Oddities and Entities is a surreal, provocative anthology of six tales within the supernatural/paranormal/horror genres, exploring a definition of life beyond the fragile vessel of the human body. The stories are: ‘Boneview’, in which a young woman struggles to balance her ability to see through people with the presence of a supernatural creature in her life; ‘Shift/Change’, in which a hospital worker struggles to regain his memory as he is confronted by a series of desperate people; ‘My Other Me’, in which a lonely college student finds himself displaced from his body by his alter ego; ‘Gray’, in which a frustrated man is stunned to discover a little creature has been living in his head; ‘Elmer Phelps’, in which a brother and sister find themselves linked in a strange reality by a bat bite in their youth; and lastly, ‘Appendage’, in which a cynical mercenary is hired by his son to protect a research lab on the verge of a stunning discovery.
About the author:
Roland Allnach has been writing since his teens, but did not actively seek publication until 2007. He has numerous published short stories to his credit, one of which was a 2010 Pushcart Prize nominee, as well as two multi-award winning books, Remnant (2010) andOddities & Entities (2012). His literary inspirations arise from classic literature, history, and mythology, and his aim is to invest his stories and characters with a complexity and depth that continue to reward upon repeated readings. Writing aside, his joy in life is the time he spends with his family.
My review:
I am a huge fan of scary, paranormal, creepy stories, so when I was given the opportunity to review this book, I knew that I would enjoy every single delicious word.
And that I did.
Aside from the fact that the stories kept me interested, I felt that the characters and the plots were well developed...and that for me is what makes a book good. I don't need bells and whistles in a good story book, I need an author that will pull me into his writing and keep me there, make me feel like I'm living every single moment of the story as it progresses.
I feel that Roland Allnach did that.
As with many other reviewers of this book, I will agree that Boneview was outstanding, but that in no way retracts from the others.
I really do think it's the perfect read for this month of October, especially with Halloween right around the corner.
Almost everyone on this tour has talked about how great the author's writing is. It really must be amazing! Thanks for being on the tour!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra, for your thoughtful review of 'Oddities & Entities'. The terrain the stories traverse is quite different from the tranquility depicted in the beautiful pictures you post to your blog, but the book is not all scares and thrills. Well, for the most part, it is...For those who would like to learn more about the book and its stories, drop by my blog at http://www.rafictionzone.blogspot.com/ where I've been posting essays regarding the book.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
Roland Allnach
fiction@rolandallnach.com
Oh, I'm very flattered by all the positive feedback for my writing. As someone who likes to write in various genres, it's very encouraging to hear such compliments, because my narrative voice is something I can take with me wherever my stories go.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading,
Roland Allnach
fiction@rolandallnach.com