#i love this title theme is so beautiful and manages to be funny

[gravelyhumerus]

USS Cerritos, from Star Trek: Lower Decks, painted in gouache

✨prints✨

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hello! Do you have any recommendations for rpgs about wizards, particularly solo rpgs?

THEME: Solo Wizards

Hello, I think I've found some interesting games that deal with magic in some shape or form, from witches, to necromancers, to evil wizards!

Everyday Enchanter, by Beth and Angel Make Games.

We all face all sorts of struggles in our lives, but what if we could lean on a little bit of hidden magic to help us through it?

Everyday Enchanter is here to help! Enchant your glasses with VIBRANCY to allow you to feel wide awake when you put them on, give your favorite shirt RESILIENCE to make physical and mental pain feel more manageable, and when things really get bad, snuggle up to your favorite GROUNDED-enchanted stuffed animal to regain a feeling of safety and control.

To make the enchantments stronger, simply focus on them in times of need! Reminding yourself that you've got help, even if it's just your favorite pen in your pocket, can help make the tough times a bit more bearable or give you that extra boost of confidence to try something new! And if you really want to strengthen the enchantments, journal about your experiences. When you write about how you really wanted to buy that candy bar at the grocery store checkout but clutched your STAND FIRM-enchanted keychain and resisted temptation, you'll embed that power deeper into your mind. One day you won't even need the enchantments anymore...but until then, they're here for you!

If you bought the TTRPGs for Trans Rights in Florida (or the similarly-titled bundle for Texas), then you already own this game!

The Magus, by momatoes.

The Magus is a solo journaling tabletop RPG that takes you on a sweeping journey for power, ambition, and arcane mastery, at great personal and interpersonal cost.

As a journaling game, you will roll dice, track stats, create spells, and write  imaginary experiences from the perspective of your character: a wizard, newly embarking on their quest for power, their head filled with grand visions of mastery.

This RPG is crunchy. You will use several polyhedral dice to manage four traits: Focus, Power, Control, and Scars, which shape how the protagonist overcomes  challenges and meets their denouement after seven, fateful events. 

This game is also beautiful. It has a number of stunning images used as backdrop against the text of the game, illuminating each part of your character sheet before diving into the meat of the game. The game itself pits your character between two choices: increasing the bonds between them and their loved ones, or sacrificing those opportunities to gain in power. You’ll roll a number of dice equal to your power in order to learn more spells, which are created using a combination of prompts and your own imagination.

Miscast, by Paradox Press Games.

You are undergoing training to become the successor of a Master Conjurer, but the only problem is that the Master Conjurer has a major Dragon's Dust addiction and spends most of their days higher than the mountains of Mar' Hollok. This leaves you solely responsible for your own training while also having to conjure up the creatures that eager customers come to your Master’s shop seeking. Long story short, you miscast spells a lot and end up conjuring a wide assortment of weird and fantastical monsters.

This game can be played solo, or it can be played in a group. You are using a deck of cards and a d6 to conjure different kinds of creatures; unfortunately, you’re only an apprentice, so the creatures don’t always come out right. You’ll use the cards from the different suits to determine the physical aspects of the monster, while you’ll use the d6 to determine how big the monster is, the monster’s nature, and what further Abnormalities it might be suffering. A game for funny random creatures, great for getting your creative juices going!

Sigils in the Dark, by Kurt Potts.

You have a need, a deep burning needthat drives you. Is it love, regret, desire?

The darkness whispers, “I can help you…”Minutes turn to hours as you try to focuson the voice. Symbols, shapes, swirl in thedarkness at the edge of your perception.If only you could grasp them, your needs would be met and more.

Sigils in the Dark is a journaling game and GM supplement. The goal of the game is to create an evil mage’s spellbook. You’ll take up the role of this wizard with a desperate need, in search of arcane power to get what they want. They will try to understand dark sigils just outside their perception by randomly generating spells and adding liner notes to their grimoire. In the end, you’ll have an in-game artifact that you can pass on to players and hopefully know a little more about what your evil mage has sacrificed to get where they are.

Using random roll tables, you’ll slowly create an artifact and a number of spells invented by a dark wizard. Each spell will also have a cost, and the wizard may choose to write notes that betray their own personality as they edit the spell the way an expert baker edits a recipe book.

