Review (Part I): "Don't Read This Book"

Don't Read This Book: 13 Forbidden Tales from the Mad City edited by Chuck Wendig (Softcover / 199 pages / Evil Hat Productions)


This anthology of short stories is set in the Mad City from the role-playing game, Don't Rest Your Head by Fred Hicks. This is the first part of the review—if you can call a series of impressions a review. I am just giving impressions because to do otherwise would risk spoiling (and ruining) the stories.


I have really enjoyed all the short stories that I have read so far. All of them fit the tone of setting. Some do a better job of following the "rules" of the Don't Rest Your Head setting than others.


1. Don't Lose Your Patients by Stephen Blackmore: Suitably weird. Interesting transition to the Mad City. Nice new (?) monster to the setting.


2. Don't Be Your Father by Richard Dansky: Really conveys a sense of urgency. Awesome twist at the end!


3. Don't Wreck Your Soul by C.E. Murphy: Perfect last line.


4. Don't Spill Your Tea by Josh Roby: Joe is a ... very interesting character.


5. Don't Forget Your Kids by Matt Forbeck: Loman can't stop screwing himself over.


6. Don't Toot Your Horn by Laura Anne Gilman: Good use of the setting. I will never listen to jazz the same way again.


7. Don't Lose Your Son by Ryan Macklin: Best use of the setting. Awesome madness talent.


8. Don't Ignore Your Dead by Monica Valentinelli: The author really puts her character through the wringer.

The remaining short stories to be read and reviewed are:

9. Don't Leave Your Love by Will Hindmarch

10. Don't Harsh Your Buzz by Greg Stolze

11. Don't Lose Your Shit by Robin D. Laws

12. Don't Bleach Your Memories by Mur Lafferty

13. Don't Chew Your Food by Harry Connolly