The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack II

by C.S. Boyack

A second collection of short stories and micro-fiction. Every story can be read in a single session. This time there are a few tributes to the pulp era. Stories include science fiction, paranormal, and horror.

Genres: Fantasy

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2016

Reviews

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of short stories and and this collection is brimming with original micro fiction. Characters are three-dimensional and the plot is intricate in each of the stories, which is difficult to achieve. Another gem by Boyack and one I highly recommend!

My Rating: 5 stars

[P.H. Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second edition of short stories by C. S. Boyack was even more entertaining than the first one. The stories all had twists, some that left me laughing and others with a cringe. There's a bit of everything in this edition from vampires to some inventive modes of revenge. Some of my favorites were Documentary, Inheritance, Magpies, Questing, Career Move and Jason Fogg. This is a can't mist read that entertained me with each story.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Experimental Notebook has some hair raising stories! The creep factor is way up there as well. Fascinating and sometimes chilling, the author created enough variety here to hook people of every interest as there are paranormal stories, horror/macabre and even sci-fi. The storytelling was generally well paced and flowed nicely. My attention was held by the author’s highly imaginative, well-written and captivating short stories...and so was my imagination.
The mystery and subtleties are magical. No blatant, oozing zombies come crashing through doors, gnashing and gnawing live victims. The stories are artfully spun psychological weapons of intrigue, drawing on the reader's imagination.
I enjoyed them all but I have several favorites: Magpies, Documentary, Jason Fogg, Questing ,Holo – Barkers, Night Bump Radio and Practical Geology. I already feel Career Move or Another Saturday Night are angry with me because I left them aside. If I could give all these stories a rating of 10 stars, I most definitely would do so.
Each of the fifteen tales in the collection contains an unexpected twist in the character or outcome. C.S. Boyack seems to have the knack of taking one idea and spinning it, like a spider's web coming from one small strand, into a very fine and very wide reaching net that catches you and keeps you involved until the end.
Top quality ... you just can't go wrong with this one!

[Sue Coletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the author's first Experimental Notebook, and really enjoyed it. But I liked this one ever better. C.S. Boyack's ability really shined through. I'm amazed by his level of creativity. For an author to be able to write in so many genres, from speculative fiction to paranormal to crime, he has talent galore. The EXPERIMENTAL NOTEBOOK II starts off with a bang with FEVER. Loved that story!!! I also loved THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE ROCKETMEN, which really surprised me, actually. I'm not usually a fan of spaceship anything, but the voice of the story was so well done I couldn't stop reading it. But if I had to pick a favorite it's PRACTICAL GEOLOGY. That story has stayed with me, and I absolutely adored the main character. The murder method is deliciously evil, too. Can't say more than that without spoilers. I'm so glad the author included an INTERMISSION. Before his first collection I'd never seen that before. Very cool idea.

If you're looking for a collection of short and micro fiction, don't look past this one. C.S. Boyack excels at maintaining pace, giving us characters we can root for, and stories with loads of creativity. Highly recommend.

[Mae Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a spectacular collection of short and micro fiction. I really enjoyed the author’s first “Experimental Notebook” but this one is superb. The blend of stories from sci-fi, to paranormal and even horror, is an entrancing mixture much like strolling through a sideshow carnival and goggling at all the curiosities. Some of these stories will make you think, a few might make you squirm, but all will have you applauding at how deftly they’re delivered.

I have my favorites. From the pulp-type Last Flight of the Rocketmen to the cleverly executed Documentary and, oddness of Magpies just to name a few, there is something here for everyone. Best of all, you can easily enjoy them in small doses or all at once. My absolute favorite is Holo-Barkers, a brilliant little piece that I still find myself grinning about. Other readers are sure to fine their favorites as well. Whether you’re a regular reader of short stories or only indulge occasionally, this is one collection you don’t want to miss. Highly entertaining!

[Staci Troilo]

I love works that are collections because you either get to sample several authors' works, or you get a clear picture of the type of writing a single author does. In THE EXPERIMENTAL NOTEBOOK OF C. S. BOYACK II, we are treated to a wide variety of Boyack's talents, which include the sci-fi, horror, and paranormal genres. It's clear these stories came from an active and creative mind, and it's difficult to pick a favorite; each story is more entertaining than the next. But if I have to give a shout-out to one, it's "Practical Geology." I'm pretty sure that one's going to stay with me for a while. If you enjoy any of these genres, you're going to want to give this collection a try.

[Chris The Story Reading Ape · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read (and reviewed) Boyack's Experimental Notebook 1 and enjoying it, I decided to read this one as well.
What another great bunch of short stories!
They cover Sci-Fi, Fantasy, induce tears (Angel), follow an aggrieved spouse's plan for a perfect murder (Practical Geology), and more.
Recommended short reads.