 This is great for slow character creation, as you try to figure out the motives and goals of a wizard character, and can also put together pieces of their life before they meet anyone else.

The Final Undertaking, by kay w.

Tonight you will prepare the body. You will hang the heavy black curtain, and you will put out the call in the town paper.  Tomorrow night, when the sun sets, the chosen mourner will arrive, with their matter to discuss. You will sit with the body on one side, coaxing the soul back to the body, and the mourner will sit on the other.  The final undertaking will begin.

THE FINAL UNDERTAKING is a one player journaling game about grief, resolution, necromancy, and a town. It uses a d4, a tarot deck, and pen and paper to tell a story about an undertaker, who works in a town to prepare bodies for burial, briefly brings the spirit back to the body, and then facilitates a conversation between a single mourner and the deceased about their unresolved business.

In this game, you will use the tarot cards to form a spread that tells the bones of a story -- the deceased, the object they are being buried with, the mourner here to visit them, and the unresolved business between them. From your spread, you will be able to construct small narratives and write them down as journal entries. 

This is a lovingly written and designed game about putting the dead to rest. You will write journal entries from the point of view of an Undertaker, someone who is responsible for facilitating one last conversation between the spirit of the deceased and their mourner. You will play through 3 phases, which involve determining how well you knew the deceased, the situation at death, and what needs to be resolved before they can pass on to their final rest.The book comes with an oracle of Solemnities, which give you prompts to help you interpret each spread. You can play through the three phases as many times as you like, journaling for each one.

Grimoire, by Anna Landin.

Sparks of magic dance on your palms, flow like rivers through the world around you, and you can weave them into something powerful. You are a witch - and just as a tailor draws their patterns out, and cooks will write their well-kept secret recipes down, so you, too, will bind your spells in ink and paper and make for yourself a grimoire - a spellbook in which to keep your knowledge.

Grimoire is a roleplaying game for one person, played with a deck of regular playing cards with the jokers taken out, a six-sided die, and something to write your spells down with. The latter can be a blank notebook or a sketchbook, or one of the templates provided with these rules. Over the course of the game, you will make a spellbook of your own, a collection of spells you craft out of magic power and components available to you.

If you desire a character that’s a bit less evil wizard and a bit more homebrew witch, Grimoire is another great way to put together a spell book using randomly generated prompts and whatever components your witch has available. 

[fanaticsnail]

The comments' section has not enough space to express how wonderful Sapsorrow is coming out and I can't abuse the poor DMs.

The pinning just keep growing!!! 🌲🌲🌲

Governess wandering the castle at the early morning!!! Are you really a lady protagonist in a gothic castle if you haven't wandered the halls in your nightdress while perusing your growing feelings for the lord of the land???

And the twist of the tale with Mihawk in the place of Sapsorrow!!! I live for this kind of retellings. And of course, he's going to keep his secret identity now that he's found a way to interact with her without the pressure of their station. Ohhh, that's going to payout later XD

The ghosts gossiping to Perona is so funny! That first glimpse of Croc and the moon had me all 😱 Mihawk is asking for help to the other pirate lords and then boom! The calls!

Buggy calling him baby, I can't XDDD I read it exactly with Buggy's voice when he's sweet talking Arlong XDDD

I can totally envision Shanks doing lingerie as a hobbie 😳 but come again, he had a ring too??? There's literally ten rings out there at the hands of ten Pirate Lords waiting for some unsuspected women to be married to them??? 👀👀👀

Shank's may be so sure he got rid of his (and why was he actually wearing the ring? How on earth he didn't proposed to some random woman while drunk at a bar? XD) but with how these things work, his may be found by some sexy huntress who managed to catch that sea beast and found the ring while butchering it... And now we have a sequel XD

We can't have a fully domesticated Zoro. He has to get cocky from time to time. And of course he would be the kind of guy who gets a crush on his teacher XDDD

I can't wait for the ball!!! There is no better scenery to fertilize the pinning soil than a good ol' ballroom. This I say!

Also, I've made something 🫣 I told you I have a design degree to abuse and sometimes it kicks (me) until I use it. And all fairy tale related themes get me all creative.

