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The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack
A speculative fiction selection of micro-fiction and short stories. These were designed to be short reads for your commute, coffee break, and other times when readers are pressed for time. This book contains a bit of science fiction, some fantasy, and paranormal stories.
- GenresFantasy
114 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 12, 2017
I loved this collection of micro-fiction by C. S. Boyack. They range in genres so there's something for everyone. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
September 15, 2015
There's nothing like a short story or micro-fiction to give you a quick fix of fiction. This book has over a dozen! My favorite story was Bombshell Squad. It was suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thrilling, and Lisa Burton, the robot, is just delightful. The book kicks off with a micro-fiction story, Jack-O-Lantern, another of my favorites. I never saw the ending coming. What a twist! I highly recommend this book. With it's many genres depicted, tight writing, and expert storytelling, it's sure to please. I've actually just started reading Will O' the Wisp by this author, too.
September 17, 2015
*Was given an advanced copy by author.*
Right out of the gate, you’re hit with a story that has a twist ending. This really set the tempo of the other stories, which kept me interested in the whole collection. Every story has something unique about it, which makes it really hard to do an overview of the collection. For example, ‘The Soup Ladle of Destiny’ is very humorous and rather lighthearted compared to some of the others. If I had to pick the one that really stuck with me it would be a tie between that and ’50 Gallon Drum’. Since many of these are micro-fiction, I can’t say much without spoilers and that would ruin all the fun since the author has knack for surprise endings.
I’d highly recommend this for anyone who wants to be entertained by several quick reads.
Right out of the gate, you’re hit with a story that has a twist ending. This really set the tempo of the other stories, which kept me interested in the whole collection. Every story has something unique about it, which makes it really hard to do an overview of the collection. For example, ‘The Soup Ladle of Destiny’ is very humorous and rather lighthearted compared to some of the others. If I had to pick the one that really stuck with me it would be a tie between that and ’50 Gallon Drum’. Since many of these are micro-fiction, I can’t say much without spoilers and that would ruin all the fun since the author has knack for surprise endings.
I’d highly recommend this for anyone who wants to be entertained by several quick reads.
October 15, 2015
This anthology comprises twelve different stories, taking you on twelve very different trips; some will make you happy, some will make you sad, others will make you wonder. There is one thing that they all have in common: They are unforgettable. I cannot tell you more about this anthology as it would spoil the fun of reading it yourself.
With The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack, C. S. Boyack presents us with twelve little gifts. Each story is skilfully elaborated, has its own great flow. Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this masterly with every story – he created living people instead of mere characters. I was drawn into the story right away – very close to the protagonists. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a great time reading The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack. It is a very enjoyable read. This is for you if you like adventures with a humorous streak, very likeable characters to cheer on their thrilling trip, surprises and food for thought – all packed in micro-fiction and short stories.
This is a book to read again. Highly recommended.
With The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack, C. S. Boyack presents us with twelve little gifts. Each story is skilfully elaborated, has its own great flow. Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this masterly with every story – he created living people instead of mere characters. I was drawn into the story right away – very close to the protagonists. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a great time reading The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack. It is a very enjoyable read. This is for you if you like adventures with a humorous streak, very likeable characters to cheer on their thrilling trip, surprises and food for thought – all packed in micro-fiction and short stories.
This is a book to read again. Highly recommended.
November 15, 2015
"The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack" by C. S. Boyack is wonderful. Full Stop.
Mr Boyack, my hat is off to you. You sir are more than an author, you are a storyteller, and your command of the high, nigh-lost art of the short story nearly brought tears to my old eyes.
Thank you.
This is a beautifully written collection of short stories. Stories; not fragments, not half finished thoughts or what passes for poetry; these are stories and they are terrific!
The shades of Asimov or Zelazny or Heinlein or any of the greats would be proud. In fact these tales remind me most of the late, great Ray Bradbury and his wonderful command of prose, scansion and the music of language. The dialog is top notch and each scene and character and setting are limned and fleshed in a few bright strokes. The reader is transported, and the only disappointment is that the story ends...and we beg for another.
My considered advice is simple.
Buy this book, Read this Book and you will Enjoy this book!
