Bryan R. Dennis, the author of The Uncanny Valley, describes his sci-fi, horror, and fantasy compendium as “old-fashioned.” I call it wonderful. This compilation of sixteen short stories harkens back to the days when giants like Bradbury, Asimov, and Anderson published exciting short stories kids like me devoured. Their tales lifted the reader beyond the fantastic and made us realize the humanity of sci-fi was as every bit as important as the technical wonder. I’m not saying Dennis is in the same league as these great writers (yet), only that he captures the same magic. Like those authors of yesteryear, he explores the impact of the improbable, and the impossible, upon the human spirit.
The element of the common-meets-the-unfamiliar injects these stories with a distinct, unsettling feel. Cover-to-cover, each story thrusts the characters out of their familiar surroundings into bizarre, often terrifying, environments. Dennis even goes so far as to throw extraordinary characters into ordinary situations for which they are ill prepared. In worlds turned upside down, Dennis forces his protagonists to confront the essence of their humanity; to decide what is right and wrong and good and evil. Along the way, the reader must ask not only what it means to be human, but what it means to truly feel human.
At worst, some stories in Uncanny are merely good. Eight Legs to Doomsday and One Good Joke are satisfying sci-fi fare. The book only has one true horror tale, Noah, about an emerging sociopath. Even the weakest story, Super Temps, will still put a smile on your face.
At best, however, many of Bryan R. Dennis’s stories are simply brilliant. After reading Nox Noctis I promise you will never take light for granted again. I Am You, which vaguely echoes Spielberg’s A.I., strikes to the heart of the book’s central theme. Asian Food and Scents of Life are showcases for Dennis’s talent and will haunt you long after you put the book down.
What makes this work truly modern is how Dennis masterfully blurs the line between sci-fi and fantasy. Stories like Isle of Stumps don’t neatly fit in one genre or another.
It isn’t just the subjects or theme that makes this book so satisfying. Dennis is one of those rare authors who is both an adept story teller and an excellent wordsmith. From page one it’s obvious he knows what he’s doing. With warm, natural prose he quickly summons realistic characters and exciting plots. You don’t read his work as much as soak it in.
The Uncanny Valley suffers from only a mild case of the bane of the self-published - mechanical and formatting errors. However, it wasn’t enough to detract from the book. This book is suitable for ages twelve and up, with only minor violence and some suggestive themes.
Coming off the heels of my last review, I am reluctant to select back-to-back Top Picks, but the quality of this work leaves me no choice. Good short stories are hard to come by and these are exactly the kind I loved as a teenager. I thereby give THE UNCANNY VALLEY a rating of 90 out of 99 cents and add it to annals of the Underground’s Top Picks.
99 Cents worth of Bryan R. Dennis links:
Bryan R. Dennis's Amazon Author Page
Follow Bryan R. Dennis on Twitter
Bryan R. Dennis on Smashswords
Indiesnippets
If you enjoyed this review, follow me on Facebook and Twitter. You can also follow the Underground on Facebook and become a subscriber.
The element of the common-meets-the-unfamiliar injects these stories with a distinct, unsettling feel. Cover-to-cover, each story thrusts the characters out of their familiar surroundings into bizarre, often terrifying, environments. Dennis even goes so far as to throw extraordinary characters into ordinary situations for which they are ill prepared. In worlds turned upside down, Dennis forces his protagonists to confront the essence of their humanity; to decide what is right and wrong and good and evil. Along the way, the reader must ask not only what it means to be human, but what it means to truly feel human.
At worst, some stories in Uncanny are merely good. Eight Legs to Doomsday and One Good Joke are satisfying sci-fi fare. The book only has one true horror tale, Noah, about an emerging sociopath. Even the weakest story, Super Temps, will still put a smile on your face.
At best, however, many of Bryan R. Dennis’s stories are simply brilliant. After reading Nox Noctis I promise you will never take light for granted again. I Am You, which vaguely echoes Spielberg’s A.I., strikes to the heart of the book’s central theme. Asian Food and Scents of Life are showcases for Dennis’s talent and will haunt you long after you put the book down.
What makes this work truly modern is how Dennis masterfully blurs the line between sci-fi and fantasy. Stories like Isle of Stumps don’t neatly fit in one genre or another.
It isn’t just the subjects or theme that makes this book so satisfying. Dennis is one of those rare authors who is both an adept story teller and an excellent wordsmith. From page one it’s obvious he knows what he’s doing. With warm, natural prose he quickly summons realistic characters and exciting plots. You don’t read his work as much as soak it in.
The Uncanny Valley suffers from only a mild case of the bane of the self-published - mechanical and formatting errors. However, it wasn’t enough to detract from the book. This book is suitable for ages twelve and up, with only minor violence and some suggestive themes.
Coming off the heels of my last review, I am reluctant to select back-to-back Top Picks, but the quality of this work leaves me no choice. Good short stories are hard to come by and these are exactly the kind I loved as a teenager. I thereby give THE UNCANNY VALLEY a rating of 90 out of 99 cents and add it to annals of the Underground’s Top Picks.
99 Cents worth of Bryan R. Dennis links:
Bryan R. Dennis's Amazon Author Page
Follow Bryan R. Dennis on Twitter
Bryan R. Dennis on Smashswords
Indiesnippets
If you enjoyed this review, follow me on Facebook and Twitter. You can also follow the Underground on Facebook and become a subscriber.
