Thursday, September 11, 2014

Oddities & Entities Book Review






Oddities & Entities

 By Roland Allnach

Bronze Medalist, Horror, 2012 Readers Favorite Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Paranormal, 2012 Readers Favorite Book of the Year Awards
Award Winner-Finalist, Horror, 2012 USA Best Book Awards
Award Winner-Finalist, Anthologies, 2012 USA Best Book Awards
Bronze Medal, Horror, 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Short Stories, 2013 National Indie Excellence Awards
Winner, Horror, Pacific Book Reviews Book Awards

"THERE'S MORE TO THIS WORLD THAN FLESH AND BONE."  Set in the mysterious space between the everyday world and an existence just beyond reach, "Oddities & Entities" traces a path through the supernatural, the paranormal, and the speculative. With moments of horror, dark humor, and philosophical transcendence, these tales explore a definition of life beyond the fragile vessel of the human body.

"Oddities and Entities" is a collection of six tales bordering on the paranormal/supernatural genres.  The stories are thematically linked and explore the definition of life beyond the fragile vessel of the human body.  "Oddities and Entities" consists of: 'Boneview', in which a young woman struggles to balance her ability to see through people with the presence of a supernatural creature in her life; 'Shift/Change', in which a hospital worker struggles to regain his memory as he is confronted by a series of desperate people (this story was previously published in the July 2010 issue of 'Aphelion'); 'My Other Me', in which a lonely college student finds himself displaced from his body by his alter ego; 'Gray', in which a frustrated man is stunned to discover a little creature has been living in his head; 'Elmer Phelps', in which a brother and sister find themselves linked in a strange reality by a bat bite in their youth; and lastly, 'Appendage', in which a cynical mercenary is hired by his son to protect a research lab on the verge of a stunning discovery.

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***MY HONEST REVIEW OF ODDITIES & ENTITIES***

What a fitting name for a collection of six eerie stories that can only be described as page-turners. I didn’t want to put it down. As I finished one story, I’d shiver and start the next. The stories delved into creepy subjects like your shadow personified, and a gray blob living in your head, and even the curmudgeon coming through your walls. Although one story contained a boring discussion of the differences in math between Leibniz and Newton, the rest of that story was entertaining, as well as the other five.

In my opinion, this author’s writing style and imagination rivals the works of Steven King. While reading these stories, I was totally aware that each subject could never be real. However, they made you think, what if it did become real. Hats off to Mr. Allnach. I was thoroughly entertained.

My review can also be found at:
    AMAZON     BARNES & NOBLE     GOODREADS
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**The above opinions are 100% my own, whether I purchased the book or it was given to me to review.


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About the Author

Roland Allnach
Roland Allnach has been writing since his early teens, first as a hobby, but as the years passed, more as a serious creative pursuit. He is an avid reader, with his main interests residing in history, mythology, and literary classics, along with some fantasy and science fiction in his earlier years. Although his college years were focused on a technical education, he always fostered his interest in literature, and has sought to fill every gap on his bookshelves. 

By nature a do-it-yourself type of personality, his creative inclinations started with art and evolved to the written word. The process of creativity is a source of fascination for him, and the notion of bringing something to being that would not exist without personal effort and commitment serves not only as inspiration but as fulfillment as well. So whether it is writing, woodwork, or landscaping, his hands and mind are not often at rest.

Over the years he accumulated a dust laden catalog of his written works, with his reading audience limited to family and friends. It was only recently that he decided to become serious about publication and the pursuit of a writing career. After deciding to approach this as a profession and not a hobby, the first glimmers of success came along. Two and a half years after making the decision to move forward, he has secured publication for a number of short stories, has received a nomination for inclusion in the Pushcart Anthology, built his own website, and in November 2010 realized publication for an anthology of three novellas, titled 'Remnant', from All Things That Matter Press. He has since followed 'Remnant' with a second anthology, 'Oddities & Entities', also from All Things Matter Press.

Both titles have enjoyed critical acclaim and are the recipients of a combined seven national book awards.

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