I don't know why I have a feel this story is going somewhere and it needs a proper fairytale title to go with it 💌

I may or may not know how to bind books 🫢

OH. MY. GOSH. MS. VITA.

Holy shit. what the hell did I do to deserve such beautiful words and imagery.

I am screaming, crying, throwing up. Oh my gosh.

I am in the process of brainstorming lore for Sapsorrow's Rings, but absolutely Shanks had one. T'would be a shame for it to, I don't know, wash up on a deserted island to be found within the hands of someone wild huntress of a woman.

You really do have to have a midnight explore in a castle in your nightdress. It wouldn't be the same without it: especially if it means she gets to catch out a precious Farm-Hand bringing her fresh flowers and humming to himself.

I am IN LOVE with the banner. I can't even believe it. It's beautiful. Stunning. So fairytale and absolutely charming.

[fairytale-poll]

LOSER'S BRACKET ROUND 1! MATCH 7 OUT OF 8

Propaganda Under the Cut:

Queen Red Riding Hood

General Propaganda:

She's a girlboss who is sometimes a little vain but still loves her friends and will do anything to save her kingdom. Also she was in love with a guy since she was like 8 and he continuously rejected her, and then she found out he was in love with her archenemy. So yeah, she needs this.

She's kinda spoiled and high maintenance but gets better. I just think she's a fun character

i loved the land of stories series as a kid and i especially loved red because shes sooo full of herself and wears beautiful dresses and expensive jewelry and stuff (she became a queen lol) but also she does come to genuinely care for people and her friends and has a good heart (even if she does brag about it) she’s a very funny character x)

She’s a great example of how sudden fame and wealth at a young age can go to your head, and she gets great character development about it. She has an entire giant chamber in her castle full of baskets (it’s unfortunately quite flammable). My most favorite detail about her is when she finds a wolf pup in the woods, she assumes it’s a dog and names him Clawdius (yes, spelled like that). Everyone else knows it’s a wolf but no one wants to be the one to tell her. She learns the truth and gets over it and now Clawdius is her guard wolf. (Oh also she had the original Big Bad Wolf made into a winter coat, and that’s the original reason Clawdius came to her) I love her, she’s married to a giant frog man, she got elected queen, please vote for her.

Queen Red ftw!!!!!!

As you can see from these little excerpts [Mod's note: click on link to look at the excerpts] that I managed to gather in less than ten minutes, you should vote for Queen Red :D

YESSSS VOTE FOR QUEEN RED, SHE DESERVES THIS SO MUCH

Vote for Queen Red TLoS!!! She's a girlboss who married a frog man :D

Loser's Bracket Propaganda:

Queen Red deseves to win so much, she's been through so much shit for the people she loves.

Queen Red Riding Hood is a bimbo who has moments of truly genuine and deep analysis and understanding also c’mon, Clawdius!! Her enemy is the Big Bad Wolf Pack and yet she still has her own good beloved pet wolf

Red riding hood (tlos) deserves to win because she accidentally got her friend put on a wanted list when she was a kid then she got elected queen at a young age let the power get to her head then she fell in love with a giant frog (HUGE) character development and he made her a better person by opening her mind a little and she should win because shes come for far and she deserves it

The Path sisters

General Propaganda:

Each of these girls deal with their personal demons- in this case, "wolves-" as they grow and mature on the path of life. Each of them represent a different stage of a young person's life as they go through the world and the different ways in which that world can turn on that young person when they allow themselves to get lost in a dense forest, culminating in their reflection on the life they led.

the path is just a really cool underrated game idk man

i just really really like the path 🤷‍♂️

I will admit I'm only familiar with The Path through Izzzyzzz's seminal video on the subject but her Vibes are pretty iconic

(Scarlet) Most underrated sister imo. Her story is hauntingly sad and has themes of "lost of childhood" in a completely opposite way from the original Red Riding Hood, a good twist on the story.

(Ruby) The most well-known of the Path girls and the most goth, I get very sad when I see her. I know "teen angst" is a joke but sometimes I see reminders of just how full of despair teenagers can be. Her self-destructive tendencies and her "Charming Wolf" are leading her down a path (pun intended) that could kill her if she is not saved in time. It's so easy to dismiss teenage impulsion but only the survivors can.

