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Fluffs
Shaun finds himself committed, subject to daily interviews with his psychiatrist following his arrest for murder.
But Shaun refuses to admit his guilt, blaming a group of multi-coloured, carnivorous furballs he calls FLUFFS for the crime.
But as the taps start to drip and squeaks echo through the plumbing...maybe Shaun isn't quite so mad?
But Shaun refuses to admit his guilt, blaming a group of multi-coloured, carnivorous furballs he calls FLUFFS for the crime.
But as the taps start to drip and squeaks echo through the plumbing...maybe Shaun isn't quite so mad?
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First published December 11, 2010
2 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Daniel I. Russell
53 books151 followersAustralian Shadows Award finalist D.l I. Russell has been featured publications such as The Zombie Feed from Apex, Pseudopod and Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #43. Author of Samhane, Come Into Darkness, Critique, Mother's Boys, The Collector and Tricks, Mischief and Mayhem, D. I. Russell is also the former vice-president of the Australian Horror Writers' Association and was a special guest editor of Midnight Echo.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 3, 2012
I was between horror group reads and looking for a short story to cleanse my palate. I found this one in my Short Story TBR and went with it.
It's hard to do a proper review for a short story without ruining everything. Plus if I try to describe it, it would sound silly. Suffice it to say, I just LOVED the imagination used to create this scary/gory short. I completely disagree with one of the other reviewers who saw nothing of Stephen King's early work in this story. This story was a bit gorier than King would get back in the day, but the imagination, creativity and writing chops are all there. We have the unreliable narrator and a sense of WTH is going on...is it real? Is this guy just insane? Is he drug addled?
You'll have to read it and see what you think.
I think it paid off for the author to offer this short for free because I'm excited to have found a new author and will gladly pay some money to see what else he has to offer.
If you like a short story with a punch and have an open enough mind to suspend your disbelief, you will have a great time with this story.
It's hard to do a proper review for a short story without ruining everything. Plus if I try to describe it, it would sound silly. Suffice it to say, I just LOVED the imagination used to create this scary/gory short. I completely disagree with one of the other reviewers who saw nothing of Stephen King's early work in this story. This story was a bit gorier than King would get back in the day, but the imagination, creativity and writing chops are all there. We have the unreliable narrator and a sense of WTH is going on...is it real? Is this guy just insane? Is he drug addled?
You'll have to read it and see what you think.
I think it paid off for the author to offer this short for free because I'm excited to have found a new author and will gladly pay some money to see what else he has to offer.
If you like a short story with a punch and have an open enough mind to suspend your disbelief, you will have a great time with this story.
July 15, 2011
Umm, eww. That was one of the more prevailing thoughts as I read this short story. To say the least, the images invoked by the descriptions were vivid, verging on gruesome. And since that definitely seemed to be the tone the author wanted - as it fit the story - it was well done. I feel that I should add that there isn't really gratuitous gore, by any means, lest this paragraph conjure that thought.
As usual, I'm less a fan of short stories because there is much less time for characters to develop or be fleshed out. Still, even in such a short time, the author established some solid characters that felt consistent and realistic throughout the story.
One thing that might be less than perfect was conveying Shaun's paranoia. It seemed like the author was trying to do this, yet even towards the end I didn't sympathize with Shaun's actions as much as might be hoped for. Hmm, that sounds really dumb/doesn't make sense, but I don't know how to explain what I mean without saying what happens, which I try to avoid doing in my reviews.
The ending, in retrospect, was really super obvious. Yet I didn't see it coming at the time. Well done on that.
If you don't mind a bit of gruesome description; I'd recommend this short story.
As usual, I'm less a fan of short stories because there is much less time for characters to develop or be fleshed out. Still, even in such a short time, the author established some solid characters that felt consistent and realistic throughout the story.
One thing that might be less than perfect was conveying Shaun's paranoia. It seemed like the author was trying to do this, yet even towards the end I didn't sympathize with Shaun's actions as much as might be hoped for. Hmm, that sounds really dumb/doesn't make sense, but I don't know how to explain what I mean without saying what happens, which I try to avoid doing in my reviews.
The ending, in retrospect, was really super obvious. Yet I didn't see it coming at the time. Well done on that.
If you don't mind a bit of gruesome description; I'd recommend this short story.
December 5, 2013
Well the fluffs was a very interesting book. You start off learning that the main character shaun is a druggy. He is talking to a doctor and during so he gets flash backs to what happened. It is a interesting short story because of its off the wall plot. Basically Shaun believes the "fluffs" as they call him are after him. You hear about the events which fluffs are in and you hear the logical explanation for them. You get to decide whether he is telling the truth or that its just the drugs. There is a bit of gore in here but you shouldn't be to turned off by it. The ending is great and twisty but i wont ruin it for you.
A good quick read.
A good quick read.
May 15, 2010
Makes you think twice about what you step on... a very dark and enjoyable read.
July 15, 2011
This story is by a friend of mine whom I’ve recently entered a reading circle with. Although I had downloaded the book awhile ago, the circle bumped me into action to finally read it.
