5 Star Review
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Editorial Book Review:
By Luella D. Emerson
Michael Thomas Perone's The Electric God and Other Shorts is a mesmerizing dive into the surreal and the darkly imaginative. Each of the six stories creates its own world, yet they are united by themes of human obsession, societal flaws, and the tenuous grip we often have on reality. The thing I liked most about this collection was how well it mixed biting humor with deep existential problems. The stories aren't just fun to read; they make you think about what it means to be human, often in disturbing ways.
One story takes you to a town where TV has taken over and made everyone slaves to it. It's a satire that feels strangely current. Another book goes deep into the mind of a writer whose mind is breaking down because of all the secret messages he is getting. It blurs the lines between talent and madness. There's even a dark detective story set after the end of the world in a world full of cults. Each story has vivid images and interesting people who are flawed but achingly real. The writing is brave, and it often dares to take the reader out of their comfort zone. Even though there are some very sad parts, the stories are always supported by a dark humor or touching moment.
What sets this book apart is its willingness to delve into extremes without losing its grip on the larger picture. Perone does a great job of pointing out the silly things in modern life, like media addiction and the fight for creativity, while never ignoring how fragile people are. At the end of each story, I felt a range of feelings, including curiosity, unease, and deep thought.
This collection is for people who like science fiction and fantasy that isn't afraid to take chances, change people's minds, and give them both thrills and time to think. Everyone can enjoy The Electric God and Other Shorts, whether they like dark settings, psychological twists, or biting social criticism. It's the kind of book that makes you want to read it again and again after you finish it.
About the Author Michael Thomas Perone
Michael Thomas Perone is an award-winning author who has written for The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, Long Island Voice (a spinoff of The Village Voice), and The Island Ear (now titled Long Island Press), among others. Online, he has written for Yahoo!, WhatCulture!, and other websites that don’t end with an exclamation mark. His debut novel, the action-adventure Danger Peak, was the recipient of multiple awards, including The Fall 2022 BookFest Award in the category of Young Adult – Action and Adventure. His follow-up, the coming-of-age/sci-fi mindbender Déjà View, won First Place at the Spring 2024 BookFest Awards in the category of Young Adult – Literary and Coming of Age. It was also a finalist of The Eric Hoffer Book Award. He currently works as a Senior Editor and lives on Long Island with his wife and two daughters.
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