(Ginger) Girl is so queer. Love that for her.

(Ginger) lesbiam

(Robin) Little girl sees giant wolf and wants to take it for a ride. Nuff said. (Also her room is the scariest imo. A child learning about death and their own mortality is mundane but terrifying)

Loser's Bracket Propaganda:

The Path Sisters are just ones I know too much about because of watching a video essay about them and also I think they parallel the narrative of the original fairytale really well

[happy-mokka]

Good Grief

Mark (Dan Levy) is happily married to Oliver (Luke Evans). They have a beautiful relationship, a nice (probably unaffordable) house in central London and are both successful in their jobs.

On the way to a business trip to Paris on Christmas eve, Oliver dies in a car crash involving the taxi taking him to the airport.

Smitten by grief, Mark gets the support of his two best friends, Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel), both staying by his side him during the next months.

Right before the 1 year anniversary of Oliver's death, Mark finds out that Oliver actually had an appartment plus lover in Paris and actually had planned to talk to him about it once back from the Christmas business trip.

Shocked by this revelation, that his marriage hadn't been that perfect after all, he persuades Sophie and Thomas to accompany him to Paris to check out the appartment and find out more about that unknown part of his partner's life.

The trip opens up old wounds, not only for Mark but for his friends as well and leads to long overdue catharsis in their friendship...

The title and the first 10 minutes of the movie put the focus on the loss of a beloved person and the immediate consequences of trying to handle the inevitable grief...

But soon it shifts and the central theme becomes that of friendship.

Romantic relationships are the key goal of most people, but when push comes to shove, its your friends that become just as important and help you managing the unmanageable.

Dan Levy, who also wrote and directed the movie, did a beautiful job in casting Mark's friends and writing great character that all add up to the story.

Ruth Negga as Sophie is amazing. She fiercly stands by her friend Mark and tries to get him out of his sorrow and into dating apps again. She is funny and drives her friends with so much energy through their lives. On the other hand she fears commitment to her long-time boyfriend and ends the relationship on the night he was asking her to marry him, out of fear of the actual safety he would provide to her... So with this in her "backpack", she is firmly determined to just have a big party and lots of fun on the Paris trip.

Sober And Selfish. Oh My God, That’s The Title Of My Memoir. (Sophie)

Thomas, played by the adorable Himesh Patel, is the voice of reason in their relationship. He is also gay and was Mark's boyfriend years ago for a short time. They managed to stay friends and so he doesn't twitch, when the time comes to help Mark and stand by his side.

Sometimes You Have To Do Things You Don’t Want To Do To Get To Where You Want To Go. (Thomas)

Dan Levy plays Mark and he does that with the whole spectrum of his abilities, between gut-wrenching pain and grief on one end and incredible warm and funny charm on the other.

Sometimes You Lose Sight Of What’s Going On Around You Because You Just Want To Breathe The Same Way You Did Before. (Mark)

I’ve Been Lying A Long Time To A Lot Of People And It Feels Really Heavy. Like I’m Swimming With My Clothes On, And I Can’t Take Them Off. (Mark)

Despite the sad start, the movie really ends up as a beautiful heartfelt story and left me absolutely positive behind on the couch. Some crying was involved, true, but in a good way.

Loss, death, grief but on the other hand friendship and tons of tons of love. That is its message.

The last but not least quote comes rather towards the end of the movie, and unexpected at that from Mark's brittle lawyer. But it beautifully sums up the movies message and also my feeling on it:

As it turns out… to avoid sadness… is also to avoid love. That hindsight is a discomfort that you will forever mistake for indigestion.

After all, where there is love, there is always

[stillbelievinginfireflies]

So I have somehow managed to delete this post instead of posting it three times now, because I am very talented. That said - hi there @novafire-is-thinking and thank you so much for the tag, sorry it’s taken me so long to reply! Always good to hear from you - I tried to theme my list along transformers too. :)

Rules: List ten songs you’ve been enjoying and tag ten people.

Two Minutes by The Amazing Devil (yt | spotify)

So funny story, I made a DND character initially based off Brainstorm and somewhere down the line he turned into Ratchet. This is on his playlist and effectively serves as one of his theme songs, and reminds me a lot of everyone’s favourite grumpy medic too. It’s one of very few songs that I’ve found that actually fits him, I think, and I definitely am gonna cut myself off here before I go into a rant analysing this song from the perspective of IDW Ratchet.

