Book Review: Operation Dragonhead (PEOPLE MAKING DANGER) by Adam Fike

30/09/202530/09/2025Humor, noir, satire, Science-Fiction, Surreal FictionLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Adam Fike
Release Date: 19 March, 2021
Series: PEOPLE MAKING DANGER
Genre: Science-Fiction, Satire
Format: E-book
Pages: 78 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
MID-CENTURY SCI-FI SATIRE – Early one morning at the end of the 1950s, an impressive, highly coordinated Army training exercise goes off without a hitch. Until frightened town folk decide to fight back. Based on a true story.
PEOPLE MAKING DANGER is a collection of quick, fun, three-act, feature-length stories, full of suspense, surprises and dark humor. All told in the present tense. Like reading a movie.

Review

Operation Dragonhead by Adam Fike is a wildly inventive, satirical tale that blurs the line between Cold War paranoia, small-town Americana, and comic-book absurdity. Based on a real-life Army exercise in the 1950s, the story reimagines the chaos through the eyes of farmers, townsfolk, and overzealous generals who mistake, or encourage others to mistake, routine maneuvers for a full-blown alien invasion. What unfolds is a sharp, humorous critique of fear, authority, and the fragile trust between citizens and institutions.

What I loved most about this story is its tonal balance. Author Adam Fike layers sharp political commentary beneath a playful, almost cinematic surface. The exaggerated characters, the blustering General Hammertree, the wide-eyed townsfolk, the opportunistic local elites feel like archetypes, yet they capture something essential about human behavior in times of confusion. The dialogue brims with wit, and the pacing keeps the reader engaged, moving seamlessly between tense military briefings and farcical encounters with “aliens.”

Overall, Operation Dragonhead is more than a quirky historical fiction piece, it’s a mirror held up to both the absurdity and the danger of orchestrated fear. Readers who enjoy a mix of satire, history, and speculative playfulness will find this story as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

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Book Review: BILLY 9F by David Finley

16/09/202515/09/2025Dystopian, Humor, satire, Science-Fiction, Surreal FictionLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: David Finley
Release Date: 3 November, 2021
~~Series~~:
Genre: YA Dystopian Satire, YA Humor, YA Adventure, YA Science Fiction
Format: E-book
Pages: 204 pages
Publisher: FINWORKS
Blurb:
Like Orwell’s 1984 — but even funnier!
In a grim School-centred dystopia where humour is outlawed and laughter—even a single HA!—is met with an excruciating electric shock to the neck, Billy 9F is the ultimate threat: he’s a Class Clown. When he’s labeled a menace for his extremely convincing and sublimely funny fake snot, barf and turd pranks, Billy joins a underground comedic resistance movement with a mysterious new student, Jamie 9F, her mysterious grandfather, the Major, an ultra-mysterious revolutionary leader named Poopoo the Clown, and Billy’s not-at-all

mysterious but highly malfunctioning android mentor, Uncle Mike. To free his imprisoned parents, save his little sister’s life and liberate the joyless populace, Billy must fully realize his own natural-born gifts and harness the awesome power of laughter.
Darkly funny, fast, and surprisingly hopeful, BILLY 9F is perfect for readers 12 years of age to infinity who love page-turners with big ideas—and lots of laughs.

Review

David Finley’s Billy 9F is a wildly inventive YA dystopian satire that blends absurdist humor with biting social commentary. The novel follows Billy, a schoolboy living in a rigid system where laughter is outlawed, rules are enforced with demerits and “Pain Collars,” and conformity is the highest value. His life takes a strange turn when his parents gift him “Uncle Mike,” a 57-year-old man who becomes both an irritating companion and an unlikely ally. From there, Billy stumbles into secret wars with clowns, underground resistance movements, and surreal teachers who bulldoze into dining rooms mid-meal.

What makes the book compelling is its sharp use of comedy as rebellion. Whether it’s fart jokes elevated to acts of protest, or the way “outside laughter” becomes a weapon against authoritarian control, author Finley underscores the importance of humor as survival. The recurring presence of Uncle Mike, bumbling, exasperating, yet oddly endearing, adds both comic relief and thematic depth. Jamie and the Major, resistance figures who guide Billy, give the narrative more emotional resonance and direction.

From an editorial perspective, the book occasionally overindulges in repetition. Uncle Mike’s constant chatter and some extended slapstick routines could have been trimmed without losing impact. Still, the playful prose, the creativity of its dystopian world, and the rhythm of dialogue keep the pages turning.

