Review by Jimmy Z

100 JOLTS By Michael A. Arnzen Raw Dog Screaming Press TPB: $12.95 156 pages ISBN: 0-9745031-2-6

How do you go about giving insight into a book that collects short stories? Not just short stories, but flash fiction stories. Stories ranging from 22 words for the shortest up to 9 pages for the longest. Although the average story length is a little more than a full page. Michael Arnzen manages to entertain in dazzling fashion with this story form.

Here I submit flash reviews of 18 of the jolts that Arnzen so masterfully delivers.

Pop up killer: We all hate those annoying pop up ads on our computer, but sometimes curiosity gets the better of us.
Brain candy: Zombies can be fun…from the proper distance.
Stabbing for dummies: an instructional guide
Change in Policy: Change is the most feared aspect of humanity.
Who Wants to be a Killionaire: A humorous look at the world of horror game shows.
Returns: A study of the bizarre world of retail return policies.
Tassels: The pinnacle of all parents dreams is when their children graduate.
Burning Bridges: about the hazards of smoking
Taking Care of Baby: The proper use of baby monitors is very important.
Tugging at the Heartstrings: An emotional journey into family life
Next Door: The dangerous side of microwave cooking
Anniversary Meal: Sometimes an anniversary can seem like an eternity
Phrenological Love-Phrenology: The study of the shape of the skull as indicative of the strengths of different faculties (as defined by www.m-w.com)
This story deals with a young man who uses his abilities to try and get a woman to love him.
Receiver: A story told through messages on an answering machine
Convictions: The roles we have at work sometimes get confused and distorted
Contused: Sometimes we keep wanting something even though we know it is bad for us. Even when we can't have it anymore.
How to Grow a Man Eating Plant: There are guidelines and instructions for these sort of things, you know!
Nightmare Jobs: A set of 5 shorts interspersed throughout the book that are exactly what the title implies.

This collection will take you to places you never saw coming. Will tantalize you with its sudden, sharp brevity. I look forward to the next 100 jolts that he will hopefully be delivering sometime soon. A defibrillator sending its shock straight to the brain. CLEAR!

As a bonus, the collection closes with an interview of Arnzen by Jerry Schatz: Offering insight into what makes him tick; and what makes him write as well. I like the idea of concluding a book like this with an interview. It adds quite a nice touch.

This rates 4 Bookwyrms

This review copyright 2004 E.C.McMullen Jr.

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