Angelica’s Room by War is Over (yt | spotify)

This one’s on here for two reasons. First of all, I’m teaching myself guitar, and this is one of the only songs I’ve managed to learn well enough that I can more or less sing and play it at the same time, which of course means I’ve listened to it about a thousand times. Secondly, it reminds me of Chromedome - it’s about growing up and changing from who you used to be, and my favourite lines in it are ‘When you look down on me/will you promise to/forget who I once was/ and know me for who I’ll be?’ and every time I hear them I think of OG Rewind and Domey in the aftermath of choosing not to forget him.

Adhd by Truslow (yt | spotify)

This one’s on my Scavengers playlist, and the title probably gives away who it reminds me of. What can I say? It’s a cheerful song and it makes me smile, very much so like Misfire himself.

Moscow by Autoheart (yt | spotify)

First off, Autoheart is one of my top bands (both because they have wonderful songs and because their singer is one of relatively few artists who stays reliably within my vocal range.) Moscow is on here specifically because the vibes and energy reminds me of the Lost Light crew and the reasons that I love them. Fair warning - it’s really catchy, and I take no responsibility if it gets stuck in someone’s head.

What Have You Become? by MNQN (yt | spotify)

This song is on two playlists: Soundwave’s, and a TF OC of mine who I am not yet quite self-indulgent enough to make his friend but who I nevertheless think would have been a good friend for him. The album art also matches TFP Soundwave’s colour scheme, but that’s not the point - this one is very atmospheric, Tron Legacy type vibes with a fun little added emphasis on internal mutation into something unrecognisable! :)

Conspiracy of Silence by The Swoons (yt | spotify)

Like the song above, this song is on Soundwave’s playlist and another TF OC’s playlist. (Different OC this time - the previous one was a Decepticon general, but this one is for a Neutral-ish Empurata’d ex-medic who has some... let’s call them issues.) Something about the way the song gets super dramatic and then goes quiet is just a really good vibe, I think.

Teach Me To Fight by YONAKA (yt | spotify)

Obligatory song off my Whirl playlist, hehe. Not only is this song great for blasting through headphones when I wanna feel like a badass or quiet rage, it also fits him well. The whole ‘let’s make this public, let’s take it outside’ always makes me think of him meeting Cyclonus and immediately starting a fight with him in IDW.

All Is Well (Goodbye, Goodbye) by Radical Face (yt | spotify)

This one might be cheating a little, since it’s only on a TF OC playlist and not one for a canon character, but I’m throwing it on anyway because Radical Face has some beautiful storytelling with their music and this is my favourite song of theirs. Also, some lines do remind me a little bit of Rodimus (which is fitting, given that this OC is also from Nyon). in particular: ‘So I collected all our plans and crimes/and set them all alight/ The only thing that held me to this place/ You took with you when you died/ So goodbye, goodbye’.

First Defeat by Noah Gunderson (yt | spotify)

This is partially added because Noah Gunderson is sorely underrated and I love this song, and partially because it makes me think of MiniMegs/MagsMegs in IDW. It’s a very sweet, very sad song that I think very much encapsulates the bittersweet nature of the ship for me - the fact that it’s kinda doomed from the start, but that they both care and pay attention to little things and this isn’t a fight they can win but they sure did fight it anyway - I’m gonna stop myself, before I ramble. I really like this song.

Kiss Me by Rob Vischer (yt | spotify)

Aight this one isn’t transformers, BUT I’m adding it anyway, because I’ve been listening to it daily for weeks now. It’s tied into an RP I’m doing for TLOU, and I feel the second verse in my bones every time I listen.

I am henceforth tagging @lovewithagirl @nevershootamockingbird @babblythings @eldritchcorvidae @eldritchjackalope @thetragicallynerdy @rubixpsyche @shakenbaeky @belasupremacy and @orionhong to also inflict your music taste on the world and share some recs if you wanna!!

[mariahcaarey]

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

 Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you. 

~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

 More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." -- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." -- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." -- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." -- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut." -- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book." -- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." -- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." -- Chanticleer Reviews

 About the Author:

K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.

[maariyahfulat]

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

 These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you. 

~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." -- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." -- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." -- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." -- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut." -- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book." -- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." -- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." -- Chanticleer Reviews

 About the Author:

K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.

[hashtagmagazine]

The Black Book Of Jokes — Part 5

Some of The Funniest Jokes From The Black Book of Jokes

If you’re on a quest for laughter, welcome to the perfect destination! Dive into our treasure trove of hilarity, handpicked from the renowned ‘Black Book of Jokes’. With the author’s blessing, we bring to you an exquisite collection of jests across a spectrum of themes. Get ready to brighten your day with our top-tier selection of jokes guaranteed to tickle your funny bone.

Golf Frustrations

Toward the end of a particularly trying round of golf, Jack was the picture of frustration. He’d hit too many far shots. Finally he blurted out to his caddie, “I’d move heaven and earth to break a hundred on this course.” “Try heaven,” replied the caddie. “You’ve already moved most of the earth.”

The Pianist’s Song Titles

A new pianist is needed in a posh restaurant in Manhattan. A guy called David comes in and says “Hi there, I’m here about the pianist position.” The manager replies “That is awesome, do you mind sitting at the piano and showing me what you can do?” David sits at the piano and starts to play one of the most beautiful songs the manager has ever heard. Stunned at the end of the performance he says “That’s absolutely wonderful, what’s it called?” David replies “Oh it’s one of my songs, I call it ‘Your daughter sucked on my balls and I jizzed on her forehead’.” The manager, shocked, stammers “Oh, right… urr, do you have any more?” The pianist resumes playing, and yet again plays an absolutely magical piece of music. The manager says “Incredible! What do you call this one?” David replies “Oh, I call that one ‘I’m going to stick my tongue up your asshole and lick your colon’.” The manager says to him “Ok, look, you’re hired. I can’t let a talent like you get away, but please never let the clients know the names of your songs, it simply won’t work in an establishment like this.” So David agrees and starts work that night. A few weeks later, the buzz about the restaurant was incredible. People are so enamored with this pianist they recommend their friends, come back regularly just to eat and hear this amazing music play. And one night, the pianist says to the diners “OK ladies and gentlemen, after this song I’m going to take a short break and I’ll resume my playing for you shortly,” and goes off to take a small comfort break. As he’s returning from the restroom the manager swiftly approaches him and exclaims “David! Do you know your dick is hanging out of your trousers and the whole room can see it?!” David replies “Do I know it?! Of course I do — I fucking wrote it!”

The Price of Elegance

A lady walks into a fancy jewelry store. She browses around, spots a beautiful diamond bracelet and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to look more closely she inadvertently breaks wind. Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone has noticed her little accident and prays that a sales person doesn’t pop up right now. As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her. Cool as a cucumber and displaying complete professionalism, the salesman greets the lady with, “Good day, Madam. How may we help you today?” Very uncomfortably, but hoping that the salesman may not have been there at the time of her little “accident!” she asks, “Sir, what is the price of this lovely bracelet?” He answers, “Madam, if you farted just looking at it, you’re going to shit when I tell you the price.”

Sleepwalking Parishioner

“I hope you didn’t take it personally, Father,” an embarrassed woman said after a church service “when my husband walked out during your sermon.” “I did find it rather disconcerting,” the vicar replied. “It’s not a reflection on you, Father,” insisted the churchgoer. “Christopher has been walking in his sleep ever since he was a child.”

The Drunk’s Dilemma

A drunk is sitting on a park bench staring disconsolately at a bottle of beer. A man passes and asks him what the matter is. “I don’t know what to do,” says the drunk. “My heart says yes, my mind says no, and I haven’t heard from my liver in two days.”

Sophie’s Marital Crisis

Things have reached a crisis point in Sophie’s marriage. “If things are so bad,” her friend advises her. “Then you should leave your husband.” “I would,” says Sophie. “If only I could think of a way of doing it that wouldn’t make him happy.”

Dan’s Distant Text

Dan was walking down the street with his wife earlier when she accused him of being ashamed to be seen with her. “That’s total bullshit.” Dan replied. By text, from across the road.