Overall, Billy 9F is equal parts absurd, satirical, and heartfelt. It asks readers, young and old alike, to remember the radical power of laughter in a world that insists on taking itself too seriously.

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Book Review: Ten Assholes and a Curmudgeon by Bruce Wayne Workman

07/10/202307/10/2023satireLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Bruce Wayne Workman
Release Date: September 30, 2023
~~Series~~:
Genre: Satire
Format: E-book
Pages: 139 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
About the Author Bruce Wayne Workman is a retired rubber chemist with a BS in Information Technology. He is a jack of many trades who has taken to freelance writing in his retirement. Bruce has a passion for information and research, first evidenced when he began reading the entire World Book Encyclopedia at age eight. He was called a natural by a professor in one of his literature courses at UMass Lowell. His first essay on the differences between the working class and the ruling class, The New Robber Barons, was written in 2002 about CEO v worker wages. Bruce is an amateur political activist. Much of his blog at bruceworkman.com is devoted to politics and inequality. He writes a regular feature known as “Asshole of the Week.” Bruce was not named after Batman, but the president of Cooper Tire and Rubber Company. Bruce lives in Findlay, Ohio, with his wife and son. His daughter and grandchildren live in a Detroit suburb. Bruce is a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan and spends an unhealthy amount of time in front of a computer.

Review

Bruce Wayne Workman’s “Ten Assholes and a Curmudgeon” is a candid and often humorous exploration of personal reflections, political insights, and societal observations. While the title may suggest a purely satirical commentary on political figures, the book delves deeper, offering readers a multifaceted look into Workman’s worldviews and personal experiences.

The satirical pseudo-biographies, stemming from Workman’s blog feature “Asshole of the Week,” are both incisive and tongue-in-cheek, targeting Republican figures who have, in the author’s view, engaged in undemocratic or outrageous behaviors. These chapters are bound to elicit strong reactions, depending on the reader’s political inclinations. Yet, it’s essential to approach them with the understanding that they represent Workman’s personal opinions and the collective sentiment of his blog’s followers.

Beyond these satirical pieces, the book blossoms into a more introspective space. Workman’s essays on religion, history, and personal observations provide a balanced counterpart to the book’s more provocative sections. Particularly touching are the heartfelt memorials dedicated to his loved ones. These chapters are a testament to Workman’s depth as a writer and his ability to navigate a wide range of emotions and topics with grace.

In essence, “Ten Assholes and a Curmudgeon” is a thought-provoking amalgamation of satire, personal reflection, and societal commentary. Workman’s candid voice, coupled with his unique perspectives, makes this book a compelling read for those willing to embark on a journey that oscillates between humour, sentimentality, and critique.

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Book Review: I AM NOT GOD: How Far Can a Reality Show Go by Joshua Veridical

12/07/202211/07/2022Joshua Veridical, Philosophy, SpiritualismLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Joshua Veridical
Release Date: 1st Febrauary 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Spiritualism, Philosophy
Format: E-book
Pages: 152 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
In the Rush of living our life, it is true that we forget Purpose of life. Religion keeps us disciplined and shows us the path to find that purpose. There are many monks, Spiritual Leaders and Priests who guide us to maintain stability in life and help our soul grow. This book takes you in the unusual journey of Spiritualism where the purpose of life is found by our main protagonist but in a very unusual way.

Review

I Am Not God by Joshua Veridical is a book based on the spiritual journey of the main protagonist that tackles many philosophical questions about life and its meaning in general. Overall the book is a decent read and proved to be a quick read. The main character, although not extremely relatable, was likeable enough for me to be able to read the entire book to learn more about his journey.

I did feel that the book needed more polishing as the writing felt a bit rough and could have been better, but of course, that is my personal opinion and being an editor myself I do have tough standards when it comes to writing style, especially in Indian literature.

This book would be perfect for readers of philosophical books and spiritual enthusiasts.

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Book Review: Meta (Game On #1.0) by Xander Black

11/07/202210/07/2022Adventure, Humor, satire, Science-Fiction, Science-Fiction Fantasy, Xander BlackLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Xander Black
Release Date: 14th March 2022
Series: Game On (Book #1)
Genre: Science-Fiction Fantasy, Adventure, Humour
Format: E-book
Pages: 445 pages
Publisher: BC BOOKS
Blurb:
WELCOME TO THE METAVERSE
2065: the streets are abandoned, shops are empty, parks are silent. But is that really much of a surprise when you can connect to the Cybernet?
Everyone can turn on, log in and drop out.
Cyrus, a failed physicist, and drop-out game designer Everett are on the cusp of their big breakthrough into the meta ranks of Neverborn, the world’s most popular game.

But when several high-profile avatars disappear, and their human counterparts are found dead, Cyrus and Everett find themselves under suspicion. They must clear their names and unravel the deeper mysteries of Brith and the Neverborn. In doing so, they will uncover a dark secret, that threatens not only the game-world but the safety of their physical realm.

Satire, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery combine in an epic adventure where no one ever leaves home, perfect for fans of Ready Player One and Douglas Adams.

Review

Meta by Xander Black is a new science-fiction fantasy adventure novel based on the concept of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) in a PSW (a persistent state world) where millions of players can develop their characters in virtual reality. In simple terms, this book is based on a future where people spend most of their lives in virtual reality instead of living a normal life in the real world.

This book was a decent read though it did remind me too much of Ready Player One (which I thoroughly loved.) At some point, it got a bit overwhelming and I wanted to quit reading it, though knowing better, and trying not to draw comparisons between the two books because of their common concept, I kept reading and finished the book in the hopes that it would be different and I’m glad that I did because this book proved to be a good read with a nice ending.

I liked the writing because it had a good flow but the efforts of the author to try and sound like Douglas Adam-ish felt pretty annoying and seemed to have killed the author’s natural writing style. I found the satire a bit forced and not correctly executed. Also, the book felt to have been lacking decent editing, it may be because I was sent a review copy and not the final book, but the copy if the copy I have and the final book are the same then the book obviously has editing issues. If the book’s final version is well-edited, it should make for a better read. Apart from these issues, as I previously said, the book was a decent read and would be a great fit for sci-fi and adventure genre readers.

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Book Review: Hold The Apocalypse – Pass Me A Scientist Please, And Other Humorous Essays From An Optimist In Dreamland by Bob Lorentson

05/03/202205/03/2022Bob Lorentson, Humor, Philosophy, Psychology, satire, Short-StoriesLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Bob Lorentson
Release Date: 7th October 2021
Genre: Humor, Satire, Science, Philosophy, Psychology
Format: E-book
Pages: 169 pages
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Blurb:
A terrified yet occasionally optimistic environmental scientist takes a humorous look at the science behind the human and animal behaviors that make a doomed planet so interesting.
If you’ve ever wanted to get the real dirt on forest bathing without getting muddied, or on animal arsonists without getting burned, or on DIY transcranial Direct Current Stimulation without risking all those excitable neurons that already have one foot out the door, then this is the book for you. Should you be of the type, however, that has found life’s little pleasures interrupted of late by the loud ticking of the Doomsday Clock, put in some earplugs, because it’s not yet too late to have a good laugh while you learn about ‘Cat Research for Dummies,’ ‘Brain Wars – the Gender Variations,’ or ‘Boredom – It’s Not Just for the Boring.’

In these fifty essays, Bob Lorentson humorously uses science, philosophy, psychology, history, and even poetry to examine a myriad of curious subjects while waiting for the collapse of civilization.

Review

Hold The Apocalypse – Pass Me A Scientist Please, And Other Humorous Essays From An Optimist In Dreamland by Bob Lorentson is a book of essays that are unique, fresh yet, on a deeper level, quite important. These essays are humorous with undertones of various themes such as psychology, philosophy, general sciences, socio-political themes, etc. I enjoyed reading this collection because there was never a dull moment!

The author has a very unique style of writing and his sense of humour appealed to me a lot. I enjoyed each and every essay mostly because aside from the satirical approach and the social commentary, the pieces always had a deeper meaning to them and with each and every essay, the author nailed that bit.

I would highly recommend this book to readers of satire and short-story or essay collections.

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Book Review: Prisoner Of Mauvias (Book #1 Of The God’s Game Series) by Tiffany Brazell

15/02/202214/02/2022E.T. McNamara, Historical, historical-romance, Political, R.J. O'Sullivan , Romance, satire, Science-FictionLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Tiffany Brazell
Release Date: 20th December 2020
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: The God’s Game Series (Book #1)
Format: E-book
Pages: 252 pages
Publisher: Regalis Publishing, LLC
Blurb:
The Destroyer’s Empire Part 1 is the first book in The God’s Game, a new epic fantasy series by Tiffany Brazell. A cursed world…
An immortal empress…
A girl with forbidden knowledge and unknown power…
Although she has read all about Vias the Destroyer’s dreaded liths, Salmaara has never seen one. In fact, she’s not even sure the nightmarish, mouthless creatures exist.
She’s never been to Mauvias, land created by the goddess Vias the Destroyer, ruled by a ruthless immortal empress, a place where the very air is cursed with insatiable thirst, or to the ancient city Kalitoomba, a city of soaring glass towers ruled by a benevolent god-king. Following her rescue from a river, Salmaara lives a quiet life working in her father’s pottery shop, trying to discover who she is in a town where her golden eyes and fair skin make it clear she doesn’t belong. Illun, the man she loves as her father, is keeping a secret. An important secret.