Daniel I. Russell gets creative with his bloody horror and doesn’t mind pushing the limits to make you go ‘Wow!’ or ‘Eww!’. He knows how to truly entertain someone who doesn’t mind exploring that twisted place they have inside themselves.
Fluffs starts out in the life of a young man who likes to do drugs. Shaun’s sitting there, high, minding his own business, when something strange happens. He doesn’t realize at the time that what’s happening is real, I mean, come on, he’s high! But later he finds out the strange occurrences really did happen.
After the ‘Fluffs’ begin killing all around him, and even attack him in the meantime, he is deemed a murderer and taken to a mental hospital because of the deed of these mysterious, evil creatures. Still no one believes him, and in the end, although he is vindicated, the ‘Fluffs’ still have the upper hand, but not just with him...
The characterization in this story is great; you can see the characters as real people. The action keeps the story moving and words aren’t squandered on nonsense. I have to give this story 4 stars.
Read more of my reviews at RB Reviews: http://www.rebeccabesser.com/rb_revie...
Daniel I. Russell gets creative with his bloody horror and doesn’t mind pushing the limits to make you go ‘Wow!’ or ‘Eww!’. He knows how to truly entertain someone who doesn’t mind exploring that twisted place they have inside themselves.
Fluffs starts out in the life of a young man who likes to do drugs. Shaun’s sitting there, high, minding his own business, when something strange happens. He doesn’t realize at the time that what’s happening is real, I mean, come on, he’s high! But later he finds out the strange occurrences really did happen.
After the ‘Fluffs’ begin killing all around him, and even attack him in the meantime, he is deemed a murderer and taken to a mental hospital because of the deed of these mysterious, evil creatures. Still no one believes him, and in the end, although he is vindicated, the ‘Fluffs’ still have the upper hand, but not just with him...
The characterization in this story is great; you can see the characters as real people. The action keeps the story moving and words aren’t squandered on nonsense. I have to give this story 4 stars.
Read more of my reviews at RB Reviews: http://www.rebeccabesser.com/rb_revie...
July 15, 2011
Very quirky, dark read. The ending felt a bit flat, although fitting; and it was really good up until it skipped to him in his special room - almost as if it were written in a different style, without paying as much attention to pacing and reader engagement, like the author wanted to just get the story over with. I'm not sure the graphic bits with Vanessa were necessary. And there were some grammar errors that editing should have caught. But it was a good unique read. If you have a free half hour, I suggest you read it too.
June 19, 2012
Interesting. Listed as horror, I found it quite funny. It was serious at times, but overall I thought it quite entertaining. Watching a drug addict encounter what he could only describe as "fluffs", while in the midst of a high, was nothing short of comical. His subsequent reactions are understandibly desperate, and I find myself feeling for him. Somebody has to believe the poor guy! Of course no one does until it's too late.
I loved this story. I look forward to reading more from Daniel Russell.
I loved this story. I look forward to reading more from Daniel Russell.
July 17, 2013
Fluffs is an odd short story of around 50 pages long, and is about a drug abuser named Shaun who thinks that multi-coloured things he calls ‘fluffs’ are trying to kill him. The doctors are convinced it’s his drug-muddled mind that is causing hallucinations of the cuddly creatures, but as the carnage escalates Shaun is arrested on suspicion of murder - can he convince the officials that the ‘fluffs’ exist and are the culprits behind the violence before it’s too late?
Read the full review on my blog: http://yellowhairedreviewer.blogspot....
Read the full review on my blog: http://yellowhairedreviewer.blogspot....
February 8, 2012
I didn't particularly love the story, but it was well written. To be honest, it kind of reminded me of a Steven king short, like The Raft. It's one of those horror shorts that would do well in a writers magazine.
Fluffs was a short story that starts with a bad drug trip and ends with little googly-eyed monsters eating their way through a dog and people to extract revenge.
The writer has good potential, I'd be interested to see what he does as he matures his writing style.
Fluffs was a short story that starts with a bad drug trip and ends with little googly-eyed monsters eating their way through a dog and people to extract revenge.
The writer has good potential, I'd be interested to see what he does as he matures his writing style.
October 19, 2015
This sounds like it would be really daft, but I actually enjoyed it a lot and I applaud Daniel I. Russell for making it work. It was clever, gory and for a short story there was just enough back story and character development. Although the ending wasn't what I expected, it didn't disappoint and the author is now definitely in my top 5.
UPDATE: Had a dream about fluffs.
UPDATE: Had a dream about fluffs.
December 29, 2010
Very gritty and gory, with some lovely black humour thrown in. A little like gremlins on acid ;) I thoroughly enjoyed this read!
April 30, 2012
If it was written to really gross you out, it achieved its objective! All I can say is EWWWWWWW and admit it was rather well written.
December 15, 2014
A short, fast-pacdd story that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Highly recommended.
July 22, 2011
無料の短編ホラー。毛玉が襲ってくるという設定に釣られて入手 (トリブルみたいなのを想像していたがちょっと違った…笑)。結末はやや安易に思えるが、全体として読みやすくて面白かった。
August 4, 2011
Not a bad book, but slightly predictable.
August 8, 2011
Disturbing story.
August 24, 2012
Story was differnt to say the least.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews