Steven Wetherell

Take a pinch of Douglas Adams, add a dash of Terry Pratchett and a smidgeon of Monty Python then simmer it gently in a pan of boiling lunacy. Bake in the mind of Steve Wetherall for a few months at 450 degrees Fahrenheit and allow to cool

The result is possibly the funniest book I’ve read this year (bear in mind it is the middle of December so this is no faint claim)

This is book one in the Doomsayer Journeys series and follows two journeys to save the world set 1000 years apart.

The characters are well drawn and the dialog is witty and fresh throughout.

If you enjoyed Hitchhikers Guide, Dirk Gently or the Color of Magic then this’ll be right up your street.

I’m writing this while watching Strictly Come Dancing so to quote judge Craig Revel-Horwood this book was FAB-U-LOUUS… (mehr)

The Totally Legend Brandon Thighmaster by Steve Wetherell is a funny, witty, and clever book. A monk that loves his body, has to leave the temple to work on his mind per his Master, heads out into the world to make the world happy to see his abs and learn from the world. It is so silly and fun I giggled and smiled as he encounters others and is happy to be employed to fight to save a village. His lack of worldly knowledge is a hoot! His fighting companions are interesting and situations are strange indeed. The book is short but I loved every minute. Can't wait to follow his journey.… (mehr)

You know what I love about short fiction anthologies? You get to read a bunch of authors in one handy book, and discover shiny new ones to add to your “to read” list. On the down side, my list is getting way too frigging long, because I’ve added every author included in “FLYING TOASTERS.” Every story in this collection is well written and entertaining, and there’s a mixture of genres and styles, ranging from gritty to haunting and from thought-provoking to ridiculous. I find it hard to rate short story collections, but this time I had no problem. Every story deserves 5 stars.

At first I was going to choose my favorites to review, but I had a hard time choosing, so I’ve decided to tell you why each is worth a read. Good thing this anthology includes just a handful of authors, eh?

“The Man Upstairs” ([a:Hanna Elizabeth|7152923|Hanna Elizabeth|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1372627300p2/7152923.jpg]) – Funny spin on ghosts that stays with the reader after “The End.” I cringed at the cat in the closet prank, because I've been there. (no spoilers, so I can't expand beyond that)

"The Cave" (Brian L. Braden) Possibly my favorite of the bunch (I know I said I couldn’t pick, but maybe I lied. I'm totally fan-girling Mr. Braden now.), “The Cave” is beautifully written and subtly creepy. (You’d have to read to understand what I mean, and I’m not giving away spoilers, so there.) I reread many passages in this story simply for the “magic” created in the words Braden chose. Among my top five in this story: “Men are loud in the face of dangers they understand, but fall silent in the shadow of the unknown.” I’m weird like that with the words.

"My Dead Friend Nancy" ([a:Robert Brumm|5179080|Robert Brumm|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1330195166p2/5179080.jpg]) – Solid storytelling. Loved this one. Usually stories focus on the awesomeness of immortality, but Mr. Brumm reminds us why it’s wise to know the “cons” of never dying as well.

"The Lightgiver" ([a:Thomas Cardin|6917657|Thomas Cardin|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1375815780p2/6917657.jpg]) – Ladies, you really must read this one. That is all.

"Altitude Sickness" ([a:C.M. Saunders|4261706|C.M. Saunders|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png]) – This is why I don’t like planes…and people. The “big guy” in the story was so irritating I wanted to punch the book, which would have sucked because it’s an e-book…but anyway, extremely well written. Excellent characterization.

"Nymph-O-Maniacs" ([a:Robert Bevan|797715|Robert Bevan|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1339772645p2/797715.jpg]) – Hilarious. And, he used the word “hoo-ha.” Enough said.

"Prism" ([a:John Gregory Hancock|6876119|John Gregory Hancock|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1359596695p2/6876119.jpg])- At first I thought this would be your typical fantasy story with fancy heroes and such, but I was pleasantly surprised. Very cool idea. No, not telling you why. Read it and find out.

"The Ballad of Azron Berzon" (Steven Wetherell) – Another funny one. I love this author’s style, and was hooked by this story in the first page, probably with this paragraph: “Port Town was ugly, but honest. The special kind of honest you get when everybody likes, and expects to be lied to. If there was any truth to the city, it wisely kept its mouth shut.”
… (mehr)

Fitch, an orphan and the lowliest servant at Castle Blacking, is in love with a dead woman. To win her heart, and save her life, Fitch must travel to Hell. So he seeks the help of Karyzu, a legendary sword fighter and the only man to go to Hell and live to tell the story. Karyzu isn’t quite what Fitch expected, but he’s determined to succeed in his hero’s journey, and ignores Karyzu’s boozing and bragging, hoping he will turn out to be the hero local legend says he is.

Wetherell combines reality and fantasy so the two worlds blend almost seamlessly for the reader, and he introduces creatures I can’t say I’ve ever imagined before. (Cack demons… good times.)

While this book seems a calamitous comedy on the surface, the perceptive reader actually gets a much deeper experience. Under the comedy is a story about two unlikely friends testing the limits of their courage against hopeless odds. I liked Fitch, but Karyzu is definitely my favorite character (and maybe the cack demons). His personality and wit are brilliant, and his snarky dialogue is well written and hilarious. (Aye, and I can stick my thumb up a tiger's arse--doesn't mean I'm going to.)

Looking forward to reading more of Wetherell’s books.
… (mehr)