Stephen C. Bird's Blog

Reviews / Quotes from Reviews of From G to PG to R to X

" 'From G to PG to R to X' follows the devolution of national politics, sexual politics and political correctness in the polarized nation of Amourrica Profunda. Loaded with caricatures, including a talking octopus, who disappear and reappear, the story shatters literary conventions. In [From G to PG to R to X] unpopular capitalist and former chancellor Tumerico Inflammatorio ... has an oddball family whose sole goal is to make money and remain in power. Inflammatorio’s exploitation of a nation too delusional or distracted to stop him is blatant. Most of the cast is shallow, including Tumerico’s daughter ... There are a bevy of untalented, unapologetic, soulless capitalists. The more lines that are devoted to a character, the more cartoonish they appear. With adults like this steering the ship, the inevitable ending is cataclysm. There are long, madcap passages in a stream-of-consciousness style; they include some humorous commentary about newly named orientations like asexuality and other terms among the latest parlance ... The book suggests that ridiculousness reigns across the political spectrum ... More of a montage of story fragments than a cohesive novel ... Often, scenes seem present more for their entertainment value than they are to service the plot. For example, a shaman investigates a local cult ceremony featuring colorful, informal banter between ... two women who chat about being smitten with Inflammatorio: 'I love the way he mats down that dirty orange combover of his with Vaseline!' ... Surprises ensue, as with a violent scene ... whose ending upends expectations ... 'From G to PG to R to X' delights in following the world’s cocksure zooming in the wrong direction."

Clarion Foreword Reviews
Clarion Rating: 4 out of 5

"... [A] surreal satire ... divisive culture wars ... mayhem ... [a] storytelling maelstrom ... the long history of Amourrica Profunda and its disintegration ...The country of Amourrica Profunda was once a place where society was civil and people respected one another’s diverse views. Now, political and social chaos has torn the country apart. A main cause of this disintegration is the commitment of some to the belief that 'an autocrat could save the country from a supposed cultural downward spiral.' The dictator in question goes by the name of Turmerico Inflammatorio ... No one could accuse him of presenting a false persona ... there’s 'no discernible difference between 9 to 5 Turmerico and Off-Hours Inflammatorio -- He was depraved, deranged and demented 24-7.' Pamm Demmyck and Remmy Dessyvyr are two writing partners ... they hope one day to be celebrated for their 'monumental contributions to the entertainment industry.' Success looks certain for Pamm and Remmy with their upcoming work, 'Conceal and Carry: The Musical' ... until the production runs into trouble due to some domestic terrorists ... [This] wild, whirlwind work ... includes a cult ceremony involving Midwesterners who love latex and one character’s burning down a house with a flamethrower. Turmerico's daughter Francka is particularly notable; she spends her workdays 'screaming at people that she considered to be idiots' and burns her 8-year-old daughter Deandra’s artwork while Deandra watches ... Bird succeeds in creating a world in which seemingly anything is possible ... A convoluted but highly comical take on a nation in turmoil."

-- Kirkus Reviews

"Stephen C. Bird's fifth novel takes a turn towards the Gothic in the opening chapters ... These chapters remind one of a David Lynch movie. Soon Bird is back to his send-up of the political scene, as the country changes names once again, from Amourricka Profunda to Mourrzicka, and then splits up, with North and South Neanderthalya seceding, eventually becoming Isolamicka ... The orange-haired leader, Turmerico Inflammatorio, still leads Isolamicka ... The progressive mentality, at least when it comes to sexual and gender matters, gets a nicely rough going over in the final chapters as Sunnie's brother Bobbie and a man he meets named Chester witness an orgiastic cult ceremony in the woods, with two Females (One and Two) having an intensely academic dialogue as they wait for the ceremony to begin. The book ends with, let's just say, a lot of burning bridges."

-- Jim Goodreads

"... [A] satirical novel that delves into the chaotic devolution of national politics, societal norms and cultural dynamics in the fictional nation of Amourrica Profunda. The narrative follows a cast of exaggerated characters, including the former chancellor Turmerico Inflammatorio and his eccentric family, as they navigate a landscape marked by political turmoil and societal absurdities. Bird employs a stream-of-consciousness style, interspersed with surreal and comedic elements, to critique the polarization and cultural shifts within the society. While the novel's unconventional structure and caricatured figures offer a unique and humorous perspective, some readers may find the fragmented storytelling challenging to follow. Overall, the book presents a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary issues through a satirical lens."

-- Rae, Goodreads

​"... a good book about many diverse issues ... A [satire] if there ever was one ... a bird's eye view of much of everything currently going on in today's USA ... While we have issues on national politics, the author tackles these through the lens of our interesting citizens in the book ... You'll be introduced to a set of cultural issues that'll make you think ... and be aware of the subtleties ... our society's norms have never been handled like this author handles them ... through the outrageous and endearing characters in this book ... If you want a good ... fun ... thought-provoking read, this is your book! Highly Recommended!"

-- Stuart, Goodreads

"The Amourica Profunda saga continues. In a fictional universe eerily similar to our own, a mother's passing is mourned, emotional trauma is processed, and a warning is issued about becoming angry and hateful in response to said emotional trauma. In the meantime, an incendiary orange leader takes over the country with mob of loyal extremists, a new musical becomes an astounding success, and a cult ritual takes place in the woods with catastrophic consequences. A satirical, fun, and unexpectedly poignant entry in the series that you won't want to miss."

-- Brian, Goodreads

"At first, my reaction is to set this one aside, because of the storyline about losing a mother. I am not ready for this. Persevering, however, I discover that this is really a purposeful ... satire on our life in the US today ... 'Blue' readers will sing its praises, whereas 'red' readers will probably burn it ... I feel like I'm reading something some of my creative and bright ninth-graders might write. Turning it over to an 'editor' [would] probably destroy its style, but its uniqueness certainly needs to be toned down."

-- Barbara, Goodreads

"Yet another tome of greatness from the warped mind of Sir Bird … I do have to 'out' myself as an ardent fan of his as well as his surrealist take on “literature” and the world itself … not for the faint hearted or walnut brained, this is heavy heady stuff but like a gargantuan dollop of whipped heavy cream on a molten sea of dark chocolate, deliciously decadent for both mind and soul … get your copy today !!!"

-- Paul, Goodreads

"... This is not a book I'd usually pick for myself, but it sounded interesting ... I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Bird's writing. It's different, it's new (to me), and it's captivating. His writing style is easy to follow, kept me wanting to know more, and I found myself interested from beginning to end. It was definitely an odd yet fun way to spend a couple of hours."

-- Laura, Goodreads

"wasabi for the mind. surprises around every turn of every page. seemingly random factoids that add vectors of stories not told, minimalist character sketches that are just enough, that are sculptures meant to be seen and re-seen, from different angles, leaving the reader wondering about the unseen, about angles not explored. very satisfying."

-- Justin, Goodreads

"At first, I wasn't sure I liked this book. I started it, then stopped. Then restarted it again. THEN it started to grow on me. About halfway through I couldn't put it down until I finished it at 2 am. I really enjoyed it. I have had a lot of stress lately and this just put a smile on my face and forgot about being stressed."

-- Carole, Goodreads

"Now here's an interesting read ... different from all the other books I've read ... and I've never seen so many negative comments ... about quite an interesting read ... This book is definitely different ... yet the author does a fine job entertaining [us] ... Give it a read ... you will be surprised and entertained! ..."

-- Stuart, Goodreads

"Having just lost both parents I loved this satire. In another [time] Stephen Bird would [have] been a famous writer ... Some of it is disturbing ... But most of it [is] hilarious ... Impeccably written as always. In a word: brilliant."

-- Jeff, Goodreads

"If this were a movie I'd have to watch it twice to appreciate it. Political satire. Kurt Vonnegut vibes. [It] took me a minute to get into the style / vibe / wait wtf am I reading of it, but once I did it was good."

-- Heather, Goodreads

"A strange, mind warp of a read. Thinly veiled political commentary paired with psychedelic dream sequences.  It ... was an easy read with short chapters and stream of consciousness-style writing."

-- Katherine, Goodreads

"This was …. Weird. Started out with some 1984 / dystopian vibes, then LEAPED off the deep end. Governmental parody meets your best acid trip? ... I’m still confused by this book."

-- Emily, Goodreads

"... At points is sci-fi ... then it shifts to what I could call contemporary, almost fantasy ... has massive social-political commentary over the bulk of the prose."

-- Wendy, Goodreads

"Ominous, funny, odd — I’m not entirely sure what I just read, but LOVE the satire!"

-- Kristine, Goodreads

"Is this even a real book?"

-- Kristen, Goodreads

"Very political."

-- Abner, Goodreads

"This is trash."

-- Christie, Goodreads

Reviews / Quotes from Reviews of To Be to Is to Was

A collection offers satirical short stories set in a fictional land..... Bird (Catastrophically Consequential, 2012) conjures a wildly farcical cosmos that bears just enough resemblance to this one to be evocatively familiar, a place he calls Amourrica Profunda. He chronicles the peculiar but often endearing searches his protagonists conduct for love and purpose ..... Bird's eccentric, impressionistic tales sometimes interlock ..... the twine that ties the eclectic stories together is the backdrop of Amourrica Profunda. The author's writing is reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut's -- he skillfully constructs a counterfeit world designed to deliver a hyperbolic parody of this one, both a caricature and a mirror ..... Highly inventive .....

-- Kirkus Reviews

"..... an anti-establishment collection of stories that goes from real to surreal, from Middle America to space rock operas, with its outrageous characters ..... short stories and vignettes ..... set in a parallel universe, in places that function as a fun house mirror of our own world. The stories' settings and characters are sometimes familiar ..... Some are exaggerated grotesques. Distasteful places ..... are described with relish ..... There are unexpected forms throughout the book, including poems, lyrics ..... speeches ..... Women in the book fit types, though they sometimes change between types -- like a good girl, her bad girl alter ego, and the lovelorn rock star ..... Pop culture references abound .... Ellipses are used to excess ..... caustic wordplay skewers boring American consumerism.

-- Foreword / Clarion Reviews

"..... a stylish, imaginative collection of interrelated short stories deploying postmodern narrative techniques to dissect the landscape of media, identity, and politics in the current age ..... Bird glides fluently between magical realism (a boy calmly contemplating his paradoxically postmortem existence) ..... satire (a Trump-­like character called "Turmerico Inflammatorio") ..... speculative fiction (a planet run entirely by futuristic hippies) ..... bombastic and playful ..... establishes a sort of punk rock aesthetic ..... provocative and frequently hilarious ideas (an intergalactic, LGBTQ-­themed ..... mashup of a UFC fight and Project Runway; a virtual funeral for a newly perished social media site) ..... an interesting collection of stories from an original literary voice .....

-- BlueInk Reviews

"Once again Stephen C. Bird offers us a romp through his linguistically twisted funhouse mirror universe. The themes are the same as in his previous three books: loss of innocence for various caricatures as they explore the wild reaches of sexuality, satire of the bumpkins of the heartland, occupation of the vastness of time and space ..... Our own nation has changed names once again, this time from Amourrica Profunda to Mourrzicka. (Our planet is still the Blue Green Planet.) Our president is a 'flamboyant trillionnaire by the name of Turmerico Inflammatorio.' In perhaps the most concise explanation of our most recent presidential election that I've ever read, the population 'fell under the spell of his anti-charisma.' Sometimes I think I detect a little more tenderness towards Bird's characters in this one, but, well, not for long. And just when you're getting a little tired of the rube-speak, a chapter like 'The Deeper Meaning of Smores' comes along, which caused this reader to bust a gut laughing while on a train: 'in them thar piney woods ... a family was sitting down to dinner, with their elbows on the kitchen table. They sat in silence. Their hands were clutching their forks and knives tightly; their cutlery was pointed upwards. They started to chant loudly as they pounded the bottoms of their clenched fists on the white formica table ... MORE SMORES PIE! SMORES PIE FOR LIFE! SMORES PIE IS LIFE! SMORES PIE IS THE LIFE! SMORES PIE EVERY DAY! SMORES PIE EVERY NIGHT! SMORES PIE SWEET AND NICE! F--- THAT PUMPKIN SPICE! SMORES PIE ALL THE TIME! SMORES PIE AIN'T NO CRIME! SMORES PIE OUTER SPACE! SMORES PIE OUTER SPACE.' Whereupon 12-year-old Bobby starts in on a passionate monologue: 'If only usns could experience the fun times resultin' from the daily consumption of Smores pie!...' ..... Not too hard to once again fall under Bird's spell."

-- Jim, Goodreads

"In past and futuristic stories that parallel today, this book takes you on a wild ride.  I really, really, really enjoyed the first short story.  While reading the rest of this book, my thoughts were all over the place ... 'this is a good satire ... wait this seems pretty realistic ... okay definitely a satire ... is the author on drugs ... am I on drugs?' ... The names were clever and fun ... I think if things were elaborated on, certain parts would make more sense, but I feel like it would ruin the feel of the book overall if the author did that ... there are a lot of tongue twisters ... This book was published in 2018 ... but it is still very relatable in 2020 with the state of the world right now ... definitely an interesting read that makes you think. The book itself is put together very well and is of good quality."

-- Chloe, Goodreads

"A Unique And Entertaining Book ..... a series of interconnected satires that offer socio-political commentary through the lens of characters and worlds closely resembling our own. The use of imaginary names resembling those in our world is certainty Swiftian (‘Fascibook,’ ‘Nueva Jorker,’ ‘Amourrica Profunda’ etc.) ..... the propensity for characters to be eccentric misfits reminded me a bit of Chuck Palahniuk ..... an enjoyable read, well-written ..... a decent sense of structure/pacing ..... highly original ..... the book was better than much of what I’ve read of late ..... I do strongly recommend it and think readers from a wide-variety of backgrounds will enjoy the zaniness and chaotic energy that Stephen creates."

-- Matt, Goodreads

"If you're ready for some feel good happy ending stories, you may want to move on to another book.  If you're not afraid to absorb, think, be shocked, and oftentimes perplexed, you will find this a great choice.  It is obvious that Stephen Bird is a brilliant thinker, perhaps beyond writing material that is to be read for relaxing pleasure.  You may be forced to think [about] more than ... you had expected and may find yourself (as I did) throwing in some of your ideas to finish the story in a way that [gives] closure to some of the characters.  I found it to be one of the most 'different' books I have read and enjoyed.  A bonus is several pages of art by the author."

-- Judy, Goodreads

" 'To Be To Is To Was' ... I found ... to be confusing and chaotic in a way that for some reason left me a bit upset ... Maybe because it gave me anxiety that the world will eventually end up in the state described in this book? ... I suppose ... that is the point of the book after all, to get the reader to think about society, culture, and the evolution, or rather devolution, of the modern world and to get a reaction out of the reader, regardless of [whether] it is positive or negative ... I would love to hear an analysis of it in a higher level English / literature / sociology class for a [deconstruction] of the various themes and what it means in today’s context."

-- Mary, Goodreads

"The stories are ..... strange. Very surreal and trippy. They take place in / tell the story of some kind of future American continent where people have split into two camps: the hyper-sexual and aggressively liberal people who delightfully flaunt all sexual, political, and social mores and the proudly dumbed-down and staunchly conservative majority ..... I really liked the parts where characters spoke in unison, 'as in a Greek Chorus', and when the two men were seducing Sunnie into their lifestyle ..... The physical book is very well put together, clean and crisp."

-- Elna, Goodreads

"If the literary genre of surrealist sci fi inspirational self help didn’t exist, Stephen C. Bird would have had to invent it! Don’t be afraid to walk away and come back to it, as I did when I felt I needed room to concentrate. It’s a strange and hallucinatory trip through several alternate worlds that satirize our own, that will confuse and confound you, and yet leave you feeling strangely uplifted."

-- Brian, Goodreads

"Welcome to the satire of 2018. I’m on the fence with this book ..... parts made me laugh ..... I enjoyed the satire of our current political climate, global warming, and even Facebook ..... The pacing was good ..... the book offered a series of commentary loosely woven together by characters randomly inserted like the tiles a player draws in a matching game."

-- GoodlyWitch, Goodreads

"... I have to say that I did not get 'into' the stories ... The writing is good, just not something that I was used to reading.  But ... I gave the book to my 18 year old granddaughter ... She liked the stories.  She thought they were odd and eclectic and found the characters to be relatable ... My granddaughter is enjoying the book."

-- Pj Jones, Goodreads

"Confusing while interesting ..... Quirky tongue & cheek ..... A play on current reality just far enough off to make anything believable ..... The Fascibook Eulogy literally had me doubled over cackling ..... I’m not sure I love the book, but I definitely love Stephen C. Bird and his creative mind."

-- Chels Marieantoinette, Goodreads

"These short stories are easy, breezy, and fun. The satire is thick, wicked, and not for the faint-hearted ... This is a book that is definitely an either-or book: the reader either really likes it, or really dislikes it ... Don't read this thinking it's like any other book you've encountered."

-- Vickie, Goodreads

"Short-story satire stories of present day politics viewed through the lens of other worlds and times. Points of regular humor include the names of characters and settings spun throughout the book. It was a well-enjoyed and an over-too-soon read that kept me smiling."

-- Barred Owl Books, Goodreads

"Mr. Bird has an interesting writing style. Not very polished, but I usually like that. [His] writing is not for rainbow, puppy people. He takes a realistic and often dark view of life and humanity. His writing tends to be like his characters, raw."

-- Colleen, Goodreads

"A plethora of playful prose worth profusely perusing ..... Complete with profoundly pleasing paragraphs that would make Heinlein and Heifetz hum happily [and] Frank Zappa's family and friends fete and "Freak Out" ..... Get your copy today!"

-- Leo, Goodreads

"Great satire, as good as it gets ..... reminds me of Tom Robbins, you will laugh and be impressed ..... and feel good that there are still good [Satirists] out there!"

-- Jeff, Goodreads

"It's fresh, a melding of visual art and the written word. I enjoyed the eccentricity."

-- M.L., Goodreads

"I was amused by the names ... "Nueva Jork, Fascibook, Voldemordor ..."

-- Alexis, Goodreads

"Recommend if you’re into satire. Very strange book."

-- Chelsea, Goodreads

"This book is a little weird. But it makes you think."

-- Cathy, Goodreads

"Witty and very relatable!"

-- Amy, Goodreads

"Excellent book!!!"

-- Csimplot, Goodreads

Reviews / Quotes from Reviews of "Any Resemblance To A Coincidence Is Accidental"

An ambitious book offers an amalgam of opinion, satire, and character sketch. Armed with a brain-teasingly bizarre title that foretells its peculiar contents ... a chorus of quirky voices chanting messages of solidarity, gay pride, and anti-homogeneous individualism. The book opens with an anonymous woman’s exquisitely sarcastic rant parodying a social media outlet (“Fakebook”), accusing it of “destroying friendship,” and musing over the digital impermanence of modern culture ... She considers herself an “incredible fag hag.” After pondering the significance of fetishes and Nueva Jork life, she acerbically introduces her artistic, gay “fiend-frienemy” Noloso Chushingura and launches a literary fever-dream of colorfully dizzying co-narrators and their sordid escapades. Noloso is a man who is abandoning his longtime residence in “Disneyfied” Nueva Jork for his childhood home, Mucha Nieve. Unsatisfied still, he flees there for wintry “Palin-town,” where no-nonsense, pragmatic Pavlina Perestroika gets into a mysterious 1975 Buick Regal and begins an otherworldly journey to another land yet returns just in time for Bobby Bluetooth’s comedy set at a nearby cafe. Readers searching for some cohesive link to the stories and their kaleidoscope of curious characters may become dumbfounded by the time lesbian Koontessa Klarissa Koontberger introduces her two adopted children “of indeterminate sexuality.” Giovanni Zsazsasky exchanges gay bars for eBay shopping as the ultimate “go-to pacifier in moments of thumb-sucking sadness” ... wand-waving superheroine Dolores The Day-Glo Drag Queen issues orders commanding the end of abusive Jean-Nette The Jet Lag Fag Hag’s life ... Thankfully, lurking beneath all of the snarky commentary and cheekiness are honest reflections of contemporary society, including the gay community’s struggle to vanquish shame and the much-protested incremental gentrification of major metropolitan areas ... Overall, the book’s unconventional spellings, sentence fragments, line-drawn chapter headings, and haiku work well in unison to create a devilishly original tableau of true outlandishness with a conscience ... An offbeat work of carnivalesque proportions, populated by zany, outspoken, and eccentric personalities.

-- Kirkus Reviews

"Irreverent sketches in a satirized metropolis portray emotional disenchantment ... a hyper-electric commentary on modern life, from online personas to urban subculture ..... recurring characters make their way through absurd situations in a narrative filled with movie references and skewed perspectives ... misfits living on the fringes of Amourrica Profunda ... a mixture of dizzying monologues, lists, third-person narrations, and haiku ... their voices provide a cross-section of insecurity, self-aggrandizement, and opinions on topics that include Broadway, gay culture, sexuality, and masks people wear to avoid pain ... characters appear in service of strange situations: a castrated go-go boy freezes time, a woman finds a porn key baby ... a chorus of “Grrrlfriends” serve as a counterpoint for another woman ... the leader of a fan club for the Weak-ed musical details membership requirements ... jabs at rainbow pride that take a turn toward bodily humour ... a chapter penned in the voice of a hillbilly clairvoyant ... uses exaggerated dialect ... The plots are sometimes macabre and often tinged with cruelty ... effective moments take place between the lines: a drag queen’s confrontational speech belies vulnerability ... a stand-up comic’s ill-received routine contains the passing remark, “I’m not getting any better.” Such admissions humanize the characters. They may be over the top, but they’re not as out of touch as they first seem ... Amid the blare of poseurs and hustlers, streetwise and self-made figures, the prominent thread is one of deep-seated ambivalence and loneliness."

-- Foreword Clarion Reviews

"Stephen C. Bird is back with another leap into a linguistically twisted netherworld populated by an underworld of various sex-obsessed down-on-their-luck-like-they-ever-had-any basket cases, with a smattering of magickal beings and fantastick occurrences. At first this book seems like it might be a bit more grounded in reality than Bird's previous works, Hideous Exuberance and Catastrophically Consequential. A good deal of the "action" takes place in towns standing in for various upstate New York locales, some identifiable, some baffling: Miasma Falls, Douchebag (in the western Cats-Kills), Mucha Nieve ... there we often get some kind of anchoring to a bleak, gritty, wintry reality. Other scenes are in Puta Jork, Nueva Jork, i.e. NYC. There is some carry-over of the entities in his previous books ... Earth is still the Blue Green Planet, Germany is Doucheyland, the United States has morphed, for whatever reason, from Amurycka Profunda to Amourrica Profunda ... don't count on an excess of realism ... strange things happen. Grisly miraculous revenge fantasies are enacted, and sometimes taken back ... once again this is more a pastiche than a novel ... plenty of laugh-out-loud bits in this new one, more than in the first two. The first chapter is a hilarious exploration of one character's idea of Fakebook etiquette. Someone has won the Hieronomus Boscar for Best Obscene Design. There's a TV spinoff called Benjy the Articulate Porn Star. It is easier in this one to acclimate to Bird's unique style than in the first two ... a breeze to get through, and actually qualifies as a Fun Read."

-- Jim, Goodreads

"... bizarre ... surreal satire ... never focuses on any one character for too long ... jumps around from a man witnessing the murder of a woman by a group of homeless men to a woman who suddenly transports to a shrine dedicated to Bast to a redneck telling a story about a group of other rednecks who tried to hunt down a woman who had an abortion to a girl admitting through a "Fakebook" post that she's actually an alien to a man lamenting that his hook-up lifestyle has prevented him from learning how to create and maintain loving relationships. And that doesn't even touch on a third of the things that happen in this book ... so easily switched between satire and sincerity and horror and just flat out bizarreness (often within the same chapter) ... I could never figure out where exactly the story was going or ... I hope that doesn't make it sound like I didn't enjoy the book ... nothing could be further from the truth. I very much loved the entire strange romp. I laughed out loud in numerous places and I enjoyed deciphering the renaming/misspelling of things and places ... took me far too long to realize that Fraud-Gay was Broadway ... couldn't wait to find out what each of the subsequent chapters would bring. I highly recommend it anyone and everyone.

-- Joleigh, Goodreads

"In short: the funniest satirical attack of FB (and more) I have ever read ... Be my Frienemie! ... Steve Bird's most accessible and funniest book ... This is Steve Bird for Dummies if you will; easy like Sunday morning ... Sure he will take you into some dark rooms ... But there no way you won't laugh in the first 10 pages. Like Franzen's and Dave Egger's last books, Steve reflects on modern techno culture: (mostly Facebook) ... Franzen's and Egger's books were of course interesting and good, but dare I say: Steve's is funnier? ... I have no agenda, I self publish humor books too, so was critical reading it, but he is such a talent it is humbling. The prose is excellent; Steve is a literary craftsman that can go head to head with many ... great imagery and attention to detail. I could not wait to read this every AM until I was done with it (3 days). Then I missed it. It was friend ... It made me sad, 20 years ago this would have caught the eye of a mainstream publisher and would have been a best a seller: buy it, read it."

-- Jeff, Goodreads

"Masterpiece. State of the union address for the concerned outsider in 2016. Hack through the thick jungle of puns and phantasmagoric wordplay, and you will laugh with characters struggling with the constraints of a stifling small-town America, or with the constraints of rapidly gentrifying big-city America, with micro environments where one can find casual hookups but not love. Characters whose chances for love may have passed them by. You will experience Facebook as you probably already experience it, and meet a motley assortment of cold-hearted careerists, jet set open micers, and popular, in-crowd gays. Casual fans of the standard paperback thriller or harlequin romance novel may struggle with this one, but those in the know will get it immediately as well as find things to be challenged by in it. Well worth the effort and the time."

-- Brian, Goodreads

"Although this book does offer some insight and observations not universally held, stated under the guise of humour, I found this satire not humorous. The author has a great intelligence but cutting. It was not tongue in cheek as in the spirit of an open mind, it was mocking. I did find the writing extraordinary. It beguiles, and discusses in a play on words many different topics. It offers eye opening insights ... However, I felt a sense of unease while reading. It offers much to feed the mind in such topics as philosophy, politics and views on society and social mores. In summation, I found it a fascinating look at a variety of subjects, well written, neatly presented. But akin to humour, satire can be cruel. I found this to be uncomfortable and contentious. If you enjoy reading to feel these discomforts, this is the book for you!"

-- Leslie, Goodreads

"I enjoyed this book much more than 'Catastrophically Consequential'. I enjoy being stretched and taken out of my comfort zone as a reader. I am a bit of a masochist in that way. I would not have gotten through this book or understood some of Bird's puns and references (there are many) without help from my Kindle. I laughed out loud during most chapters of this book. Sometimes, I'm laughing at myself when I figure out his 'language' and spelling of words, and then I would reread that page to get the most meaning out of it. I love [the author's] outside the box way of thinking!"

-- Nikkiya, Goodreads

"A most enjoyable read ... quite different ... from what I normally read. While humorous at times, it was complemented by dark sides ... a fast read & wished it could've been longer ... I'm hoping the author writes a longer book with similar qualities, or a full size based from this book. Having mixed genres, blending together well in this small size 'package' was a delight & a new reading experience for me ... I'd highly recommend this book."

-- Rumeur, Goodreads

"Originally gave it up on page 50 ... however, after pushing through ... the book really starts up great and makes more sense ... sometimes the language can be confusing and frustrating (particularly if you are sensitive to swearing) ... in my opinion the book is funny and has little hints about how you should live life in it. It's like a comical self-help book about people who live life on the edge and fall off the world ..."

-- Tina, Goodreads

"Interesting and compelling ... I found myself going back for another read ... after reading reviews and speaking to a friend about it. At first I thought I wasn't going to comprehend some of the content, but I gave it another look with a different perspective, and enjoyed it. Always remember, life and art are about perspective. It's not a book I would normally pick up, but I now have a new author to follow."

-- BookNerdBetty, Goodreads

"... points to the author because the writing style is part of the message ... this book does make some astute observations about modern values [specifically concerning 'love' ... read as: obsessions and confusion with sex / sexuality] communication, and media consumption ... I recommend this book for people discontented with North American social culture ... filled with honest criticism."

-- Tiffany, Goodreads

"... I like the premise of it ['Any Resemblance to a Coincidence is Accidental'] ... Strange, sometimes silly, sometimes deep ... It reminds me of the Victorian writing style in that there are many descriptors, qualifiers, and half-thoughts in each sentence ... The description of the book calls it 'surreal,' 'non-linear,' and 'over the top.' I agree with those [labels] wholeheartedly."

-- Hannah, Goodreads

"Hands down, this is the strangest book I have ever read. It was like watching a train wreck. You don't want to see it but you can't look away. I didn't want to read this book but I couldn't put it down. I didn't understand the story or even why it was written the way it was. Not a book for the faint of heart."

-- Shell, Goodreads

"... Enjoying this psychedelic romp with razor sharp, absurd insights. Bird probes what many numbed out souls relegate to the subconscious. I keep drawing little squiggles in the book by lines I want to flip back to. Zingers! Good book for misfit freak ghosts floating through the nightmare circus of mundane adult life ..."

-- Caila, Goodreads

"The title got me in ... It slowly morphed into something intelligent and illuminating ... Gurdjieffian mannerisms. Occultist themes. Pop culture. SF. Clubs. Fetish. An exuberant irrepressible hyper-sexuality. Confusing and disjointed -- By design. Just gulp it down and see what it tastes like."

-- Anthony, Goodreads

"This book is my type of weird. Clearly not for everyone, by looking at the ratings. However, for me, the text danced along from page to page. I found the satirical commentary hilarious, but again, it is not for everyone."

-- Alex, Goodreads

"I enjoyed this book. It was very different from what I expected from the title. There were some funny parts, some brutal ones, and some that I did not really understand at all. I especially liked the invented spellings."

