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237 reviews
Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta
I read books about sexuality quite often but I'm not usually one to read this kind of romantic smut. Though when someone brought this up to me in a conversation, my morbid curiosity got the better of me and I figured this might as well be the one to dip my toes into this whole world of literature. Plus, with it being available as an audiobook, it was a pretty easy listen while doing other things. Which also makes this the first full audiobook I ever listened to. So, that's neat.
The world of smut lit obviously hasn't been news to me and I've heard plenty of content creators talk (or joke) about all the different flavors and fetishes that they cater too. It's not really something that would engage me for very long though.
But Morning Glory Milking Farm sounded kinda fascinating and I was curious to see how the author would fill the story centered around this setting. The title makes it pretty obvious what it is about. A human starts working at a minotaur milking facility for a medicinal company and, of course, catches some feelings for one of the clients.
The first half actually had me pretty engaged with some decently interesting fantasy world-building and neat exploration of this fictional sort-of sex work industry with its own professional quirks and ethical questions. Reading a lot of non-fiction about sex work and the adult entertainment industry, it was actually really neat to see this exploration of a fictional parallel.
The second half of the story focuses more on the relationship of the two main characters and loses a bit of those interesting fantasy elements as it leaves behind the initial gimmick for larger parts. The two main characters aren't that interesting to me, so the more or less vanilla romance and smut parts weren't as engaging.
As for the erotic element, I think there is the usual "problem" with books like this where the dramatic storytelling and exaggerated writing made me laugh out loud more often than anything else. Which isn't necessarily to its detriment since I'm assuming that's where the entertainment lies for a lot of the readers. This is lightweight and openly ridiculous entertainment after all. The relentlessly horny monologues and descriptions of things had me cackling pretty frequently throughout the entire book.
There is a stretch somewhere after the halfway point though where the most mundane detail throws the protagonist into lengthy wet daydreams every couple sentences or so and that did get a bit tiring.
I don't have much to compare this to but I think it's a decent read if you're into this genre. It was a fun curiosity for me with some genuinely neat bits and pieces here and there like I said before, but overall not something I'd call great past the funky gimmick setting.
If you just wanna laugh at the musings of a woman who is maximum horny for minotaur dick, you'll probably get your fill here. No pun intended.
What a title though. That name deserves some awards.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Humans have commodified us. And the financial compensation for a natural bodily function is a no-brainer. Especially once there is a mortgage to think about. [...] May as well get paid for what goes down the shower drain every day.
I read books about sexuality quite often but I'm not usually one to read this kind of romantic smut. Though when someone brought this up to me in a conversation, my morbid curiosity got the better of me and I figured this might as well be the one to dip my toes into this whole world of literature. Plus, with it being available as an audiobook, it was a pretty easy listen while doing other things. Which also makes this the first full audiobook I ever listened to. So, that's neat.
The world of smut lit obviously hasn't been news to me and I've heard plenty of content creators talk (or joke) about all the different flavors and fetishes that they cater too. It's not really something that would engage me for very long though.
But Morning Glory Milking Farm sounded kinda fascinating and I was curious to see how the author would fill the story centered around this setting. The title makes it pretty obvious what it is about. A human starts working at a minotaur milking facility for a medicinal company and, of course, catches some feelings for one of the clients.
The first half actually had me pretty engaged with some decently interesting fantasy world-building and neat exploration of this fictional sort-of sex work industry with its own professional quirks and ethical questions. Reading a lot of non-fiction about sex work and the adult entertainment industry, it was actually really neat to see this exploration of a fictional parallel.
The second half of the story focuses more on the relationship of the two main characters and loses a bit of those interesting fantasy elements as it leaves behind the initial gimmick for larger parts. The two main characters aren't that interesting to me, so the more or less vanilla romance and smut parts weren't as engaging.
As for the erotic element, I think there is the usual "problem" with books like this where the dramatic storytelling and exaggerated writing made me laugh out loud more often than anything else. Which isn't necessarily to its detriment since I'm assuming that's where the entertainment lies for a lot of the readers. This is lightweight and openly ridiculous entertainment after all. The relentlessly horny monologues and descriptions of things had me cackling pretty frequently throughout the entire book.
There is a stretch somewhere after the halfway point though where the most mundane detail throws the protagonist into lengthy wet daydreams every couple sentences or so and that did get a bit tiring.