Her looks aren’t the only thing that makes her different. Salmaara can sense where people are by their souls, and can connect her soul to theirs.
One morning, she reaches for the feeling of her father’s soul and hears his thoughts, something she thought only the servants of the Destroyer could do. Before she can discover what it means, one of the liths appears, takes her captive, and carries her away to the gruesome prison city of Günhai, where even the stones cry out in pain. Within its lightproof halls, Salmaara will have to decide, will she do what she’s told, and become a pet, a tool of the empire, of the destroyer herself? Or, will she have to risk her life and very soul, to discover who she truly is and how her powers will be used?

“Imaginative and vast, The God’s Game Series is a big story vividly told, sure to satisfy fans of epic fantasy.”
Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of The Saga of Seven Suns.

“Tiffany Brazell’s imagination takes off where others’ end. This is a tale of high magic that is sure to please.”
David Farland, New York Times bestselling author of The Runelords.

Review

Prisoner Of Mauvias by Tiffany Brazell is the first book in The God’s Game series – an epic fantasy series. This book is an adventurous journey that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions where dangers are lurking behind every turn.

It is a fast-paced fantasy read that follows a simple yet meticulous plot structure that keeps the action tight throughout the story. This book had good, if not superb, characterisation. I was able to connect to or relate with most of the characters, secondary as well as primary. I enjoyed reading this book and am really looking forward to reading the next part in the series as I am sure the characterisation would be further developed in it.

I would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy readers.

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Book Review: Jamie Whistler Plays Out of the Park Baseball Because It’s the Only Thing That Matters by R.J. O’Sullivan

14/02/202214/02/2022E.T. McNamara, Historical, historical-romance, Political, R.J. O'Sullivan , Romance, satire, Science-FictionLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: R.J. O’Sullivan
Release Date: 15th December 2021
Genre: Science-Fiction, Political Satire
~~Series~~:
Format: E-book
Pages: 235 pages
Publisher: RHELM, LLC
Blurb:
After losing his entire family to COVID, the baseball-obsessed heir to a corporate empire uses his family fortune to hit the re-set button on America. Concocting a plot to kidnap a million QAnon followers for the purpose of “deprogramming” them, Jamie Whistler takes the lessons learned from playing his favorite simulation game and applies them to the real world.

Review

Jamie Whistler Plays Out Of The Park Baseball Because It’s The Only Thing That Matters by R.J. O’Sullivan is a unique and refreshing new political satire sci-fi novel.

This book has an intelligent plot, well-written prose to complement it and a cast of interesting and engaging characters that made this book a compelling read. The author has used his amazing sense of humour and subtle phrases to take digs on the current political scenarios, especially relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, drawing the readers attention to the real matter that should be of concern to all of us.

I loved reading this book and would definitely recommend it to all reads of satire and political fiction who won’t mind a sci-fi setting.

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ARC Review: Dead Fish And What the Blue Jays Know by Debbie Ann Ice

12/02/202113/02/2021Debbie Ann Rice, Literary Fiction, women's fictionLeave a Comment

Author: Debbie Ann Ice
Release Date: 22nd April 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Satire
Series:
Format: E-book
Pages: 272 pages
Publisher: Bedazzled Ink Publisher, LLC
Blurb:
It’s the year 20-something—a changed yet still complacent America—and Lorraine Mulderon is mad. She’s mad that dying fish litter the shores of her small Connecticut coastal town. She’s mad birds seem to be dying, possibly indirectly related to fish deaths. She’s still mad about a wave of crow deaths over a decade ago. But, mostly, Lorraine is mad at the lack of madness.

She makes speeches. She phones lazy, and now corrupt, legislators. She is ignored. What has happened to passion? What has happened to our country? And now, what has happened to Lorraine? Lorraine disappears during a protest march. Her daughter, Haley, writes a letter to the world explaining her mother—someone who confronts grief and tragedy the only way she knows how and has depended upon those who tenderly watch over her—her daughter, certain friends, and a flock of blue jays.
However, as the blue jays reveal, Lorraine is not so tenderly watched over by the forces working against her.
It’s a dark future and our nation has normalized tragedy; however, DEAD FISH touches upon these intense themes with hope and humor.

Review

Dead Fish And What the Blue Jays Know by Debbie Ann Ice is a beautiful book about passion, love and loyalty. When I started reading this book, I wasn’t really sure what it was about and if I was going to like it much, but only a couple of pages into the story and I knew that it was going to be a great read. And to my utter satisfaction, it turned out to be that and so much more.

This book not only has a well-written plot but the concept itself is really good and necessary in its own right. I loved the characters and was able to connect and relate to them. The pacing and tension are apt and compliment the story beautifully.

I really enjoyed reading this emotional, at times funny and beautiful read and would definitely recommend it to readers of literary and women’s fiction.

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Book Review: How the Ə Got Producted: A Love Story by N.K. von S.

18/01/202115/12/2021Humor, N.K. von S.Leave a Comment

Author: N.K. von S.
Release Date:
Genre: Humour, Sci-fi
Series:
Format: E-book
Pages: 256 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
A childhood trauma leaves N. yearning for connection and vulnerable to the seductive but damaged Jeremy Sakhdvar, a young product liability attorney with a technology vendetta. Their one-sided relationship ends abruptly when Jeremy marries another woman and runs for elective office. Adrift but resilient, N. mines a series of seemingly random hookups for the raw materials she uses to reinvent herself. N. becomes a prominent lobbyist for the biomedicaltechnology industry and, years later, a top official with the Bureau of

Biomedicaltechnology. Throwing herself into her new position, N. meddles in a plot by a group of antitechnology dissidents to suppress the Ə, a technology that purports to improve human connectedness. The dissidents blow the whistle, provoking an investigation by a U.S. senator and crusading presidential candidate named Jeremy Sakhdvar. Their confrontation pits the regulatory deep state against big tech in a battle to a draw, settles an old romantic score, and clears the way for the Ə to change the world forever.

Review

How the Ə Got Producted by N.K. von S. is a fun satire read about an independent and passionate female protagonist and is unique in its own right.

This book is very unconventional and for that, I did enjoy reading it. It is the story of a protagonist who is trying to navigate through the difficulties of her one-sided love life while at the same time trying to fight for what she truly believes in, in her professional life. The introduction of Ə makes the story very interesting and the book then takes a turn that is both fun to read and interesting to learn about.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to sci-fi reads who don’t mind a romance sub-plot underlined with satire with a streak of feminism.

Audiobook Review: The Optimist by Roy E. Schreiber

13/04/2020Humor, Roy E. SchreiberLeave a Comment

Author: Roy Schreiber
Narrator: Gary Alexander, Sharyon Culberson, Joe Dempsey, Linda Gilllum, Dillon Kelleher, Patrick Zielinski
Release Date: 16th August 2019
Genre: Satire, Shortie, Play, Radio Show
~~Series~~:
Format: Audiobook (Dramatic Reading)
Length: 1 hour
Publisher: Author’s Republic
Blurb:

This satirical view of college professors features a philosophy professor who believes logic will solve all problems from bringing justice to everyone to personal relationships. His problems include convincing his colleagues to unionize and dealing with a history professor who believes he is the 21st-century version of Henry VIII and an English Lit professor who believes she can become Ann Boleyn.

REVIEW

★★★

The Optimist by Roy E. Schreiber is basically a recording of a play released as an audiobook as I learned from the author himself during one of our emails. I was really excited to listen to it as I have never before listened to anything like this before, though being a fan of audiobooks, I simply couldn’t have passed on this opportunity anyway.

The audiobook is narrated by a number of narrators, which was obvious, but what really took me by surprise was how amazing it all came together. I’ve read a number of dramatic readings, and this one, right from the start itself felt like a very engaging read. I loved listening to this book almost as I loved listening to Narnia audiobooks!

Coming to the story itself, I felt that the plot was a bit complex for such a short narrative. Had it been longer, I think, it wouldn’t have been an issue as many aspects would fit nicely, but at it was a little over an hour, in my honest opinion, it felt a little crammed together. I did like the story, though I cannot say, unfortunately, that I loved it. Though it was pretty evident that the story and the book itself had a lot of potentials, I guess it just lacked in a couple of places in terms of clarity and plotting. Though, given the length of the book, I think it was worth reading.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes satirical works and doesn’t mind experimental stories.

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