Full stop.
Mr Boyack, my hat is off to you. You sir are more than an author, you are a storyteller, and your command of the high, nigh-lost art of the short story nearly brought tears to my old eyes.
Thank you.
This is a beautifully written collection of short stories. Stories; not fragments, not half finished thoughts or what passes for poetry; these are stories and they are terrific!
The shades of Asimov or Zelazny or Heinlein or any of the greats would be proud. In fact these tales remind me most of the late, great Ray Bradbury and his wonderful command of prose, scansion and the music of language. The dialog is top notch and each scene and character and setting are limned and fleshed in a few bright strokes. The reader is transported, and the only disappointment is that the story ends...and we beg for another.
My considered advice is simple.
Buy this book, Read this Book and you will Enjoy this book!
Full stop.
September 29, 2015
Experimental Notebook is a collection of stories that have been written to entertain and not to leave the reader up in the air wondering if they missed the point of the story. So many times short story writers think they need to do a story that has an obscure ending to qualify as a literary short story. C.S. Boyack has taken a number of different circumstances and crafted stories that have entertainment value. He sometimes takes a bizarre look at a particular situation but in each case when the story ends the reader has the whole package. There is also an element of humor that the author continues to interject in most of the stories. The humor is not laugh out loud funny but carries a more wry intelligent, subtle tone. The reader more than once will chuckle at the onset and then find a smile as the humorous piece finishes much as one would experience with a sip of fine wine.
The creativeness of C.S. Boyack cannot is obvious. His stories have that familiarity that the reader would swear came out of the author living an experience. Of course, some of the plots and subject material make this assumption entirely impossible and thus the real talent of the artist is discovered. Boyack writes a story as if he lived it. The characters and plotlines are so simply yet so carefully designed that the author makes this kind of storytelling look easy. The reader finishes the Notebook knowing what looks easy and what turns out to be the types of stories written are at opposite poles of one another. The Experimental Notebook is excellent writing, and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to truly enjoy a reading experience.
The creativeness of C.S. Boyack cannot is obvious. His stories have that familiarity that the reader would swear came out of the author living an experience. Of course, some of the plots and subject material make this assumption entirely impossible and thus the real talent of the artist is discovered. Boyack writes a story as if he lived it. The characters and plotlines are so simply yet so carefully designed that the author makes this kind of storytelling look easy. The reader finishes the Notebook knowing what looks easy and what turns out to be the types of stories written are at opposite poles of one another. The Experimental Notebook is excellent writing, and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to truly enjoy a reading experience.
January 24, 2016
"The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack" is a delightful - and occasionally scary - collection of short stories that combines humor and horror with a dash of fantasy thrown in for good measure.
Boyack wanders all over the literary map with this small collection and readers will, I think, be delighted with the tales he has to tell. A young woman who has been abused by a bully sees him get his comeuppance from a very unusual source; an alchemist plots his revenge on the world in the ruins of his home and... well, suffice it to say that Boyack will hold your attention with this collection.
Some of the stories are very, very short while others stretch on for a few pages but no matter the length I found them all intriguing and extremely well written. His characters are interesting, the plots range from realistic to magical and his scene setting - particularly in the story titled "The 50-Gallon Drum" - is excellent. This is all the more remarkable because too often when writers attempt short stories they often sacrifice one of those elements in order to keep their work, well for lack of a better word, short.
An excellent collection, the perfect read for anyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary, and a book I highly recommend.
Boyack wanders all over the literary map with this small collection and readers will, I think, be delighted with the tales he has to tell. A young woman who has been abused by a bully sees him get his comeuppance from a very unusual source; an alchemist plots his revenge on the world in the ruins of his home and... well, suffice it to say that Boyack will hold your attention with this collection.
Some of the stories are very, very short while others stretch on for a few pages but no matter the length I found them all intriguing and extremely well written. His characters are interesting, the plots range from realistic to magical and his scene setting - particularly in the story titled "The 50-Gallon Drum" - is excellent. This is all the more remarkable because too often when writers attempt short stories they often sacrifice one of those elements in order to keep their work, well for lack of a better word, short.
An excellent collection, the perfect read for anyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary, and a book I highly recommend.
November 21, 2015
I enjoyed this collection of short stories and flash fiction. In The Experimental Notebook C. S. Boyack presents an intriguing and fascinating mix of fantasy, science fiction and ghost stories. He has a unique and enjoyable writing style, juxtaposing believable characters and straightforward plots for the reader, even when fantastical.
Threaded with understated humour, most of the pieces are of the ‘twist in the tail’ type; surprising yet satisfying and guaranteed to bring out a whole gamut of emotions in the reader. If I had to choose I think my favourite would be the fabled The Soup Ladle of Destiny. But there is something for everyone between the pages of this book.
There is also an unusual part where the author speaks to the reader which I enjoyed and motivated me enough to look for his website. He seems to be a prolific blogger whose posts are as thought provoking as this collection of stories.
So– great cover, well-written stories with rounded characters, great dialogue, a brilliant sense of place in all; to my mind, proper short stories. And, although these are not the genre of stories I would normally read this is one collection I would recommend.
Threaded with understated humour, most of the pieces are of the ‘twist in the tail’ type; surprising yet satisfying and guaranteed to bring out a whole gamut of emotions in the reader. If I had to choose I think my favourite would be the fabled The Soup Ladle of Destiny. But there is something for everyone between the pages of this book.
There is also an unusual part where the author speaks to the reader which I enjoyed and motivated me enough to look for his website. He seems to be a prolific blogger whose posts are as thought provoking as this collection of stories.
So– great cover, well-written stories with rounded characters, great dialogue, a brilliant sense of place in all; to my mind, proper short stories. And, although these are not the genre of stories I would normally read this is one collection I would recommend.
December 24, 2015
I finally got a chance to sit and read this great little book. I've read C S Boyack's work before but short stories are an entirely different craft and Boyack does them well. With something for everyone this collection is pefect for a rainy afternoon. The only reason I haven't given it five stars, is occasionally I felt the stories finished a little too quickly or just needed an extra something. The story of Drelden the dragon hunter was a touch too neat for me personally, but hey, they're short stories, right? My favourites have to be Urban Renewal Project and 50 Gallon Drum. I loved the idea for an alternative detective in A Humid Business and as a lover of detective stories I hope to see Mr Fogg make a reapperance some time. Ultimately, this book is excellent value and for less than the price of a cup of coffee you'll get an afternoon's entertainment, from the crazy ideas formed in the brain of C S Boyack.
September 17, 2015
I love short stories, especially when they have a nice little twist. So, this is the perfect read for me. I'd read samples of Boyack's work on his website and I asked for a review copy as soon as I heard he was publishing The Experimental Notebook - which he kindly produced. I devoured the book within a couple of days.
The Notebook reminded me of the (in)famous "Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans" found in Harry Potter books: you never know what flavor the next story will have. Some had a distinctively creepy Twilight Zone feel to it; one read like a nail-biting spin-off of his Wild Concept novel; and others were delightfully light - almost comic.
In short, a brilliant collection of short stories!
The Notebook reminded me of the (in)famous "Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans" found in Harry Potter books: you never know what flavor the next story will have. Some had a distinctively creepy Twilight Zone feel to it; one read like a nail-biting spin-off of his Wild Concept novel; and others were delightfully light - almost comic.
In short, a brilliant collection of short stories!
November 28, 2015
This collection includes four full-length short stories, eight shorter works, and a sample from the author's latest novel. If I had to put the stories into genres, I'd say there were two science fiction, four fantasy, one superhero, and five horror and/or urban fantasy.
I didn't think any of the stories were bad, and I found myself totally absorbed in nine of the twelve. I recommend the book for anyone who enjoys fantasy or urban fantasy stories.
I didn't think any of the stories were bad, and I found myself totally absorbed in nine of the twelve. I recommend the book for anyone who enjoys fantasy or urban fantasy stories.
December 15, 2015
The experimental Notebook of C S Boyack is a gem of a book. It contains a mix of micro-fiction and short stories; most with endings you wouldn't see coming. It's a great layout for dipping in and out of when you don't have the time to sit and read a full-length novel. The little tales in this book stay with you long after you've read them, and they all have a unique flavour. This is one of those books I'll go back to again and again. Highly recommended.
May 6, 2017
This book certainly lives up to its description and contains so many different genre of tales, I'd be hard pressed to name any that may have been missed.
As advertised, each tale is bite-sized and perfect for fitting into time spaces between tasks or destinations.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B014...
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/...
As advertised, each tale is bite-sized and perfect for fitting into time spaces between tasks or destinations.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B014...
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/...
August 7, 2023
“The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack” is a unique collection of short stories and had been sitting on my reading list for way too long. I’m so glad I finally picked it up. It was a fast read that was completely entertaining, down to the intermission. The book begins with “Jack O’ Lantern” which had a twist that made me grin. It was fun to see some favorite characters Lisa the Robot, along with Jason Fogg, and learn a bit more about their backstories. All the stories were full of imagination, with Mr. Boyack’s humor weaved into many of them. “50 Galloon Drum,” and “Soup Ladle of Destiny” are stories I won’t soon forget, but all the tales were great in their way. An excellent grouping of creative stories that I can highly recommend.
March 15, 2018
This was an eclectic collection of stories that showed a lot of breadth for the writer. Many of them involved tales that drew you in; and when you thought you knew how they would end, well they didn't. Dragons, WWI flying aces, ethereal stalkers, alchemists... there is a wide palette of characters that provide different points of view to the various tales.
An enjoyable read!
An enjoyable read!
July 26, 2017
This is an enjoyable - sometimes creepy or a little scary - collection of short stories. All I can say is: I think the experiments were a success.
August 5, 2020
I've recently become a big fan of C. S. Boyack (The Hat grabbed me, and Viral Blues sealed the deal). So when I had a chance to slip The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack to the top spot of my TBR pile, I did. A whole book of short stories from the twisted brain of C.S. Boyack? Yes please!
And I wasn't disappointed.
As I've already said, this is a series of short stories - some only a page or two long - with a speculative flavour, covering everything from robots and sci-fi, to myhtological creatures like genies and dragons. Most of the stories have a delicious twist at the end, though some are more like mini novellas and focus on character development (ie, the Lisa Burton and Jason Fogg stories); characters that will later appear in other works by Boyack.
Some standout stories for me were "Jack O Lantern", "50 Gallon Drum", "Soup-Ladle of Destiny", "Something in the Water", and the Lisa Burton / Jason Fogg stories. "Jack O Lantern" was a short bite with an ending that made me caw "ha!" out loud. "Soup-Ladle of Destiny" is reminiscent of a Grimm Brothers tale. "Something in the Water" features another 'character' from "Viral Blues" (kind of), and is a truly satisfying short story. Boyack has a way of making you feel great empathy for a character in a really short amount of time.
The star though, for me, was "50 Gallon Drum". I've always loved Boyack's quirky stories, twisted humour, and interesting characters, but in "Drum" it really becomes apparent that boy, he can write. The phrasing is beautiful as the story meanders along, frequently tugging the heartstrings with each revelation, right up to the sucker-punch ending. This is one that will stay with me forever.
I can highly reccomend "The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack", and I'll be nudging Notebook II higher in my TBR pile I think!
And I wasn't disappointed.
As I've already said, this is a series of short stories - some only a page or two long - with a speculative flavour, covering everything from robots and sci-fi, to myhtological creatures like genies and dragons. Most of the stories have a delicious twist at the end, though some are more like mini novellas and focus on character development (ie, the Lisa Burton and Jason Fogg stories); characters that will later appear in other works by Boyack.
Some standout stories for me were "Jack O Lantern", "50 Gallon Drum", "Soup-Ladle of Destiny", "Something in the Water", and the Lisa Burton / Jason Fogg stories. "Jack O Lantern" was a short bite with an ending that made me caw "ha!" out loud. "Soup-Ladle of Destiny" is reminiscent of a Grimm Brothers tale. "Something in the Water" features another 'character' from "Viral Blues" (kind of), and is a truly satisfying short story. Boyack has a way of making you feel great empathy for a character in a really short amount of time.