I don't have much to compare this to but I think it's a decent read if you're into this genre. It was a fun curiosity for me with some genuinely neat bits and pieces here and there like I said before, but overall not something I'd call great past the funky gimmick setting.
If you just wanna laugh at the musings of a woman who is maximum horny for minotaur dick, you'll probably get your fill here. No pun intended.
What a title though. That name deserves some awards.
The Department of Truth, Bd. 1: Das Ende der Welt by James Tynion IV, Katrin Aust
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.75
"Your specialty are funny images on the internet."
"I, uh... study discussions of white right-wing nationalists in their online communities."
"Funny images. They share funny images."
"They're not funny. They're mostly unimaginative and... well, very racist."
[Quote translated from German.]
Picked this up without knowing much about it but I'm very interested to see where this goes now.
The premise seems like a very interesting way to use real-world conspiracy theories in story with some fantasy elements without dismissing the very real dangerous aspects of conspiracy theories. It feels a little bit like Men In Black but with conspiracies instead of aliens and a darker tone.
There is a lot of potential for interesting uses of the conspiracies that swirl around these days and I'm looking forward to how they'll be used throughout the series. The first impression is quite strong.
I also love the smeared, dream-like art.
Here is hoping that it can keep up this engaging vibe throughout and doesn't end up losing itself in a muddled plot.
Picked this up without knowing much about it but I'm very interested to see where this goes now.
The premise seems like a very interesting way to use real-world conspiracy theories in story with some fantasy elements without dismissing the very real dangerous aspects of conspiracy theories. It feels a little bit like Men In Black but with conspiracies instead of aliens and a darker tone.
There is a lot of potential for interesting uses of the conspiracies that swirl around these days and I'm looking forward to how they'll be used throughout the series. The first impression is quite strong.
I also love the smeared, dream-like art.
Here is hoping that it can keep up this engaging vibe throughout and doesn't end up losing itself in a muddled plot.
Something is Killing the Children 1 by James Tynion IV
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
If it's okay, I'm gonna pass out now.
[Quote translated from German.]
I don't remember how I heard about this comic series/graphic novel. I probably stumbled over it online at some point and thought the title sounded cool.
The first volume makes for a decently engaging introduction. The premise gives me strong Netflix show vibes in a way. A little bit of a Stranger Things feeling with a potential monster-of-the-week aspect. The story plays with a lot of tropes, I think. The small American town... the mysterious danger... the sad kid that wants to redeem himself... the mysterious organization...
If one is in the mood for that sort of story, all of that makes for some good light entertainment and the art is very good. But I don't know if this will be something I'll remember for very long after I'm done. I am down to see where this goes though.
I don't remember how I heard about this comic series/graphic novel. I probably stumbled over it online at some point and thought the title sounded cool.
The first volume makes for a decently engaging introduction. The premise gives me strong Netflix show vibes in a way. A little bit of a Stranger Things feeling with a potential monster-of-the-week aspect. The story plays with a lot of tropes, I think. The small American town... the mysterious danger... the sad kid that wants to redeem himself... the mysterious organization...
If one is in the mood for that sort of story, all of that makes for some good light entertainment and the art is very good. But I don't know if this will be something I'll remember for very long after I'm done. I am down to see where this goes though.
South of Forgiveness: A True Story of Rape and Responsibility by Thordis Elva, Tom Stranger
South of Forgiveness is a unique non-fiction book by an author who experienced sexual violence and decides to meet the perpetrator to work through the trauma together.
For Thordis, forgiveness is the only way forward and understanding is the only way to work on a problem effectively. Rape is one of those crimes that is so immediately polarizing that it's hard to talk about it and the systems that enable it in a nuanced and constructive way. It's too easy to shut out the details underneath the victim and perpetrator stereotypes because we don't dare to actually engage with the complicated reality.
Thordis and Tom want to break through that with this book. Tom acknowledges what he did as a young man was awful and wrong, and he actively wants to work on the problem together with Thordis. Which gives us a rare, genuine and vulnerable glimpse into the personality and mind of someone who did, in fact, do that crime. A perspective we shut out way too often, even though it's just as important to listen to as is the victim's perspective if we want to understand and improve the problem of sexual violence. Additionally, it takes off the weight we put on the victims of these crimes who more often than not get the burden of answering all the questions while the perpetrator is left out of the conversation.
Here, both parties effectively and successfully manage to work through their trauma without harboring malice. Which is honestly incredible and inspiring.
I think a book like this can not only be helpful for people who have experienced sexual violence themselves but also people who have been on the other side but don't know where to go to escape it. Which is just as valuable as a step to work against this problem.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Violence is never a solution — condemnation excludes understanding, and without understanding, we will not learn.
South of Forgiveness is a unique non-fiction book by an author who experienced sexual violence and decides to meet the perpetrator to work through the trauma together.
For Thordis, forgiveness is the only way forward and understanding is the only way to work on a problem effectively. Rape is one of those crimes that is so immediately polarizing that it's hard to talk about it and the systems that enable it in a nuanced and constructive way. It's too easy to shut out the details underneath the victim and perpetrator stereotypes because we don't dare to actually engage with the complicated reality.
Thordis and Tom want to break through that with this book. Tom acknowledges what he did as a young man was awful and wrong, and he actively wants to work on the problem together with Thordis. Which gives us a rare, genuine and vulnerable glimpse into the personality and mind of someone who did, in fact, do that crime. A perspective we shut out way too often, even though it's just as important to listen to as is the victim's perspective if we want to understand and improve the problem of sexual violence. Additionally, it takes off the weight we put on the victims of these crimes who more often than not get the burden of answering all the questions while the perpetrator is left out of the conversation.
Here, both parties effectively and successfully manage to work through their trauma without harboring malice. Which is honestly incredible and inspiring.
I think a book like this can not only be helpful for people who have experienced sexual violence themselves but also people who have been on the other side but don't know where to go to escape it. Which is just as valuable as a step to work against this problem.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar by Taryn Simon
It's always exciting to get glimpses of places you'd usually not get to see. Be it the liminal spaces in remote areas or the places certain authorities don't want the layman to enter.
Taryn Simon's photography captures those places well and makes for an engaging collection of fascinating and sometimes transgressive peeks into exclusive spaces.
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
I am always immensely grateful to people who do impossible things on my behalf and bring back the picture. It means I don't have to do it, but at least I know what it looks like.
It's always exciting to get glimpses of places you'd usually not get to see. Be it the liminal spaces in remote areas or the places certain authorities don't want the layman to enter.
Taryn Simon's photography captures those places well and makes for an engaging collection of fascinating and sometimes transgressive peeks into exclusive spaces.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Gore
Moderate: Racism
Francis of the Filth by George Miller
When George Miller decided to leave behind his edgy, offensive YouTube persona Filthy Frank, he wrote this novel as a final send-off of the character, stringing together loose pieces of the nonsensical lore, before moving on once and for all to a more dignified passion with his music as Joji.
Past-me was definitely into the problematic humor of the Filthy Frank videos at the time and so I bought this book back in 2017 when it came out, all hyped up for the final hoorah. But I never actually finished it.
Curiosity got me to dig it out of the shelf recently and see how it would be to read this thing way past the material's prime.
I can definitely see why I didn't get too far into it in 2017 because the first 50 pages or so are really not very interesting with its rather annoying story of Frank's origin during an alternative WWII setting. But once that's finally over and the character begins to meet more of the characters of the show, travelling through different realms of the omniverse, it became much more engaging. The story is never very convincing or effective, but there is some creativity in the worlds and situations Frank experiences. Additionally, it's neat to recognize elements from the old videos that have found a spot in the storytelling of the novel somehow.
The writing is done in a purposefully overly flowery prose to give it that tongue-in-cheek tone of an epic legend. Though it can get a bit annoying at points as that includes using unnecessarily big words and elaborate descriptions very often.
On the other hand, this had much less offensive language than I expected it to. Yeah, there are the occasional ableist and racist slurs or misogynistic language, as that was an inevitable part of the humor in the original videos as well. But it actually shows up not nearly as frequently in this book. I was bracing for worse going in. lol
In the end, this wasn't anything I'd remember in the long run or ever call a great read. But it was pretty entertaining for parts of it and reading it now, so long after Frank welcomed viewers to the rice fields the last time, was an interesting stroll down memory lane as well.
That being said, I'm glad Joji found something else that's much more worthwhile to pour his talents in.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As though by command, the clouds thickened and lowered and amidst a swirl of wind and matter, the dark lord appeared in his own sphere of composure, alighting beside Frank on the balcony of the apartment. Together they looked out over the landscape - the unnaturally colored skies over shadowed turbulent waterways, the traffic lights and neon signs now rendered dysfunctional, the people peeping out from behind curtains and the dogs howling. "Oh Chin Chin ga daisuki da yo," he spat in his twitching tones.
When George Miller decided to leave behind his edgy, offensive YouTube persona Filthy Frank, he wrote this novel as a final send-off of the character, stringing together loose pieces of the nonsensical lore, before moving on once and for all to a more dignified passion with his music as Joji.
Past-me was definitely into the problematic humor of the Filthy Frank videos at the time and so I bought this book back in 2017 when it came out, all hyped up for the final hoorah. But I never actually finished it.
Curiosity got me to dig it out of the shelf recently and see how it would be to read this thing way past the material's prime.
I can definitely see why I didn't get too far into it in 2017 because the first 50 pages or so are really not very interesting with its rather annoying story of Frank's origin during an alternative WWII setting. But once that's finally over and the character begins to meet more of the characters of the show, travelling through different realms of the omniverse, it became much more engaging. The story is never very convincing or effective, but there is some creativity in the worlds and situations Frank experiences. Additionally, it's neat to recognize elements from the old videos that have found a spot in the storytelling of the novel somehow.
The writing is done in a purposefully overly flowery prose to give it that tongue-in-cheek tone of an epic legend. Though it can get a bit annoying at points as that includes using unnecessarily big words and elaborate descriptions very often.
On the other hand, this had much less offensive language than I expected it to. Yeah, there are the occasional ableist and racist slurs or misogynistic language, as that was an inevitable part of the humor in the original videos as well. But it actually shows up not nearly as frequently in this book. I was bracing for worse going in. lol
In the end, this wasn't anything I'd remember in the long run or ever call a great read. But it was pretty entertaining for parts of it and reading it now, so long after Frank welcomed viewers to the rice fields the last time, was an interesting stroll down memory lane as well.
That being said, I'm glad Joji found something else that's much more worthwhile to pour his talents in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Misogyny
Minor: Racial slurs
A Field Guide for Female Interrogators by Coco Fusco
This was a very interesting read about the weaponizing of female sexuality, specifically in the context of US military torturing methods.
Coco Fusco obviously talks about patriarchal systems that exploit feminist ideals, which is not very surprising. But the author also talks about the skewed and difficult way we culturally perceive (or don't) sexual violence from female perpetrators, and the way we generalized and gendered the concepts of victim and perpetrator, which is a fascinating subject.
I don't know if I agree with everything Coco writes here, but it nonetheless was a very engaging and pretty thought-provoking short read.
challenging
informative
fast-paced
3.5
It seems to me that our culture lacks a precise political vocabulary for understanding women as self-conscious perpetrators of sexual violence. We rely instead on moralistic language about virtue, privacy, and emotional vulnerability to define female sexuality, or on limited views that frame women's historical condition as victims.
This was a very interesting read about the weaponizing of female sexuality, specifically in the context of US military torturing methods.
Coco Fusco obviously talks about patriarchal systems that exploit feminist ideals, which is not very surprising. But the author also talks about the skewed and difficult way we culturally perceive (or don't) sexual violence from female perpetrators, and the way we generalized and gendered the concepts of victim and perpetrator, which is a fascinating subject.
I don't know if I agree with everything Coco writes here, but it nonetheless was a very engaging and pretty thought-provoking short read.
Rape: My Story by Jill Saward
Saward's book gives a really interesting and candid insight in the aftermath of rape.
Her experience after the actual attack - confronting the trauma in different ways, dealing with unexpected reactions from press and acquaintances, going through several stages of the legal system to eventually reach the trial of the criminals, looking for some sort of conclusion to it all - showcases so well how much more there is to a crime like this other than the act itself. Add to that Saward's occasional questioning of her own beliefs as a devout Christian, which makes for a good showing of what religion can actually mean to someone.
Saward was very open about her personal struggles in this book but she also carried a lot of strength which comes through the text right from the get-go. Her pragmatic and confident personality makes for very matter-of-fact writing that doesn't shy away from any detail if it's important.
Clearly, this book genuinely aims to be a helpful companion for anyone who might be going through a similar situation because Saward herself was wishing she could have access to someone else's experience for reference and preparation at the time, and I think this book probably accomplishes that by being both educational as well as emotionally open about the pitfalls.
Walking someone through what it might be like to wade through the ripples and waves that an impact like this can cause, which are probably seldom considered by people that haven't experienced them.
