Obsidian Worlds Review Tour

Blurb:

Jason Werbeloff’s short stories have been downloaded over 20,000 times. Obsidian Worlds brings together his 11 best-selling sci-fi shorts into a mind-bending philosophical anthology.

In Your Averaged Joe, a man’s headache is large enough to hold the multiverse. Q46F is an obsessive-compulsive android who finds love in a zombie-embroiled apocalypse. The end of the world isn’t all that bad – The Experience Machine will fulfil your every desire (and some you hadn’t considered). A sex bot dares to dream of freedom in Dinner with Flexi. But mind what you eat, because The Photons in the Cheese Are Lost. Don’t fret though: The Cryo Killer guarantees that your death will be painless, or your money back when you’re thawed. Unless, that is, you’re The Man with Two Legs.

Plug into Obsidian Worlds for these and other immersive stories, including the hilarious Time-Traveling Chicken Sexer. Your brain will never be the same again.

Excerpt from The Cryo Killer:

“Inesa and Paul, good to meet you. Who referred you?”

“Mr. Camfrey’s wife.”

Paul’s hands are working. Picking at each other. At the cuticles.

“Ah yes, I was sorry to hear about his passing.”

“I think,” she lowers her voice, “that it was professionally done. Heart attack, I hear.”

I lean forward. “You’d like a similar package, ma’am?”

Paul speaks up for the first time. “Is it quick?”

If I had a penny for every time a client asked me that question. “Painless,” I say, “or your money back.”

Paul harrumphs.

“Excellent,” says Inesa, beaming. “You’ve been doing this a while?”

“Best in the business,” says Janet, striding over to us. She places a hand on my shoulder. “You’re safe with Barker.”

“So, you’re wanting the double package?”

Inesa squeezes her husband’s arm. Every carat on her ring finger catches the sunlight. His nod is miniscule.

“Yes,” she replies after a moment.

“Those are difficult.” I lean back in my chair, weighing the ring out of the corner of my eye. “Coroner looks closely at doubles. Need a plausible cause of death. Right now all I have in stock are gas leaks and home invasions. Invasions can get messy – brings down the property value. I suggest the gas leak. Although …” I glance at Paul. “Home invasions are on the rise.”

Paul scratches the skin over his knuckles. His lips have taken on a bluish tinge. I’ve seen all manner of manners displayed in the chairs on the other side of my desk. Clients respond to their impending deaths in all sorts of ways. Paul’s reaction isn’t unique.

“Gas leak,” says Inesa definitively.

Paul nods, a quick jerk up and down. “When’ll it happen?” He can’t meet my gaze.

“I could probably fit you in next week. Any preferences?”

“I’m writing an exam on Tuesday,” says Inesa. She looks to Paul, “And I’m sure you’d like to finalize that merger?”

He groans.

“Late next week?” she asks.

“Let’s see … Janet, check my availability, please.”

“Could do Friday next.”

“Excellent,” says Inesa.

“But …” Paul is fading to a paler blue by the minute. Droplets dot his forehead. “I just can’t live with the thought of this hanging over me for the next ten days. I just …” He swallows. “I just can’t.”

I reach out a hand and touch the man’s shoulder. His golf shirt is saturated. “Not to worry, sir. A memory wipe is included. You’ll never know you were here.” I offer him my warmest smile. Janet calls it the Big Daddy. “In fact, you may’ve been here before, and you wouldn’t know.”

Paul eyeballs me. “Have we been here before?”

“I couldn’t tell you.” I wink.

My Review:

This was definitely an interesting collection of stories. I’m not sure exactly how to rate this book because it was so unusual. Each story starts by throwing you into not only a new story, but a new world as well. For example, going from a story set in a modern day time where a man has crazy things happen to him while reading through his emails (The Photons in the Cheese Are Lost) to a story about a time traveler from the 1900s being pulled into a future war against aliens (The Time-Traveling Chicken Sexer) was interesting to say the least.

The writer definitely likes pushing boundaries and being daring, which works sometimes and doesn’t at others. For example, he writes about hot topic issues such as religion and homosexuality, handling them interestingly in each story they are present in (especially his take on religion). I alternated between being shocked, amused, offended, intrigued, disgusted, and moved, among other emotions. Some of the stories had offensive or disturbing elements that squicked me out while others were funny and even surprisingly heartwarming (such as F***ing Through the Apocalypse, which I was not expecting at all). Some didn’t make much sense or seem to have a point beyond just being as bizarre as possible (I’m still trying to figure out The Photons in the Cheese are Lost).

While I enjoyed the experience of getting to read this book, I’m not sure if I’ll read it again, just because it is so bizarre and out there. However, I do recommend giving this collection or one of this author’s works a read. His writing style probably wouldn’t be for everyone, but it is interesting and worth checking out. Several of the stories in this collection (The Time-Traveling Chicken Sexer, F***ing Through the Apocalypse, Falling for Q46F, and The Experience Machine) are sold for free by themselves on Amazon (at least as of now they are), so I would recommend at least reading those stories and giving his work a try to see if it’s for you. 

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December 28: Unabridged Andra's
December 28: Romorror Fan Girl
January 4: Aspiring Joy Blog
January 11: Lilac Reviews
January 11: White Sky Project
January 18: Sharing Links and Wisdom
January 18: Harlie's Books

Author Bio and Links:

Jason Werbeloff is a novelist and philosopher. He loves chocolate and his Labrador, Sunny.

He's interested in the nature of social groups, personal identity, freedom, and the nature of the mind. His passion is translating philosophical debate around these topics into works of science fiction, while gorging himself on chocolate.

Amazon Author Page – download all of Werbeloff's fiction from Amazon.

Newsletter – subscribe to get 'The Solace Pill' free, as well as VIP access to Werbeloff's latest fiction.

Goodreads – read reviews of Werbeloff’s fiction.

Facebook and Twitter – follow Werbeloff for release date information on upcoming shorts and novels.

  

Website - read about the author, and the philosophy behind his fiction.

Buy Link - The book is $0.99 during the tour.