Wild Tales is wild and entertaining
929639
Great stories with superb acting. Unique & clever plots that deal with potentially real life situations, often to the extreme!
3757427
All the stories in this ebook are entertaining and give me a new outlook on cats and their lives.  They are fiction but give the illusion of reality.  The cats all have different personalities.
558526
The most entertaining, wickedly funny short stories I've read in a long time. Michael Druxman is a terrific storyteller. He captures you right away with an intriguing premise and moves the story along with cinematic ease, told through unforgettable characters with sharp, funny dialogue. These stories are real page-turners, with mounting suspense and twists you don't see coming. Best of all, he never fails to deliver a knock-out ending which reveals a satisfying answer to the secret set up within the premise (for example, yes, you will find out who Jack the Ripper was and you'll have a lot of fun along the way).

In the hands of Michael Druxman, the short story is once again alive and kicking: in the vein of Mark Twain, here is a contemporary American tale-teller who holds all the aces.
1660568
These stories are awesome. The bear shifters are big and hunky and the women are spunky. I read these when I need to have a great laugh and to get away. The bear lingo cracks me up.
4637246
Talk about strange bedfellows! This bunch careens from one impossible situation to another without taking time for a breath. If only the story could have included the fae or some werewolves, I might have done five stars!

But really, this was a tale I enjoyed. There is no lack of action and just because you seem to be a main character, it does not mean you will be alive at the end of the book. For a quick read, take a walk on the wild side.
644153
The short stories contained within this book only whetted my appetite for the full length weird westerns to follow.  A great collection with fantastic stories and characters.  I cannot wait to read the longer stories giving these characters larger adventures to participate in.
1689896
This anthology features four well-known fairy tales that have been up-dated for a modern audience.  My first question when I started to read it was, 'will I be disappointed?'  I'm afraid I'm one of those sad people who grew up with traditional fairy tales at bedtime and even though I think I'm all grown up now, I still keep reading them!
And the answer to my question was an unequivocal 'No.'  Each story has pace, well-drawn characters and a very surprising take on each tale.  At the heart of each story is a romance and the 'will-they?, won't-they?' seesaw of emotion takes you on a bit of a roller coaster ride throughout.
As for the 'wand-waving' magic of the title - well, that really only occurs in one of the stories and it is amusingly and refreshingly handled.  The real-life magic is in the other three stories, manifesting itself as genuine human compassion, empathy and understanding.  A very difficult to put down read!
In addition, the stories are structured into easily digestible chapters, making this an absolute must for the morning commute.  Highly recommended.
1392877
I really enjoyed all the books in this great collection. They were so much fun! The three women in the novellas were all so different and so much fun in their own way.
The third book made me laugh out loud. I loved Aimee's spunk and wildness; her love of life. The other two heroines were great too. I found all three stories to be very believable.
The author's wonderful writing style of weaving a story so seamlessly allows the reader to picture every moment and every scene as though watching a movie - only better.
I highly recommend this series -as well as anything else Ms. Feldman has written. I have read several of her works and I can say with much confidence that she is master writer and storyteller. I have never been disappointed in anything she has produced. Enjoy!
3467950
Very similar to Smoke and Mirrors, Fragile Things contains an abundance of variety for fans of short fiction. There's everything from poems, to even a non-fiction story or two, as well as a variety of fiction ranging from one page all the way to novella length, fantasy to sci-fi to dark fantasy, and even a tad of horror.

Speaking of the novella, The Monarch of Glen is easily one of the best tales is the book. Anyone who loved American Gods (and I, for one, loved it sooooo much) and wants to revisit Shadow as well as the atmosphere of that masterpiece should definitely read that story.
A couple great stories were: Feeders and Eaters, which is an eerie tale that is "mostly true" and has an ending that really sticks in your gut.
Goliath is a bit tough to follow, but shows the true depths to Gaiman's superior imagination.
October in the chair is a fun-filled fantasy story.
Sunbird, actually the last story I read, is another imaginative piece. Vintage Gaiman here.
How to Talk to Girls at Parties is an entertaining blend of sci-fi, mystery, and--incredibly enough--awkward teenage literature.
A Study in Emerald I actually didn't know what was so amazing about it, until after I finished the story I read the wiki page of it, to which I said, "Oh, Wow!"
How do you Think it Feels, no fantasy here, just a straight-up story that's very, very good.
Lastly, Other People is very impressive, as it packs quite the punch in a matter of less than four pages.

So, with all that said, why didn't I give it five stars?
Stories like Fifteen Painted Cards From a Vampire Tarot,  Harlequin Valentine, and Keepsakes and Treasures, really didn't do it for me. They were too deceptive. I enjoy stories most when they are entertaining. When writers employ the whole "leaving it to the imagination" type of thing it really doesn't appeal to me.
More than once a story would I end, and I don't know if it's just me personally that the stories went over my head, but I would finish a story and be confused, and, by virtue of that, disappointed.

