Wait, You're Not a Centaur: 50-50 Word Stories and Drawings

by Nate Denver

A collection of 50 fifty- word stories by musician/ artist/ writer/ triathelete/ ice cream lover/ renaissance man Nate Denver. At turns scary, sweet, totally bizarre, hilarious, and always heartfelt, these 50 stories read a lot like haiku poems, except, well-- longer. Nate also did a bunch of drawings for the book, and they rule. This book also contains a full-length, 21 song CD, "Ghost Alarm", by Nate Denver's Neck (which is, strangely enough, the same guy as the author. go figure.) Introduction by Adam Jones of Tool.

Genres: Short Stories

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gets 4 stars for being refreshingly original. The book contains 50 short "stories" of 50 words each, and many drawings of elephants. There are lots of other drawings as well, but it's the elephants that you'll remember the best. This book also comes with a CD of some of the author's music. I haven't listened to it all the way through yet, but it seems promising in the same way the book is. Thoroughly enjoyable for those who like art to be a little wacky.

[Victor Giannini · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't read this book ... I feel very, very, bad for you. Medicine doesn't always come in such delicious doses. Except maybe Flinstones vitamins.

[DeAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is a collection of 50, 50 word stories and a CD of Nate Denver's Neck. It is fully illustrated with line drawing depicting robots, elephants, knights, and lots of decapitations. The stories range from odd to hilarious and after reading 2 of them, I couldn't leave the bookstore without this little gem of a book. And I love that Nate Denver's Neck has written a folk/death metal song based on the ballet, Swan Lake. Awesome!

[Keith F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool, pretty, and fun, but seems like the product of one or two creative evenings, rather than a real worked-out idea. The fifty fifty word "stories" (more like prose poems, Russell Edson comes to mind, and is actually alluded to in the back of the book) and drawings didn't inspire or excite me any, but I'm glad this little book exists.

[Tyler Bruns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first kickstarter helping with... it also ended up having wondrous results! The stories Nate Denver writes in this collection feel childish, but in the wondrous, most magical sense of the word. They inspire awe and laughter and curiosity. Read them. Then get down on your knee's and pray for more people with this magical sense of creativity.

[Adrianne Mathiowetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, absurd, concise, and often hilarious. I treasure this book. Each story is a surprise punch to some different body part.

Even though the author has a falcon on his arm in his author photo, and even though the forward is by Tool.

What is going on. Why won't this book marry me.

[C.V. Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the stories in this book are highly entertaining. I found this book in a used book store while browsing through the poetry section. I read the title, and the first story, and I had to have it. I don't regret my purchase. Fifty stories. Fifty words a piece.

[Cadillacrazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

crazy little paragraph stories paired with crazy little drawings.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost haiku, elves and dwarfs, axes, and Jesus . Insanity. Awesome. CD included.

[Linda Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously talented writer. Very entertaining and artistry was breathtaking!!! One great read!!

[Tracy Denver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just try to write a single story that is exactly 50 words long. Hard! 50 stories of great work.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Prose-poemish and whimsical and dark. Reminded me of James Tate.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whimsically refreshing but nothing to write home about. Decided to dig deeper to see whats up with Denver and found out hes pro-cop…so that…sucks…