Reusing an old bc number, that's why this 2013 book is "registered in 2008"

Releasing at the Oslo convention.

Picked up at the 2017 BookCrossing Convention in Oslo, Norway. Looks like it could be funny, or it could just be really weird. I guess I'll find out.

A collection of truly bizarre short stories: human silk worms, future-stealing seagulls, horse presidents, window smugglers, and other strange happenings all over the world and throughout history. I'm not sure if I could honestly say I really enjoyed these stories. There were a lot of really unusual and interesting concepts, but the plots and characters left something to be desired.

Bringing to today's BCinDC meetup. If no one claims it, it'll go on the OBCZ shelf.

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Took home from the BCinDC meetup.
Thank you, melydia!

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Adding to the restarted ABC Bookbox.

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I've read this before, so I'll leave it in the box, but I wanted to add my thoughts.

I really enjoyed this collection! I recognized the title story as one I'd read in the anthology Vampires: The Recent Undead. It's a poignant look at aging and marriage and desire - from the viewpoint of a vampire couple who've been "on the wagon" for a long time.

"Reeling for the Empire" - now that one's very unusual indeed, with its take on slave labor as it applies to women who are somehow engineered to create silk in their own bodies. In this case it's literal slavery; most of the young women are effectively sold to the company by fathers or husbands, and while there's some lip service as to the term of employment, the truth is, it's for life. But one young woman has bound herself to the contract, and while she's just as startled and appalled to discover the truth behind it, she also discovers some aspects of the transformation that apparently have not occurred to the owners. I really liked this one.

"Proving Up" is set on the American frontier during homesteading days, and takes the already-difficult situation to increasingly disturbing lengths. Mere survival is hard enough without maintaining standards for the visit of "the Inspector", who can decide whether or not the terms of the homestead contract have been filled. Very haunting!

"The New Veterans" focuses on a woman who specializes in therapeutic massage, and finds a new client in a Middle East-conflict veteran - who has a huge tattoo on his back that details the events of the day an enemy attack cost him a friend. She begins to think that the tattoo has a life of its own, and that she might be able to alter his painful memories by adjusting the tattoo - or is something else happening entirely?

"The Graveless Doll of Eric Mutis" - this one's the most painful to read, dealing with bullying and cruelty, and while the narrator (one of the bullies) seems to acknowledge his own crimes as he tells this story, that doesn't make up for the past.

In other stories, a youth learns that seagulls are apparently stealing key items whose absence changes people's futures; past US presidents are reincarnated as horses (!?); and a huge fandom for the "Team Krill" vs. "Team Whale" match in the Food Chain Games, including tailgate parties in Antarctica. Very unusual ideas, spun out in an intriguing variety of styles. I liked this collection a lot!

This book enjoyed a brief stopover in Oklahoma in the series bookbox. Will travel on soon.

Continuing on in kaila-ann's Already Been Crossed Bookbox.

Took from the Already Been Crossed bookbox.