The Misplaced Potato

Boy comes up to his father, all angry, “Dad, you remember how you told me to put a potato in my swimming trunks? How did you say it would impress the girls?” Father looks up, smiling, “Yeah, did it work?” The boy screams, “You could have mentioned that the potato goes in the front!”

The Invisible Man’s Appointment

Secretary: “Doctor, the invisible man has come. He says he has an appointment.” Doctor: “Tell him I can’t see him.”

Lawyer’s Expensive Advice

Walking into a lawyer’s office, a man asked what his rates were. “Two hundred dollars for three questions,” the lawyer stated. “Isn’t that awfully expensive?” the man asked. “Yes,” replied the lawyer. “What’s your third question?”

The Italian Men on the Bus

Two Italian men get on a bus… They sit down and engage in an animated conversation. The lady sitting behind them ignores them at first, but her attention is galvanized when she hears one of the men say the following: “Emma come first. Den I come. Den two asses come together. I come once-a-more. Two asses, they come together again. I come again and pee twice. Then I come one lasta time.” “You foul-mouthed swine,” retorted the lady indignantly. “In this country we don’t talk about our sex lives in public!” “Hey, coola down lady,” said the man. “Who talkin’ abouta sexa? I’m a justa tellin’ my frienda how to spella ‘Mississippi’.”

Last Wishes

A man returns from the doctor and tells his wife that the doctor has told him he has only 24 hours to live. Given this prognosis, the man asks his wife for sex. Naturally, she agrees, and they make love. About six hours later, the husband goes to his wife and says, “Honey, you know I now have only 18 hours to live. Could we please do it one more time?” Of course, the wife agrees, and they do it again. Later, as the man gets into bed, he looks at his watch and realizes that he now has only 8 hours left. He touches his wife’s shoulder, and asks, “Honey, please… just one more time before I die.” She says, “Of course, Dear,” and they make love for the third time. After this session, the wife rolls over and falls asleep. The man, however, worried about his impending death, tosses and turns, until he’s down to 4 more hours. He taps his wife, who rouses. “Honey, I have only 4 more hours. Do you think we could…” At this point the wife sits up and says, “Listen, I have to get up in the morning. You don’t!”

A Child’s Inquiry

“Daddy, what is an alcoholic?” “Do you see those 4 trees, son? An alcoholic would see 8 trees.” “Um, Dad — there are only 2 trees.”

Circus Calamity

At a circus, there’s a calamity and two lions escape. They manage to grab hold of a clown and start devouring him. One lion turns to the other and asks, “Does this taste funny to you?”

Future Houdini

A couple have just had sex. The woman says, ‘If I got pregnant, what would we call the baby?’ The man takes off his condom, ties a knot in it, and flushes it down the toilet. ‘Well,’ he says. ‘If he can get out of that, we’ll call him Houdini.’

Super Encounter

Superman is flying around the city, horny as hell. He suddenly sees Wonder Woman spread eagle, naked on top of the building. Superman thinks, “This is my chance!” He swoops down, faster than a speeding bullet, bangs her, and is gone in the blink of an eye. Wonder Woman sits up and says, “What the hell was that!?” The Invisible Man rolls off her and says, “I have no idea but it hurts like hell!”

Roadside Assistance

The doc told a guy that masturbating before sex often helped men last longer during the act. The man decided, “What the hell, I’ll try it,” He spent the rest of the day thinking about where to do it. He couldn’t do it in his office. He thought about the restroom, but that was too open. He considered an alley, but figured that was too unsafe. Finally, he realized his solution. On his way home, he pulled his truck over on the side of the highway. He got out and crawled underneath as if he was examining the truck. Satisfied with the privacy, he undid his pants and started to play with his unit. He closed his eyes and thought of his lover. As he grew closer to the big finish, he felt a quick tug at the bottom of his pants. Not wanting to lose his mental fantasy or the orgasm, he kept his eyes shut and replied, “What?” He heard, “This is the police. What’s going on down there?” The man replied, “I’m checking out the rear axle, it’s busted.” Came the reply, “Well, you might as well check your brakes too while you’re down there because your truck rolled down the hill 5 minutes ago.”

Stolen Credit Card

A man noticed his credit card had been stolen — but he never reported it. The thief was still spending considerably less than his wife.

