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Sideshow in the Center Ring
Marian Allen invites you join comedy star Connie Phelan on a planet where slavery is legal. Connie has suffered an unfortunate cosmetic reaction, but she isn't going to let that keep her from her goals: outgrowing her clown identity, avoiding a love/hate relationship with her nemesis, and resisting the urge to do a good deed.
280 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2013
144 people want to read
About the author
Marian Allen
61 books96 followersFor as long as I can remember, I've loved telling and being told stories. When, at the age of about six, I was informed that somebody got paid for writing all those books and movies and television shows, I abandoned my previous ambition (beachcomber), and became a writer.
I've worked as a high school teacher, an executive secretary, a soda jerk, a bank clerk, an accountant, and in Red Cross Youth Services. While working for the Red Cross, I met my husband, a widower with three young daughters. We married and had a fourth daughter. Their names are #1 Daughter, #2 Daughter, #3 Daughter and #4 Daughter.
Small town life agrees with me. I like the interconnectedness of everything and everybody. The internet is a little like a small town: I frequently "run into" an old friend in a new venue. I like connecting and reconnecting with people, meeting new friends and keeping in touch with the friends I already have.
My writing reflects this love of network. I try to remember, in my books and stories, that no one exists in total isolation, but in a web of connections to family, friends, colleagues, self at former stages of maturity, perceptions and self-images. Most of my work is fantasy, science fiction and/or mystery, though I write horror, humor, romance, mainstream or anything else that suits the story and character.
I've had stories in anthologies, on-line and print publications, including Oceans of the Mind and Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress anthologies 22 and 23, on coffee cans and the wall of an Indian restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky.
Professionally, I'm a member of Southern Indiana Writers and Green River Writers.
I've worked as a high school teacher, an executive secretary, a soda jerk, a bank clerk, an accountant, and in Red Cross Youth Services. While working for the Red Cross, I met my husband, a widower with three young daughters. We married and had a fourth daughter. Their names are #1 Daughter, #2 Daughter, #3 Daughter and #4 Daughter.
Small town life agrees with me. I like the interconnectedness of everything and everybody. The internet is a little like a small town: I frequently "run into" an old friend in a new venue. I like connecting and reconnecting with people, meeting new friends and keeping in touch with the friends I already have.
My writing reflects this love of network. I try to remember, in my books and stories, that no one exists in total isolation, but in a web of connections to family, friends, colleagues, self at former stages of maturity, perceptions and self-images. Most of my work is fantasy, science fiction and/or mystery, though I write horror, humor, romance, mainstream or anything else that suits the story and character.
I've had stories in anthologies, on-line and print publications, including Oceans of the Mind and Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress anthologies 22 and 23, on coffee cans and the wall of an Indian restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky.
Professionally, I'm a member of Southern Indiana Writers and Green River Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 10, 2013
Sideshow in the Center Ring is a fascinating tale of Connie, a smart-ass comedy star who’s gotten it into her head that rising in the ranks of a socially elite group will make her happy. Or maybe she’s doing it not so much for the happiness, but rather as a “that’ll show ’em” gesture to everyone that spat on her when she was a nobody.
That’s one of the things I like about Connie. She’s got ghosts. She’s flawed, and damaged, and she’s got this idea about herself that conflicts with who she really is. She’s one of the most interesting characters I’ve read about in a while and that joy is only deepened as the story is relayed in her point of view. The voice in which the story is told is fun, witty, and endearing as we get to root for Connie to pull her head out of her tuckus and realize what’s really important in life.
On the downside, I feel this novel had something of a slow start. A lot of backstory was given in the beginning, telling of Connie’s childhood in Hell Alley and of her Aunt Bootsie. All of it was very interesting, and important to her character, but I do remember wondering at one point on when the story was going to start.
And then there’s Darryl, main antagonist and all-round slime-ball. I mean, yeah, I’m pretty sure the author meant to portray him as such a weasel. But reading about someone without any redeeming qualities feels like a missed opportunity for some fantastic love/hate conflict.
All in all, though, Sideshow in the Center Ring was a really enjoyable book. Well written and easy to read, I’d recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi, character driven stories, and to cat lovers in general.
That’s one of the things I like about Connie. She’s got ghosts. She’s flawed, and damaged, and she’s got this idea about herself that conflicts with who she really is. She’s one of the most interesting characters I’ve read about in a while and that joy is only deepened as the story is relayed in her point of view. The voice in which the story is told is fun, witty, and endearing as we get to root for Connie to pull her head out of her tuckus and realize what’s really important in life.
On the downside, I feel this novel had something of a slow start. A lot of backstory was given in the beginning, telling of Connie’s childhood in Hell Alley and of her Aunt Bootsie. All of it was very interesting, and important to her character, but I do remember wondering at one point on when the story was going to start.
And then there’s Darryl, main antagonist and all-round slime-ball. I mean, yeah, I’m pretty sure the author meant to portray him as such a weasel. But reading about someone without any redeeming qualities feels like a missed opportunity for some fantastic love/hate conflict.
All in all, though, Sideshow in the Center Ring was a really enjoyable book. Well written and easy to read, I’d recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi, character driven stories, and to cat lovers in general.
February 21, 2014
This was the second funny science fiction novel I've read from Marian Allen the first being Force of Habit, which she describes as a cop/scifi/farce.
This book has a much different tone than FOH. Where FOH was a really lighthearted romp, Sideshow in the Center Ring is a bit grittier and more realistic. I didn't think it was quite as funny as FOH, which is a little ironic since the main character is a famous comedienne. Of course, Connie's style of humor is a bit more black comedy, making fun of disfiguring accident that leaves her with patchwork skin and hair.
There are a lot of interesting themes woven through the story: class and privilege, culture clashes between "primitive" societies and supposed sophisticated ones, and the desire to belong and be accepted. Although it's set in the future, it does a great job of satirizing our current celebrity-obsessed culture.
I think this would be a great conversation starter for discussion with my teen son, if his literary preferences leaned more scifi than fantasy. Alas, I'm probably going to have to break down and read Percy Jackson.
The dialogue is delightful. Connie makes for an intriguing, if not always sympathetic heroine. The story takes a bit to get going, but it's well worth sticking with it. And I think you do need to know about Connie's background for her choices, for better or worse, to make any sense at all.
If you like funny science fiction with a healthy dose of social satire, give Sideshow in the Center Ring a look. It might be right up your alley.
This book has a much different tone than FOH. Where FOH was a really lighthearted romp, Sideshow in the Center Ring is a bit grittier and more realistic. I didn't think it was quite as funny as FOH, which is a little ironic since the main character is a famous comedienne. Of course, Connie's style of humor is a bit more black comedy, making fun of disfiguring accident that leaves her with patchwork skin and hair.
There are a lot of interesting themes woven through the story: class and privilege, culture clashes between "primitive" societies and supposed sophisticated ones, and the desire to belong and be accepted. Although it's set in the future, it does a great job of satirizing our current celebrity-obsessed culture.
I think this would be a great conversation starter for discussion with my teen son, if his literary preferences leaned more scifi than fantasy. Alas, I'm probably going to have to break down and read Percy Jackson.
The dialogue is delightful. Connie makes for an intriguing, if not always sympathetic heroine. The story takes a bit to get going, but it's well worth sticking with it. And I think you do need to know about Connie's background for her choices, for better or worse, to make any sense at all.
If you like funny science fiction with a healthy dose of social satire, give Sideshow in the Center Ring a look. It might be right up your alley.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews