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Bookmark on DeliciousPublished: June 18, 2011
Words: 75283 (approximate)
Language: English
Ebook short description
From a mechanical forest that constructs itself to the streets of Kyoto 8,000 years hence, the sometimes whimsical, sometimes cutting short fiction of KJ Kabza has been dubbed "Delightful" (Locus Online) and "Very clever, indeed" (SFRevu). Collecting all of his previously published, early works (plus 5 new stories), "In Pieces" offers glimpses into other worlds—some not unlike your own.Extended description
From a mechanical forest that constructs itself to the streets of Kyoto 8,000 years hence, the sometimes whimsical, sometimes cutting short fiction of KJ Kabza has been dubbed "Delightful" (Locus Online) and "Very clever, indeed" (SFRevu). Collecting all of his previously published, early works (plus five new stories), "In Pieces" offers glimpses into otherworldly holidays, a sibling's loss, haunted buildings, prophetic caves, and the defining moments that make us yearn for connection—whatever that might mean.Adult-content rating:
This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.
Tags
short fiction, love, anthology, relationships, fantasy, short stories, speculative fiction, tragic, science fiction, collection, flash fiction, literary fiction, whimsical, stories about love, speculative fiction anthology, flash fiction anthology, fantasy short stories, stories about relationships, short fiction anthology, science fiction short stories, collection of short stories, flash fiction collection, short fiction collectionAvailable ebook reading formats
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Reviews
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Review by:
Micah Cowan
on Sep. 14, 2011 :
I bought this anthology after reading one of his newest short stories in the July/August 2011 issue of "Fantasy & Science Fiction" magazine (for Kindle). I've never read a short story that engaged me so completely, and it left me desperate for more Kabza. So I bought this, and I was absolutely not disappointed (I won't say "satisfied"; I'm nearly finished with the book, but it has _not_ quenched my need to find more Kabza to read!).
The book is organized into three sections. The first (by far the largest) is headed "For Everyone", which apparently was intended to mean "suitable for all ages" - though curse-words are present, so "for everyone" probably depends on your definition. The second is "For Adults", and consists of two stories for a mature audience. The final section is "For Kids", but I found them enjoyable anyway. :)
All of the stories range from very short (a few less than one page!), to just short (reasonable short story length). My enjoyment of them ranged from "That was a neat/interesting thought experiment" (how much could one really expect from the one-pagers?) to "OMFG - I can't BELIEVE how awesome that was" (there are several of these).
Some of my favorites include the first one, featuring an engineer who creates very life-like automata through a combination of nanoscopic clockwork mechanisms and alchemy; a first-person perspective piece about a boy who presumably has Asperger's Syndrome (or something like it), whose obsession with archery turns out to be useful after all; and a more-realistic-than-usual look at the daily life of your average superhero. (Just to name a few that popped into my head.)
The consistent creativity and unique perspectives make this collection a breath of fresh air, and I can only say that I hope he keeps pumping more out, and that I hope that he ventures to write something a little longer/more filling than short stories, sometime soon.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Monica Friedman
on July 18, 2011 :
Well, I loved this book. [Disclaimer: I am the Monica to whom the book is dedicated, but that doesn't mean my review is biased or anything.] KJ Kabza is a talented young writer, as this collection of reprints demonstrates to anyone who wants to read work that has been categorized as Whimsy Punk. Speculative, sexy, and surprising, Kabza's ability to reframe classic themes or to create entire new worlds from scratch will delight readers in search of the next big thing.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)