Dance Request

A man at a party: Hi, do you want to dance? Woman: Yeah, sure! Man: Great, go and dance, I want to talk to your pretty friend! If you’ve enjoyed these witty tales and humorous anecdotes, you’re in for a treat! Take a journey through the world of humor with “The Black Book of Jokes” — a comprehensive collection of awesome jokes that promise to keep you entertained for hours. Whether you’re looking to lighten up a gathering, bring a smile to someone’s face, or just need a good laugh yourself, this book is the perfect companion. Get your copy of the Black Book Of Jokes now and join us in the laughter! Read the full article

[arisawati]

Of course, I will be happy to help you produce Indonesian articles with the title "What made Denny Ja's elected work 34: My village dear, my village is wretched different from others?" Here are the articles that I have made for you:

What made Denny JA's elected work 34: "My dear village, my village" is wretched "different from the others? This year, Denny JA again offered his latest work called "Kampungku Sayang, My Kampungku". This work was chosen to be one of the superior works that attracted the attention of many people. But what really makes this work different and stand out among the other work? One thing that makes this work special is the theme raised, which is about the village. In "My Sayang Kampungkung, my Kampungku", Denny Ja described life in the village with all its advantages and disadvantages. He managed to convey the message that love and disappointment often go hand in hand in a village. This work gives space for readers to reflect on life in the village and explore deeper meanings. In addition, Denny JA also uses a distinctive language style and revives stories with strong characteristics. He succeeded in presenting a clear picture of daily life in the village, ranging from excitement to suffering. In each page, the reader can feel the unique emotions of each character. This makes this work very interesting and makes the reader connected to the story delivered. One aspect that distinguishes this work is its flexibility in combining deep humor and sentiments. Denny JA managed to present a funny moment that will make the reader smile, but also inserts a touching message. He carefully arranged the storyline so that humor and sentiments combined with each other in harmony, provide an unforgettable reading experience. In addition, "Kampungu Sayang, Kampungku Senaka" also highlighted the uniqueness in the use of dialogue. Denny JA is able to present conversations between characters and naturally and turn on every dialogue. The language is easy to understand but still reflects the diversity of dialects in the village. He is adept at spending a simple daily words with a distinctive expression that makes the character of the story more authentic. In addition to language factors and character portrayal, "Kampungu Sayang, Kampungku Senaka" also offers a different perspective on life in the village. Denny Ja not only describes the romantic side and beauty of the village, but also reveals reality that sometimes tense behind a simple life. He highlighted the social problems in the village, such as poverty, education, and justice. This work is a voice for those who are often marginalized and gives awareness to the reader to think further about the conditions around them. As a famous writer, Denny JA is also not only focused on the work that attracts attention, but also has a mission to inspire and have a positive influence on the reader. "My dear village, my village is wretched" not just a story that is entertaining, but also able to arouse the emotions of the reader and provide space for self -reflection.

Check in full: What made Denny JA's elected work 34: "My mate dear, my village is wretched" different from the others?

[whomovedmywine]

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

 Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

 Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you. 

~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

 More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." 

-- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." 

-- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." 

-- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." 

-- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut." 

-- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book." 

-- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." 

-- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." 

-- Chanticleer Reviews

 About the Author:

K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.

[mabintzzzz]

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

 Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you. ~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." 

-- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." 

-- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." 

-- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." 

-- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut." 

-- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book." 

-- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." -- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." 

-- Chanticleer Reviews

 About the Author:

K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.

[academicvoyager]

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

 Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you. 

~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

 More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." 

-- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." 

-- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." 

-- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." 

-- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut."

-- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book."

-- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." 

-- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." 

-- Chanticleer Reviews

 About the Author:

K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.

[marinela-nac-nac]

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

 Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you.

~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

 More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." 

-- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." 

-- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." 

-- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." 

-- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut." 

-- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book." 

-- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." 

-- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." 

-- Chanticleer Reviews

 About the Author:

 K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.

[podcasttoday]

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

 Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you.

~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

 More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." 

-- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." 

-- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." 

-- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." 

-- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut." 

-- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book." 

-- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." 

-- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." 

-- Chanticleer Reviews

About the Author:

K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.

[littleglasswalelu]

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

 Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you. 

~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." -- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." -- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." -- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." -- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut." -- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book." -- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." -- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." -- Chanticleer Reviews

 About the Author:

K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.