-- Judi B, Goodreads

"To be honest, there's something about it ... there's some elusive attraction ... it intrigues you ... witty allusions."

-- Tonya, Goodreads

"Excellent book. Funny, irreverent, a must have for anyone with a sense of humor."

-- [Another] Brian, Goodreads

"... Weird ... quirky ... slurs and insulting language ..."

-- Hannah, Goodreads

"The book read like a Trump diatribe."

-- L, Goodreads

"Excellent book!!!"

-- Csimplot Simplot, Goodreads

"Great book."

-- [Another] Michelle, Goodreads

Reviews / Quotes from Reviews of "Hideous Exuberance"

"A collection of 12 highly impressionistic, hyperenergetic, scatological, stream-of-consciousness short stories ... stories range from the frantic Harry Potter parody of 'Szczmawgwhore(ts): A Pornographick Bitch-Story' to the sardonic true-crime parody of 'Bobby Chushingura' ... fierce send-up of small-town Middle America ... also notable are the almost incoherent psychedelic ramblings of the linked stories 'Gothra Schvulkopf and the Daily Grind' and 'Gothra Schvulkopf and Her Pumpkin Trolls' which even at their most disconnected ... are saved by Bird’s skilled pacing and surprisingly lovely turns of phrase ... copious amounts of profanity ... the narrative swagger Bird brings to stories like 'The Travails of Ginger Bocey' gives them a welcome, raunchy life all their own ... fast-paced ... lewd ... extremely unconventional short stories ... may appeal to fans of Mark Danielewski and David Foster Wallace."

-- Kirkus Reviews

"Bird’s 'Hideous Exuberance' is a bird of a different color ... the universe of 'Hideous Exuberance' is one of demented imagination and verve ... lies somewhere between Harry Potter burlesque and Tolkien satire ... doses of hill-country buffoonery and pop-culture mockery ... a psychosexual storm of non sequitur ... decidedly adult ... unpredictable and varied ... frenetic looping language ... a fascinating trip through a crazed postmodern world ... countless alternative spellings ... puns within puns ... allusions ... tangents ... wordplay ... uses creative punctuation and multiple subclauses to enrich narratives ... plays fast and loose with point of view ... developed and polished to appeal to mature audiences with a taste for the peculiar."

-- Foreword Reviews

"... Picture "Winesburg, Ohio" as if it had been written by an inmate in a criminal insane asylum. The book is structured as a chain of bizarre character portraits of surreal specimens ... The opening sections read like revenge salvoes against a gallery of grotesques ... As the work progresses it gets at once erudite and increasingly less coherent, as though the author had consumed the works of Hieronymus Bosch, John Waters, Richard Wagner, Mark Leyner, Kurt Vonnegut, the Marquis de Sade, Rabelais, William S. Burroughs, Alfred Jarry, both Sedarises, and the Bards who sang "Beowulf" ... Scatology is an important quiver in Bird's arsenal ... And, as in the work of Mark Leyner, it [is by means of] the level of the phrase or the sentence that "Hideous Exuberance soars ... The work is rife with Joycean coinages all Bird's own -- and he sticks to them like the obsessive-compulsive that he obviously is ... The Feast of Fools meets Armageddon ... What emerges is a damning portrait of humanity in all it's hypocritical splendor: venal, weak and ingenious in its depravity. I therefore judge it as a highly moral work, a fiction of singular realism ..."

-- Trav SD, Goodreads
[from the blog "Travalanche"]

"... Mr. Bird creates grotesque caricatures of popular culture in order to highlight anti-intellectualism, egoism and other pitfalls of the modern human condition by exposing them in ways that utterly disgust the reader ... [Mr. Bird] manages to very subtly and thoughtfully scare you, make you laugh, and make you think ... There is a lot of valuable insight and wonderful sarcasm in this book ... My only wish is that Mr. Bird would spend a little less having fun pushing the envelope with his over the top vulgarity and more time sharing his (obviously very intelligent) insights about the flaws he sees in society ... Overall a very interesting and quick read, a worthwhile couple of hours and a wonderful piece of work from Mr. Bird. I will read it again (as I'm sure I missed a lot of the good parts) and look forward to reading anything else Mr. Bird may publish in the future. I would NOT, however, recommend this book to the easily offended ... I do hope that in his next effort he will dial back the absurdity just a hair. Writing inaccessible and challenging books is what pushes literature to new realms, but when you have such clearly valuable insights as are shared in this book, it's worth spending more words actually sharing them. Great satire, but next time I hope for a little less discomfort and a little more subtlety, as he's obviously very good at it."

-- Michael, Goodreads

"Wow!!! This book was quite the read. With character names Gregarious Egregious, Maya Hiyuh Powuh, and Botoxia Bubblebutt I knew at the very least this book would be fun. From the presentations of haute cuisine, to the Ignatius-esque rants, diatribes, and soapbox standing, to the sexual liberation among the characters in a post-post modern world. This book had no bounds ... One of the first satirical pieces of literature I ever read was Voltaire's Candide and while engrossed in the material I kept thinking to myself, why I am laughing at the tortures of so many? Then I realized that that was precisely the point. Events of a serious nature do not always have to be presented by the author or taken by the reader so seriously; unless it is categorized as "too soon" and then you have to wait until you're dead before you receive any acclaim. I am merely mentioning this due to both books' tragic comedy styles, as well as the destruction of derrieres, I am not comparing the two:) ... Personally I am not familiar with Harry Potter, but after saying Szczmawgwhore(ts) and Whoremoania a few times I started to realize the path where we were heading ... This book has a lot of moments both good and bad, but the most important thing to remember is that it had MoMeNtS. If you want or need a brief escape from the mundane this book may be for you I just hope you're not easily offended and enjoy various perspectives."

-- Trevor, Goodreads

"Firstly, I would have to warn those faint of heart this may not be the book for you. If you are looking for pg-13 I'd steer clear ... a collection of at times intersecting short stories, or continuations of previous short stories. There are times when you question the placement or just some things in general but no doubt this is intentional. Mr. Bird deserves credit for at many times making me laugh out loud. Much of his humor is very sudden with little to no lead up and with just the right amount of shock value. The New York counties and other geographical quips were very accurate. I also enjoyed the opening, a hilarious parody which had me shaking my head the entire time ... Some of the characters, as well as their situations (though dramatized), seem to have a scary real life quality about them. The only real downside to such a strange set of names was at times I had to re-read a section just to make sure I was following along properly. Overall, I enjoyed Hideous Exuberance and enough to make me curious about the "sequel prequel" Catastrophically Consequential. If you are looking for a new type of storytelling then I would suggest this book to you. Go in with an open mind, be ready for some crude text, but know you won't leave disappointed."

-- Justin, Goodreads

"Supremely satirical hilarity cleverly combining irony and dry wit, this uniquely eccentric and quite peculiar book is truly exceptional! ... colorful stories that are cleverly inspired and totally genius ... bizarre and individualistic characters add such vibrancy to the multi-linear plots and oddly, truth-drawing realism that is hidden within ... extraordinarily unusual in the extreme ... astonishingly incredible book which exceeded and surpassed all expectations by being totally brilliant! As outlandish as ‘the mad hatter’ and yet containing such truthful sincerity within as any great work of literature ... bewildering and inconceivable that I praise the author highly for producing something so ambitious. Controversial and bold, I would recommend this book to all philanthropists, whose perspective on life may be altered and bibliophiles who seek something ‘out of the ordinary’. Fresh and funny I enjoyed reading this immensely, and like any good book took pleasure from the chaotic confusion and total baffling frivolity. You may think that it is quite nonsensical but it also strikes a chord within, ringing true to life. "

-- Lucinda, Goodreads

".... This book is hilarious!! God bless Steve for taking the time to write it. He is an original artist and a craft[s]man in a sea of Facebook fanatics and texters, who should mostly, like me, be reading NOT writing ... he is a marvelous anachronism. 50 years ago bird would be famous ... don’t be thrown off by the presentation or language, delve in and take a ride with the genius that is Steve Bird. If nothing else you will learn wonderful little frazes ... I am envi[ou]s of [Bird's] ablity to turn a Fraze ... [such as] “Whoremoania soothed her barbecued buttocks in an aluminum washtub filled with chilled Vaseline” ... “a House known for it’s delinquent , yet effeminate, population” ... A vey fun, very well written satire ... mind blowingly refreshing. When you finally catch on to what cel[e]bs Bird is (relentlessly bashing) talking about; you really start to laugh. It is not [necessarily] easy reading ... [But] boy is it good ... This book deserves an audience."

-- Jeff, Goodreads

"... a confusing and exhilarating plunge into a funhouse/madhouse. Take Harry Potter, Finnegan's Wake, Thomas Pynchon, and Judy Blume, and run them through a Czech blender ... maybe also a pinch of Douglas Adams. And for you old-time loners, that wonderful experience when you discover you've dropped a coin in the wrong booth and are now in for some German shit-porn. Bird uses lots of deliberate misspellings to create character, mood, and the sense for his readers that he's taking you into a world outside of your wildest imagination. A couple seeming rules through much of the book: Never use a "c" when a "ck" will do. Never use an "sh" or "sch" when an "szcz" will do. America is "Amurycka Profunda", Earth is the "Blue Green Planet", God is "Maya-hiyuh-powuh". Bird seems to delight in the freedom that comes with the ability to create your own universe, in your own way, with just words. He fairly wallows in said freedom."

-- Jim, Goodreads

"Bird is a demiurgic lexicographer with a penchant for tying the reader into a Gordian knot and shocking him with his mind-twisting prose and dialectic pyrotechnics. He does it with a certain relish as he mixes the downright dirty with the thought-provoking, but the narrative does occasionally spiral off into a territory beyond the kingdom of the absurd; webbing storylines whose meanings depend entirely on the perspective from which they are viewed. At other times meaning is dispensed with altogether. Generally, however, “Hideous Exuberance” is frivolous and funny, without compromising its sub-textual rigor or the weighty point it makes about the universe and its inevitable unravelling ... Every element in the book serves as a prop to illustrate the folly of mankind and every element is executed expertly, making this impudent, sprightly, little novella a wicked, good read."

-- Dolly, Goodreads

"At times challenging to read, not particularly because of the content, but rather the manner in which is was presented. Cause and effect are divorced in this book, as is a progressive story line, character development is out to lunch, sense and sensibility is neither, up may be up; on the other hand it may be yellow. The author appears to have had a fun time developing his stories in the "blender" fashion. This is when you throw all the characters, the plot line, your sanity, the English language, and common sense into a blender and hit MAX on the dial. Whatever comes out, comes out. It is a delightful trip without having to leave the comfort of your own home. Recommended for a time when life just seems to be too regulated and ordered. This book will certainly shake that perspective up, or yellow; like I said earlier."

-- Fred, Goodreads

"If Wassily Kandinsky and Francis Bacon had written a book ... Bird has an anomalous approach as an author that requires more than a few mental double-takes and pauses for reflection. He's obviously in the possession of an artfulness and arsenal of more-or-less latent brilliance. This is often evident throughout ... My favorite analogy of all-time came early in the book: 'his inauthenticitie was comparable to that of a slumming New England aristocrat passing for the prep school gardener.' ... I think this book was firing on all cylinders and accomplished exactly what it wanted to."

-- Matt, Goodreads

"... honestly as soon as i saw the title i was like this is book is going to be interesting and man was i right, at the start i was like what the hell is this i had never read book with this kind of writing style before. It was a hilarious book and a real page turner. i just could not put it down. i loved the way it was all set out. all in all i found the book one of the best books i have read in a long time and i recommend it to anyone who wants to laugh. It was like nothing i have ever read before ... Mr [B]ird you have talent."

-- Gautirya, Goodreads

"This is a very very weird, beautiful book. Very difficult to put into a category or a genre. Psychedelic and flamboyant and experimental ... great work on the language, great beauty of images, references and situations. English is not my first language, so it was not easy at all at the beginning, to enter in this proto-slang written mingling Saramago, Pynchon, Leary and Middle America's Vernacular, but when you're in, is a real trip into sacred intelligent zaniness."

-- Alberto, Goodreads

"... at first I thought 'what the hell am I reading' then I found myself in hysterics, this is definitely a writing style I hadn't come across before. The wording threw me off sometimes but I soon got used to it. The only way I can describe it is writing graffiti. It is no holds barred and the author has done what he likes not what convention would prefer him to do. I really liked the first one, hopefully my opinion will stay the same throughout ... very enjoyable."

-- Laura, Goodreads

"Hideous Exuberance is a portal into the mind of Stephen C Bird. He possesses a fractious world view. His creations are filled with carnal cravings and self loathing for possessing them. He skewers the high and mighty and the beloved with equally withering, bellicose, lurid excreta that will send the genteel reader into shock. For those less genteel, Bird's wordplay and insights and acerbic humor will make the journey worthwhile."

-- Andrea, Goodreads

"... clearly inspired by and possibly similar to works from some authors I respect (Salmon Rushdie) or at least enjoy (Tom Robbins) ... I was chuckling aloud at some of the parodies of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings ... the absurdity of this book is, frankly, simply the absurdity of the culture it's parodying ... a crazy world with crazy people in it ... the author's goal was to unsettle the reader ... the goal was to entertain."

-- Eric, Goodreads

"Reading "Hideous Exuberance" is like getting really drunk and having the time of your life while remembering everything and having no headache the next day. There are many lucid moments throughout this wonder journey that leave you feeling like you just had a brain car wash. I can't help but feel like Mr. Bird's next book will be called, 'The Expressionist's Guide to Hilarious Depression'."

-- Patrick, Goodreads

"Warped ... A very awesome book cover, great font and writing style. 12 written short stories [satire] ... They weren’t very easy for me to read / follow from start / finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar / typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists / turns and a great set of unique characters to keep track of ... "

-- Tony, Goodreads

"A brilliantly clever read ... bright and very original with some great and not so great characters ... a very eclectic collection ... The dream sequences left me baffled on many an occasion ... inner monologues quite unsettling but for some reason the stories kept drawing me into them making giving up on the book an impossibility. All in all an extremely original and creative work ..."

-- Mick, Goodreads

"Truly no idea what I just read. There is no doubt this book was written with such effort and thought [...] as it is a satire of many other fantastical stories and pop culture ... The names were CRAZY long too but sometimes fun to say out loud and figure out who he in real life [the author] was relating to.... the vulgarity Bird adds ... sometimes just seemed so over the top."

-- Bianca, Goodreads

"This book was a very difficult read due to the style of writing, with misspelled words and crazy sentences, you definitely have to get a feel for it. This is without a doubt an imaginative, twisted, humourous read that will bend your mind. This book will certainly appeal to those who wish to deviate from the norm, but not recommended for the faint of heart."

-- Denise, Goodreads

"This book is quite different than anything I have read before in a really good way! A humorous yet sarcastic look at society with several intertwined stories. It can get a bit hard to follow because of poetic license so I do want to read it again to fully understand and make sure I didn't miss anything. Recommended for all those looking for new perspectives!"

