Short, Shorter and Shorter Stories Volume II

Book excerpt: Chuck's first book, Short, Shorter and Shorter Stories was a finalist for book of the year, 2005. His second book, Osmis, the Cursed Egyptian Maiden, ."is a trip through history that makes history fun to read." wrote one reader. Now, he has collected a second volume of short stories to rival the first book. Again we have writing contest winners among the many stories as well as Benjamin, the hard luck juvenile. Human-interest tales, crime, war and fairy tales are set into a variety of numerical groups and time frames. There are stories for some of the commandments, for each season, for each month, the days of the week, even a few for a minute of time. As in the first book the stories are intended for the reader with a little time to kill in the doctor's waiting room, the airport, in the car waiting for the kids to finish practice or get out of school or just to spend some leisure time. Not to give plots away, but just imagine a complete story in four sentences, with a reversed ending you didn't expect. Or being so familiar with the characters in a story that you never thought it could end differently, but it does. Be prepared to enjoy the unexpected, convoluted endings to some stories, then, when you think you know what's coming...No. I'm not going to spoil it for you.