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/B01K...

https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/...

[Victoria Zigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another collection of successful writing experiments, which were enjoyable - if sometimes a little creepy or scary - to read.

[D.L. Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories and micro-fiction that includes: science fiction, horror, and other genres. Mr. Boyack pulled me right into each story-- quickly and completely. “Fever” was a thought provoking story about losing ourselves-- in our daily lives. “Magpies” was chilling. I came away from this tale with an understanding of how a cow might feel. I loved “Angels” for so many reasons, including hope in the darkest of situations. “Holo-Barkers” was amusing and a bit too on target for the future. But, I believe it was the revenge story I might have enjoyed the most (maybe a bit too much), “Practical Geology”. I thought reading a collection of stories would make it easy to put the book down at night, but that wasn’t the case. I kept reading…just one more story. If you like short story collections with interesting twists and plots you will enjoy “The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack II”. I know I did!

[Terry Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by me as a member of Rosie Amber's Review Team

A selection of 'speculative fiction' short stories. I've never been quite sure exactly what speculative fiction is, and presumed it to be writing whatever you want regardless of what 'the rules' say or what is currently in fashion or an accepted genre. I think all writing should be like that anyway, so I imagined these stories would work for me; also, I'd read good reports of C S Boyack.

I'll start by saying that he's an artful and intelligent writer with bags of talent. As is always the case with short story collections, some of them are weaker than others, and some are extremely good. My favourites were Magpies, Practical Geology and The Parade Wave, all of which are on the extremely dark and slightly comedic side, and will merit a second read. Others, such as a vampire one, didn't interest me so much, and with some of them I felt they were lacking a denouement; I'd come to the end and think, 'and?'. Sometimes, the dialogue was a bit information heavy and unrealistic; there are other ways of setting the scene other than have one person express to another exactly where they are and why (like they wouldn't already know that) ~ BUT: in each one the writing is great, I couldn't fault that, and this made them all enjoyable to read.

A solid 4*; I'd definitely read more by this guy.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology comprises fifteen different stories, taking you on fifteen 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 II, C. S. Boyack presents us with fifteen 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 stories right away, close to the protagonists - sometimes too close for comfort. I could easily envision the characters and locations. I had a great time reading The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack II. It is a very enjoyable read.

This is for you if you like short stories, adventures with a humorous streak, paranormal events, horror stories, a remarkable science fiction story, very likeable characters to cheer on, surprises and food for thought – all packed in micro-fiction and short stories.

This is a book to read again. Highly recommended!

[Yvette Calleiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of short stories. They focus on speculative fiction, paranormal, and sci-fi stories. I am not usually a short story kind of reader. I prefer reading a series (the longer, the better) because I love to lose myself in the characters and their imaginary lives. That being said, this is a great collection of short stories. One of my biggest critiques of short stories is that I usually cannot connect with the characters, but that was not the case with this book. The author has an incredible ability to infuse a strong personality into a character in just a few pages. I was stunned with how gripping some of the characterizations were, especially the characters who were on the far edges of normal. There were stories that left me speechless at the end, cringing to imagine how horrific it would be if they were true. There were other stories that left me wishing that there was just one more chapter so that I could read more about the characters. Of course, there was one or two stories that weren't my cup of tea, but that is to be expected in a collection of short stories. They weren't on topics that were interesting to me, but they were still very well-written stories. I didn't read the first collection of stories by this author, and even though I'm not a short-story reader, I would enjoy reading his first collection, especially if it's like this one. :-)

[S.K. Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.S. Boyack has a brilliant mind. I love his writing on his blog and in his books. The Experimental Notebook II is exactly what it claims to be, an experimental notebook. It is fascinating to see how his mind works and how the words come together in this little book of short stories. There are fifteen. Some are barely a page and others are several pages. I liked the longer ones best. I thought several of the stories needed to be expounded upon. But these are experiments that we just might get lucky enough to see developed into full books, or see some of the elements introduced into new works.

There is something in here for everybody, most pieces have a paranormal element, from the behaviors of a flock of crows, to a couple mysteries that are solved in a most unique manner, to a sci-fi adventure to alien worlds. Although there are a couple of Halloweenish-type scary stories, this is a book that can be enjoyed any time.

It was exactly the sort of book I needed to grab a short read here and there through the Holidays.

[John W. Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second Experimental Notebook by C. S. Boyack is another adventure into some entertaining and downright genius short stories. The beauty of most of the stories is they grab you right in the beginning and then leads you down a path you never expected. It is a path that you are glad you traveled but where it comes out is an unusual surprise. Several of the stories were my favorites (it is hard to pick a favorite). The inheritance brought to mind the classic Victorian story with a sorry ending. Last Flight of Rocket Man was ingenious in its characterizations and story detail. Night Bump Radio was my most favorite but have to confess I was a radio jock in my youth. The scenes were well drawn, and the accuracy of the studio functions was impressive.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a variety of stories with a consistent quality of writing and spirit of surprise. The author provided an ARC with no expectation of a favorable review.

[Jan Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find a bit of every genre in this compilation of shorts. It starts off with a bang in "Fever" where a woman is confronted by her younger more carefree self. Makes you stop and think. Have we stifled the child within us?
"Magpies" takes a dark turn where we find birds patiently waiting for a car wreck victim to die. Made me shiver!
Another particularly dark story was "Things We Do For Love" as it took a science fiction turn with a romantic twist.
The "Holo-Barkers" take us forward in time to a world I could easily imagine and may not be that far into the future. The compilation of shorts ends with "Practical Geology" where we find a woman scorned getting revenge in the most torturous of ways.
All-in-all, if you like short stories that will leave you wishing for more when each one ends, you'll love this book. C.S. Boyack has a knack for keeping you turning the pages with his writing style and subject matter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Harmony Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first Experimental Notebook of C S Boyack and when I saw this second volume, I had to read it. The author didn't disappoint. The collection contains short stories of varying length and genre, ranging from tales that chill to experimental fiction to sci fi and more. It wouldn't feel right to pick a favourite, as they're all good for different reasons, and many leave you thinking about them long after you've read them. Although the book contains a few spelling hiccups, it is such a good read that it gets a resounding 5 stars from me. I look forward to reading more of this writer's books. Each story has a unique voice, and all of them are well crafted with characters that pop off the page.

[Natalie Ducey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, C. S. Boyack has delivered a riveting collection of micro-fiction and short stories. In The Experimental Notebook II, Mr. Boyack transports the reader to another world with his creativity and memorizing tales, varying in genres from science fiction, horror, fantasy, to paranormal. I enjoyed every story in this collection, each unique in originality, but there are five stories in particular that truly captivated me: Fever, Magpies, Jason Fogg, Angel, and Practical Geology. There is something for every reader in this collection. A well deserved 5 stars! I highly recommend it!

[Anita Dawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second edition was incredibly as good as the first. Craig Boyack has an imagination like no other, his short stories well written and uniquely different. Always such a wide variety of interesting topics, full of memorable characters. You won't be able to put this book down, for every time you think you have found a favorite story, you find another one!
This talent is evident on his website too, making every post a joy to read.

[Traci Ashbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection is full of goodies!! From a bird's eye view of death in "Magpies," to my favorite, though regrettably, I can't recall the title, but it is a haunting tale of grave robbers who must rob bodies to live!! This book is full of haunted houses, DJ whammies, and even rocketmen. I highly recommend!!

[Jessica Bakkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn't happen often, but this book, The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack II, frustrated me. I mean that in the best possible way. Let me explain.

I adore C. S. Boyack's weird brand of unique speculative fiction. There are few writers out there with as fertile imagination as Boyack (in fact, a few Big Name writers ought to take notes from Mr. Boyack into how spec fic is done). That said, when I get into one of Boyack's weird twisty tales that has me on the edge of my seat...then stops! Well, you can see my frustration. Almost every single one of these stories could have been a novel. There was a glimmer of deep plot, a gleam of unique character, a promise of a wild romp, but alas, they were all short stories, so they had to end far sooner than I would have liked. 

I guess it's a hallmark of a good writer to keep his audience wanting more, but dang it! What a tease! The stories that particularly hooked me in (and that I could've cheerfully read a series about), include 'Last Flight of the Rocketmen' (what world-building!), 'Night Bump Radio', and 'Just Another Saturday Night'.

Yes, there were a few stories that hit that short story sweet spot and punched with a lot of weight and impact (I'm looking at you 'Parade Wave', 'Holo-Barkers', and 'Magpies'). And I guess I have to be satisfied that the Jason Fogg tale led to an incredible character popping up in a feature-length novel later down the track. But overall, Boyack left this reader hot and bothered and just wanting more. I guess I'll just have to satisfy myself with 'The Playground' - the Boyack novel teased at the end of 'Notebook II' - and if there's any way to tease a book properly, it's to focus on a Clovis scene. 

If you're a lover of short stories, check these out. If you're a lover of Boyack's work, check these out. If you want to put down your book at the end of every story and say 'Gah! That can't be the end!', yeah, well, check these out!

[William Eckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend reading The Experimental Notebook of C. S. Boyack first, as there is one sequel story in the second notebook.

Experimental Notebook is an excellent title, because while you can see the author's writing style in each individual story, they are quite different. Some are silly, while others are dark. Some go the direction you're expecting, others take wild twists and turns. There's a mix of genres: urban fantasy, horror, superhero, science fiction, and epic fantasy.

If you enjoy SF, fantasy, or horror short-stories, you won't be disappointed with this collection.