-- Kattie, Goodreads

"... repulsive ... disgusting ... highly appalling short stories ... the incoherent ramblings of a demented mind ... numerous alternative spellings ... incomprehensible allusions to other fantasy books ... copious amounts of profanity ... lewd and extremely unconventional ... may appeal to fans of Alfred E. Neuman and MAD magazine ..."

-- Scott, Goodreads

"Though the collection of tales does not follow many conventions readers are comfortable with, the collection succeeds at creating a comedic, enjoyable, and satiric piece. The conventions followed alone polarize the opinions of the work, but truly contribute to the comedy that it features to such an extent."

-- Jake, Goodreads

"... Fantastical satire. The author himself has stated the plot is not linear ... the characters interact in some very strange ways ... intentionally preposterous ... [the author] is defaulting to the true meaning of satire and exaggeration to ridicule our modern society's thoughts on a variety of topics."

-- Melissa F. (Goodreads)

"Readers will either hate this book or they will love it. I must admit that Stephen is a genius writer -- almost reminds me of the "Alice in Wonderland" author. The world that Stephen created was ... so we say, 'trippy'."

-- Tien, Goodreads

"May I rehash: it is indeed a flamboyant portrait of hideous venal humanity, with love. And I have gratitude for its very existence."

-- Michellee, Goodreads

"I can't quite shelve this book or classify it in a particular genre, but I highly enjoyed it. Very witty, and very unique in style."

-- Amanda, Goodreads

"This was a Hell of a ride. I am going to have to re-read this to make sure that I actually got all the jokes."

-- Brian, Goodreads

"... Not for the faint hearted ... Luckily, I love a good twisted book! Great read ... I enjoyed it!"

-- Keirstin, Goodreads

"Were not all books this good, we justify."

-- Faux Maux, Goodreads

"Definitely different and quirky ..."

-- Christy, Goodreads

Reviews / Quotes from Reviews of "Catastrophically Consequential"

"Lurid satirical riffs hold up a fun-house mirror to the world in this fantasia ... a wicked caricature of New York scenesters, rage against environmental destruction, religious bigotry ... a redneck Weimar cabaret ... a stew of surrealism ... an alternative universe peopled by cartoonish characters who intermingle across dreamlike episodes that shatter the conventions of time, space and spelling. Bird's caustic levity, exuberant wordplay and arresting imagery make for a bracing read --though it's not for the faint of heart. This raucous avant-garde comedy will sweep you along with its vigor and originality."

-- Kirkus Reviews

" ... difficult to categorize ... distinctive, unconventional ... eccentric style ... playful and inventive with language ... some chapters read as over-the-top satire, others appear closer to reality than they might at first seem ... moments of raw poignancy and social commentary ... stark and unexpected imagery ... in-your-face confrontation, forcing the reader to either embrace it or push it away ... bold, humorous, raunchy provocation ... a love-it-or-hate-it affair ... few will come away unaffected ..."

-- ForeWord Reviews

"... cleverly crafted, ironic short story with its cliché and satirical themes ... Totally genius, clever ... ingenious ... spectacular ... breathtaking ... celebrity merged with the bizarre ... peculiar and individualistic characters ... a real treat for any reader [...] seeking something [...] quite out of the ordinary! Brimmed full of wit, sarcasm, realism and truth-drawing poignancy ... thought-provoking, idiosyncratic ... hard to put down ... I felt like Alice in Wonderland who had been lured into a tantalizingly tempting trap that was so outlandish, eccentric and extraordinary that I did not want it to end ... I can honestly say that this story is affecting ... lingers upon ones mind for a long time afterwards. Prepare yourself for such chaotic confusion as to confound ... combines a blend of fantasy, general fiction, humor, satire and adult themes [...] totally astonishing! ... I am lost for words! This book is certainly targeted at a wide readership ... will appeal to anyone and to those who have a vivid imagination ... so enjoyable to read ... embodied such lunacy and yet was so brilliant. The author’s visual, artistic vision is commendable ... his dry sense of humor [...] comes across through the writing ... a strange book ... doesn’t have a storyline (shock!) nor can it be slotted into a specific genre ... a stand-out book ... ‘one of its kind’ ... If you have an odd and often over-active imagination like myself, then I highly recommend it as a fantastic read!"

-- Lucinda, Goodreads

"This is a really well-titled book ... Stephen C. Bird's work contains tragedy, for sure ... built right into the architecture of language and identity ... As to identity, there are multitudes ... in this prequel to "Hideous Exuberance," he sucks the reader back into a kaleidoscope of the damaged, deranged, fat, angry, hapless, medieval, phonetically confusing, twitchily hilarious, despairing, and genuinely, searingly poetic. In the space of a paragraph, the various narrators can verge from the mythic landscapes of demented demigods, to the interior monologue of a Faulknerian adherent of a kind of Orwellian moral doublespeak. In Ebonic-Southern-redneck drawl ... not easy stuff ... by turns hilarious, brilliantly musical, and it's audacious as all hell. His writing is infectious ... Maybe most refreshing is that Stephen Bird, as a writer, is willing (or compelled?) to navigate seemingly any avenue of Western culture, and trusts his reader to be able to see all the signposts. If you can't, then he gives you enough to chew on, look up, and ponder. And if you don't wanna do that either, read somebody else."

-- Sarah, Goodreads

"It starts with an unnamed adult switching between childhood and present realities via dreaming and waking, and ends with a suicide. You will meet a teenage prostitute, and the neglected schoolmate who envies her ... and a poet who refuses to resort to conventional means to further his career. You will spend time in the bottom-rung of the underground comedy scene ... You will laugh out loud and feel at times like you are reading a novella-length version of a pamphlet handed to you by a crazy person on the street. You will experience your own strange dreams as a result of reading it, and will probably try re-reading it when you are finished so that you don't miss anything or to clear up things you didn't understand. I definitely recommend it as an antidote to the Twilight series."

-- Brian, Goodreads

"... I had never heard of Stephen C. Bird. Now that I have, I feel I spent more time reading the book aloud to my husband than sitting off in the corner reading to myself. He is a fan of satire and farcical writing. We loved it ... The book can be a little hard for some people to read, but once you get used to it ... it's easy peasy ... The writing was creative, the characters were alive. If you are easily offended, this is not the book for you, but if you like a great book that will make you laugh, and make you want to read bits to people so they can see the humor you just experienced, then you will love reading this book and sharing it with other like-minded people. I highly recommend it!"

-- Heather, Goodreads

"What was this? ... That should really always be the first line of my 5-star reviews on Goodreads. I love the experience of coming to something and finding the completely unexpected. Cat-Con (my shorthand for the title) was a dark look at darker forces ... An extremely accurate portrayal of modern American "kulture." I tagged this as LGBT ... Not because it has great gay characters or storylines. This is the LGBT of sexual rebellion, the dark side of the rainbow flag, the one where the stripes are shame, violence, self-hate, and addiction ... I thoroughly enjoyed this short, spectacular, time-travelling, soul-hopping, piss and vomit-filled nightmare jaunt."

-- Frederick, Goodreads

" ... not for the faint [of heart] ... encompasses every stereotype known to man ... stretches through time and space hitting 'Amurycka Profunda', 'West Whoreville' all the way to 'Doucheyland' in this continual diatribe against [...] everyone ... creates the illusion of a utopian 'Welt' by illustrating the truly opposite ... satirically foreshadowing the possible apocalyptic future on the world’s present condition ... author orchestrates a 'mélange à trios' between the language he uses, his humor and the subject matter ... refreshing to read a book that genuinely challenges the mind ..."