The star though, for me, was "50 Gallon Drum". I've always loved Boyack's quirky stories, twisted humour, and interesting characters, but in "Drum" it really becomes apparent that boy, he can write. The phrasing is beautiful as the story meanders along, frequently tugging the heartstrings with each revelation, right up to the sucker-punch ending. This is one that will stay with me forever.
I can highly reccomend "The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack", and I'll be nudging Notebook II higher in my TBR pile I think!
August 31, 2016
"The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack" is an enjoyable collection of micro-fiction and short stories that readers keen to science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal will surely enjoy. Mr. Boyack’s creativity is to be admired. His stories transport the reader to another world. It’s quite fascinating, and he has indeed mastered the art of writing endings you don’t see coming. Of the collection there were three stories in particular that truly captivated me: 73 Seconds, 50 Gallon Drum, and A Humid Business.
My only caveat with the book is that the stories end at 82% on the E-book reader. The remainder of the book was a free sample of his novel Will O’ the Wisp. I appreciate when authors include samples of another novel, but I was quite surprised when the stories comprised only 4/5th of the book.
Aside from that, this was an enjoyable read. "The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack II" has recently been released, and I have already purchased it.
My only caveat with the book is that the stories end at 82% on the E-book reader. The remainder of the book was a free sample of his novel Will O’ the Wisp. I appreciate when authors include samples of another novel, but I was quite surprised when the stories comprised only 4/5th of the book.
Aside from that, this was an enjoyable read. "The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack II" has recently been released, and I have already purchased it.
October 12, 2015
I found this anthology to be very entertaining. The author's stories were all well written. There were several that really grabbed my attention, 50 Gallons and Bombshell Squad, to name two. C. S. Boyack is underrated writer and I look forward to reading more of his work - especially Wild Concept. I had fun with the whole anthology. You won't go wrong with this book of short stories. Boyack hit it out of the park!
August 30, 2016
Craig Boyack has an imagination like no other. His short stories are well written and uniquely different. Such a wide variety of interesting topics, full of memorable characters. Every time you think you have a favorite story, you find another one!
May 11, 2017
I am a huge fan of short stories, both creating and reading them. The problem is, not many writers do them well. Stephen King has published several collections and even his stories are sometimes hit and miss.
This is not the case with C.S. Boyack. In his Experimental Notebook he scores with one great story after another. Many of them have a pattern of reeling the reader in and then leaving you breathless with a surprise ending. From the very first story, Jack O’ Lantern, to gems like The 50 Gallon Drum, Boyack sets up the reader and then delivers some surprise that leaves you smiling.
For anyone who enjoys short stories, this book is a must. One bit of false advertising appears in the Goodreads blurb. The author states that the book was designed to provide short reads. I stayed awake in my hotel room telling myself, “just one more” until I had finished the book and then downloaded the second one.
I highly recommend this book and will be reading more by this author. He shows a depth and breadth to his writing seldom found in the indie author community. Please give his stories a try and spread the word like wildfire.
This is not the case with C.S. Boyack. In his Experimental Notebook he scores with one great story after another. Many of them have a pattern of reeling the reader in and then leaving you breathless with a surprise ending. From the very first story, Jack O’ Lantern, to gems like The 50 Gallon Drum, Boyack sets up the reader and then delivers some surprise that leaves you smiling.
For anyone who enjoys short stories, this book is a must. One bit of false advertising appears in the Goodreads blurb. The author states that the book was designed to provide short reads. I stayed awake in my hotel room telling myself, “just one more” until I had finished the book and then downloaded the second one.
I highly recommend this book and will be reading more by this author. He shows a depth and breadth to his writing seldom found in the indie author community. Please give his stories a try and spread the word like wildfire.
August 4, 2023
This collection of short stories is a showcase of great writing. Boyack has a unique way of adding magic to the ordinary and mystery to the absurd. I am consistently amazed and entranced by his storytelling skill. There's a story for everyone in this book, and as for me, I enjoyed every one of them. Bravo!
March 25, 2018
A series of short science fiction stories, a couple of them really bizarre. Enjoyable for a quick read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews