pointing toward where to go next. Except to go write this uselessly idiosyncratic review. As a counterpoint (corrective?) to my blathering about The Failure Six, it's probably a good idea to go read this review by Darby Larson in which he explains why the same elements that didn't quite work for me worked so well for him.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. I think. I may grow to like it more; or not. This is one I will have to mull over for a while. Damn strange imagery has had me sketching revolvers and foxes and men w/ mustaches for half the day, however, so I suppose there is something to it that sticks with me. But I found the strange story much more compelling than the writing, which struck me as too simplistic much of the time. I do wish there were a few more reviews of the book on here, rather than a bunch of effusive 5 stars w/o anything to back those up. So, I'll go for a holding-pattern 3 stars for now while I think a little more about this one.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a definite fan of the imagery and mood that Jones evokes. This book is definitely in the same conceptual realm as LIGHT BOXES: words have become meaningless off the page, and only on the page can they serve to construct reality. It is this (de)construction of reality via words/ stories in Jones' work that I am most intrigued by. Comparisons are never fair, but I did like this a lot better than LIGHT BOXES. With Jones, I feel like I am always left wanting more (maybe that's the genius of the work?), but in this case I felt more satisfaction with where things were left.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. A very quick read, with tonally-perfect illustrations. It has a sort of Brazil feeling (the movie not the country) to it, though you can definitely tell it's written by the author of Light Boxes. I think I still like Light Boxes better, but maybe only because I read it first, or because it's longer. Either way, both are delightful and I guess this is going to be one of those reviews where I use lots of superlatives but don't actually say much about the thing.

[Rowena · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked this a lot! it made more sense than light boxes (not sure which one i like more at this point). although i don't really see why times new roman was sometimes used. also great cover.

also it's strange but the teahouse part made me think of spirited away. i guess they were strange in the same way at that moment.

"I told him that to get out of nightmares I have to shoot myself and he said that he already knew that. He said everyone had to do that."

[Julie Gengo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I have to read this one again. Very Stanley Kubrickesq. The concept is brilliant but it scared me. I didn't feel safe but I couldn't put it down either. I felt as though I was being dragged down a tunnel that emptied out into nowhere. Shane has an amazing mind and will only continue to wow us with his imagination.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel really lucky that I got to read this book early.

I'm an early adopter.

By that I mean, I'd like to adopt it, and get a car seat, and buckle it in, and drive all over town, saying encouragey nonsensical things to it. It's that good.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book really excited me it was so much fun! Wonderfully creative writing; very dreamlike and mysterious. Jones excels at surprising the reader with just about every sentence that comes along. Five stars!

[shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked this book a lot. i like the use of the words 'gold doubloons'. at one point in this book there is mention of a book by lewis carroll. the name of the book was not mentioned. i felt surprised by this. five star book.

[sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Failure Six failed me. I realize this isn't Light Boxes, but I feel like the plot wasn't executed as well in this book. I like the idea and there were some cool passages, but nothing I wanted to underline, re-read, or go back to.

[Adam]

I can't wait.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

unbearably excited.

[Cody]

I won this book on First-reads, I cant wait to recieve it

[Trey Harris]

jesus christ.

[William Akin · Rating 5 out of 5]

a quick and cryptic little dream.

[Manda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't know what to say about this one. And after reading it again...I'll leave it at that. Really excited for his next book, though.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shane is perfect, I want him to marry me.

[MW · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an odd little book. Quirky.