-- Lindsay, Goodreads

"I knew I'd found the right book by one of the very early chapters of Lord Szczmawg, Abstractly Patriarchal and Possibly Feminist Ruler of Sky and Earth, in which there’s a monologue from Gothra Schvulkopf: 'I will now descend into the deep meandering aqua rabbit hole of a high contrast landscape dominated by ultra-white birches, to meet the Zalphagamorian, a bronze-colored creature with scaly marbleized hide; and Zauberfeuer, a hedonist resembling the Ghost of Christmas Present.' ... When I was halfway through this book I became sad that it was half over."

-- Tucker, Goodreads

"... push [through] for the golden lines! ... 'Be still with your waxing hysteria' ... 'Everything is going to be different once I acquire a wardrobe of rubber fetish gear' ... 'They were the neighborhoods new hot couple' ... 'At [Pal-Anon] she would share how she got into another toxic relationship' (I am laughing hard right now) ... 'her “fellow co-dependents would trash her at fellowship' ... 'I have shattered the props of your wasted, meaningless lives of indolence: what were form[erl]y objects of luxury now represent the deformed ugliness of your grotesque hypocrisy.' ”

-- Jeff, Goodreads

"... Douglas Adams meets the Unibomber's manifesto. Charlie Gordon ('Flowers for Algernon') falls into Cyberpunk. Monty Python rescripted via "A Clockwork Orange". '1984' and 'Catch-22' mixed in a blender and poured into a broken goblet. At times, the characters seem to be railing against the elite. Other times, it seems to be a slam against the middle class, saying their existence is meaningless ... This book is for adults only ... graphic depictions ... chaotic ... mal-interpretive approach ..."

-- Sean, Goodreads

"I found the slightly longer chapters towards the end to be the most interesting ... these chapters contained the most interesting internal monologue which suited the tone of the writing ... I would recommend this book if you like Kurt Vonnegut, stream of [consciousness] writing or dark alternative realities / alternative futures ... This book is really intriguing, each segment is different, most of them are humorous and disturbing."

-- Susan, Goodreads

"This book was a literal trip, like on drugs ... While reading each chapter, I felt like I was dreaming and anything could happen, and I didn't know what was coming next. Then, by the end of the chapter, it was like waking up from your dream and you don't remember everything, but you know you had a good time. If you are looking for something short, funny, and a kind of palette cleanser between books, then read this book!"

-- Nikkiya, Goodreads

"A strangely enticing romp through satirical dances. Tucked in its pages are wondrous delights spilling through a world of often open contradictions that weaves the reader through a dream of otherworldly dichotomies and irreverent characters ... I am grateful to Stephen C Bird for giving me the chance to wander his extraordinary if not sometimes baffling world ... Was a real treat."

-- gypsydreams, Goodreads

"There’s just so much information and emotion packed in one small book. The way it’s written is different than anything I’ve ever read before ... Each short story left me more unsettled and confused than the previous story, but I couldn’t stop reading ... It was quite magical in a way ... There is something for everyone [in this book]. Everyone. Trust me."

-- Cher, Goodreads

"Reading this book was like watching a [Quentin] Tarantino film. It's obvious that the creator is talented and puts out a very good product ... I don't recommend this book for the faint of heart but if you're looking for a book that will cause you to continue to think about it for days ... after you've finished it [...] this is your book."

-- Peter, Goodreads

"A very distinct work, not for people who are looking for the usual written stories that have a plot, characters, beginning and end. Very bizarre, very twisted, very interesting! ... I gave it 5 stars because it was amazing ... still not sure if its a good amazing, or a bad amazing! ... an extremely twisted, unconventional book."

-- [Another] Susan, Goodreads

"... Sheds light on the blunt honesty of some human beings in their true sadistic thoughts. Parts of the novel were humorous ... becomes easier to read and understand after the first few chapters when things begin to come together ... not the type of book I would typically read but it has its inventiveness and appeal."

-- Heather, Goodreads

"This book is extremely well written ... bizarre ... in a good way. Several of them [the jokes] had [me] laughing out loud and meant I had to stop reading to fully appreciate them. There's a lot of bleakness in this book and some very insightful, skillfully disguised social comment. Read this -- It's definitely worth your time."

-- Rose, Goodreads

"You may start out saying, what the hell?! Keep reading. The mangled spelling, the wordplay, the outlandish characters and situations are all crafted with the purpose of puncturing what for most of us is a bourgeois and ordinary existence. Steve Bird is anything but ordinary. He's also very mordantly funny."

-- Andrea, Goodreads

"I can't say it didn't leave any impact because I do keep thinking about parts of the book ... Some things were shocking and I couldn't believe I was actually reading some of the content. I did like some of the total crazy randoms thrown in. This book is not for everyone. You must have an open mind ..."

-- Sally, Goodreads

"This book is disturbing. Very disturbing. I wouldn't recommend it to the faint of heart ... I constantly wondered if the author was trying to make some kind of statement about life ... Somehow, it still managed to keep me turning pages. I can't explain the charm of this book."

-- Benjamin, Goodreads

"Oh how I wish I had thought of the Aryan Fake 'enchanted yearbook' with the Hawk-Headed Goddess, Obliteramus! spell that 'would only destroy those who truly deserved to die'. In real life, I mean. I would have blown through so many roadblocks years ago."

-- Bruno, Goodreads

"We found ourselves laughing out loud at the sometimes brilliant, funny, and definitely strange ramblings! ... we were completely entertained by it. In the end, I am happy that I received this book and would recommend it to a select group of people. Fun night!"

-- Marie, Goodreads

" ... Probably the strangest book I have ever read. Don't get me wrong though, that is a very good thing! The writing style is so unique; I flew through it! I highly recommend it ... don't expect a "normal" book, because it is far from it! ..."

-- Amanda, Goodreads

"This is one imagination you can't fuck with ... surrealistic, dark humor ... disturbing events ... There technically is no plot and that did not bother me ... Overall its a very interesting read for a traveling mind."

-- Donald, Goodreads

"When I squinted hard enough I could make out arguments about religion, the Middle East, the environment, capitalism, racism, homophobia, feminism, and much more ... It was certainly a different experience."

-- Nikki, Goodreads

"Different. Quirky. Weird. Funky. Strange. Funny. Odd. Bizarre. Choice. Out of my comfort zone for reading ... glad for the experience ... it's good to walk on the wild side once in a while. I'd read it again."

-- [Yet Another] Susan, Goodreads

"Like a Greek or Roman God looking down on Earth and chuckling at what humanity is up to ... A light read. A quick read. A conundrum ... Entertaining ... a shotgun approach to stories and subjects."

-- Fred, Goodreads

"Definitely a weird book, but there's something to it. It's funny. It's kind of like The Rocky Horror Show; at first you're weirded out but then you get the hang of it and it makes you laugh."

-- Sam, Goodreads

"This is for the reader who can let go and be pulled into where [the author] takes you. Read some passages out loud and read some in a darkened room with a torch ..."

-- Patricia, Goodreads

"This book was a simple masterpiece! Took a while to get into it but once I did, it has quickly become one of my favorites! Good job, Mr. Bird!! :)"

-- Jessica, Goodreads

"... Very very weird. A timely cultural satire a la 'Naked Lunch'. Overall I liked it and ... I think that the author might be insane."

-- Tasha, Goodreads

"... Entertaining ... loud and over the top ... filled with thoughts that everyone has had but few are willing to admit."

-- (Another) Nathan, Goodreads

"Let me say, this book has balls. Huge, testosterone filled nuts."

-- Johnathan, Goodreads

"Chilling - Mesmerizing - Essential reading!"

-- Daryl, Goodreads

"Cutting, insightful and funny".

-- Viveca, Goodreads

"This book is a complete joke."

-- Glenn, Goodreads

"Mid-America punk."

-- Alan, Goodreads