I've now read plenty of Gaiman's short work, and I have to say, while I've found a few really good stories, the two novels I've read him are far better. Nevertheless, Gaiman fans, especially if you want to read some of Neil's poetry, will not find their money wasted when reading this book.
4252672
Story Tellers was my second read from Author Thomas Jerome Baker.
I knew I was in for a treat with this imaginative tale which I would call a hybrid tale of folklore, mythology and myths. I felt I was taking an astral trip into the Celestial Realm with the characters and stories from the great story tellers portrayed here. Long ago in another world from another time the great and powerful story teller  passes on the legends of life, world power, greed and pure love to the innocent who is called the little one. I felt as though I was the Little One in the story, becoming so engrossed in all the tales of immortality, faith and good vs evil. There was a message here that could be applied to everyday life.  The story has such an easy flow as it blended into the stories from each of the story tellers who were depicted. The author has a well crafted story here that will touch the hearts of many.
4820028
I really enjoyed these stories. One reviewer compared the stories to the TV show, The Outer Limits, and fans of that show or the Twilight Zone would certainly enjoy these stories. Many of the stories reminded me of the Fractures Fairy Tale cartoons of yore or Once Upon a Time on TV today. Here you will find stories of Superman as an old man, or the last surviving elf, mixed in with stories of angels, devils, astronauts, scientists, and aliens. the editor did a great job of selecting great writers and putting together a nice mix of stories to keep the reader entertained.
516637
Anyone who has spent any time in West Texas (and even those who haven't) know that West Texans are famous for telling stories, some true, some not-so-true.  Of those that tell the stories, some are good at it, others aren't.  Skipper Duncan, in his "Characters and Critters," is one of the good ones.  Mr. Duncan pulls from a lifetime of first-hand experience and observation to create a collection of short stories that not only brings a deep belly-laugh and snicker but also insights into some of West Texas history.  Especially interesting is how he tells of his personal transition from struggling rancher to successful hunting outfitter and the cast of characters and events that tickled his fancy along the way, all of which he now shares with us in "Characters and Critters."  When I spoke with him the other day to set up an interview for The Texana Review, he said he was working on a follow-up collection of more stories.  I anticipate it will be at least as entertaining as this one.  As a storyteller myself, I highly recommend this book.
2943120
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In the turn of a page it can be laugh out loud funny, gruesomely violent or impressively inventive.  I personally haven't read anything quite like it before and I particularly enjoyed the multiple character arcs and different styles and tone used in their stories.  I can't wait for the next part and reading more from the same author.  Another great tale from Hawk & Cleaver.
4214174
The Darning Needle Dragon is a surefire bet to become a classic that will be devoured as readily by adults as children. The intrepid Sisters M are the putative authors and protagonists and their wild adventures are both harrowing and laugh-out-loud funny. Launched on a seemingly mundane task by their mother, they encounter a talking dragonfly and learn that things are seldom what they seem. Readers will be entertained and enchanted as our heroines lurch from one outrageous situation to another. The Darning Needle Dragon almost demands to be read aloud. If you like your Wonderlands wild and wacky, this is definitely the book for you.
2989829
This is a montage of stories that had me laughing from start to finish. This author is gifted in conveying his brand of slapstick humor. From the wild and wacky story of Christopher Columbus applying for a grant, to the disgusting nose fetish, nothing was too weird to be made fun of. I felt like all the stories had a vintage feel to them, and there was a definite tone of pulling for the underdog.

It was a very enjoyable read and it brought me back to my childhood memories of stories that my back-of-the-woods grandfather would tell many years ago. I could read this collection over and over without ever tiring of it.
2383959
Been Weeks has done it again! His Slivers of Life, A collection of short stories, is a great entertainment. Watching those variety of characters, showing off slices of their lives, was like sitting on a veranda, and watching people going about, doing their thing. I am marveled at how the author brings that vernacular language alive on paper. It just feels so natural.

The very first story, well chosen to come first, brought a bitter sweet smile on my face. It was indeed A Match Met. As that story ended, I wondered what became of the souls of Charles and Elmira Trickett, whose soul was saved, the one who confessed, or the one who revenged?

It was just entertainment all through, even when stories about girls showed some girls in the early years of women emancipation, who were exerting there rights, or girls just behaving bad. I wondered what ever happened to Chad in Night Flight. Nether could I make up my mind as to whether Nicole in  Rave On was a vampire. These are some of the questions, and many more,  whirling around in my head after reading the stories. Very entertaining!
1328144
Author and artist Paul Magrs offers a mad tale that is a delight to the auditory senses. Starring Tom Baker  (Doctor Who) in the title role of Tom Baker in the first of a series of audio plays set in the fictitious Baker's End.

The story opens with the death of the great man and those who knew him coming out to pay their respects. Including Suzi who worked with him many years ago on a fairly well known television series.

Yes it seems Tom Baker is quite dead. But the King of the Cats is alive and well as Suzi discovers. But who is this giant anthropomorphic cat who speaks in rhymes? And what has Suzi gotten herself into?

The first tale in the series is laugh out loud funny and chuckle to yourself amusing. With bizarre character and villains who seem more terribly naughty than downright evil.

What Paul Magrs accomplishes is a story that doesn't always have to resort to violence or characters that are constantly shouty or angry. Which seems to have become commonplace in film and television.

It's a fresh breath of air to have something that revels in being silly and outright enjoyable. We need more of that in the world. And Paul Magrs offers that magnificently.

By the end of the first story you'll only want to go back and visit Baker's End again and again.

I'm looking forward to my next visit.