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
I know the consequences of not forgiving others, and do not intend to be destroyed by them [...] .
Saward's book gives a really interesting and candid insight in the aftermath of rape.
Her experience after the actual attack - confronting the trauma in different ways, dealing with unexpected reactions from press and acquaintances, going through several stages of the legal system to eventually reach the trial of the criminals, looking for some sort of conclusion to it all - showcases so well how much more there is to a crime like this other than the act itself. Add to that Saward's occasional questioning of her own beliefs as a devout Christian, which makes for a good showing of what religion can actually mean to someone.
Saward was very open about her personal struggles in this book but she also carried a lot of strength which comes through the text right from the get-go. Her pragmatic and confident personality makes for very matter-of-fact writing that doesn't shy away from any detail if it's important.
Clearly, this book genuinely aims to be a helpful companion for anyone who might be going through a similar situation because Saward herself was wishing she could have access to someone else's experience for reference and preparation at the time, and I think this book probably accomplishes that by being both educational as well as emotionally open about the pitfalls.
Walking someone through what it might be like to wade through the ripples and waves that an impact like this can cause, which are probably seldom considered by people that haven't experienced them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Rape
Vergewaltigung: Aspekte eines Verbrechens by Mithu Sanyal
I have been hesitant to tackle Mithu M. Sanyal's award-winning book about sexualized violence, simply called Vergewaltigung (transl. Rape), for a long time now but I'm very glad I finally committed time to this. I didn't regret it either as this was easily one of the most gripping non-fiction books I've read so far and will end up being one of the best books I'll read all year.
Sanyal manages to compile an incredibly thorough and well-researched text about the titular crime. What meaning it carried throughout history and the changing society, where its overwhelming notoriety over other acts of violence comes from, and the many different ways of how we talk about and react to the subject itself.
It's safe to say that everyone of us finds rape despicable and rates it as one of the worst things a human can do to another. But we probably rarely think about the effect even the concept alone, without actual act, has done to us on a sociological level. If nothing else, I think this book should be some sort of essential reading when it comes to the subject (or problem) of gender roles and how brutally they shape us as well as the way we treat each other.
Sanyal talks about how the public treats perpetrator and victim, and how that might hinder the way people can heal or change. She talks about the way rape has been used politically to demonize marginalized groups. How and why efforts to prevent rape are still so unequal between male and female experiences. Why we give the simple word "rape" so much power in itself to a degree that makes it difficult to talk about this subject in the first place in an arguably self-sabotaging way.
She also explores how the subject of sexualized violence, in media as a whole, is almost always dissected through the women that experience it. And through that, even with the best intentions, often ends up putting a disproportionate extra burden on them, while we rarely even allow ourselves (collectively) to fill the equally important gap of the involved men. Because no one wants to talk about men in this context. Even in cases when they experience sexualized violence themselves. Which is why it's so powerful and thought-provoking when Sanyal dissects this phenomenon from so many different perspectives and contexts.
It has also challenged me in ways I didn't expect. Not, for example, in the way I, as a man, might treat or perceive women, but rather how I treat and perceive men, and through that might help perpetuate a whole different cycle that I didn't see from this perspective before.
I have immense respect for Sanyal for being able to write about such a difficult, inherently uncomfortable, and touchy subject with so much intellect and empathy but also refreshing bluntness when needed, and present it all in such a genuinely gripping read.
I highly recommend this to anyone, even if (or maybe especially if) you are afraid of how difficult this read might be. I definitely way. And yes, of course this is a heavy and serious subject. But I think Sanyal has a great talent of not overwhelming the reader and delivering the information in a rather comfortable voice.
I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a long time after having put it away.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Not all men are potential rapists, and not all women are potential victims. Even concerning rape, gender isn't a fate. We are humans and we decide how we write and re-write the story of our life, with every disruption and leap and contradiction. Because they're our stories and they have to make sense to us.
Nicht alle Männer sind potenzielle Vergewaltiger, und nicht alle Frauen sind potenzielle Opfer. Geschlecht ist auch in Bezug auf Vergewaltigung nicht Schicksal. Wir sind Menschen und entscheiden selbst, wie wir die Geschichte unseres Lebens schreiben und umschreiben, mit allen Brüchen und Sprüngen und Widersprüchen, denn es sind unsere Geschichten, die für uns Sinn machen müssen.
I have been hesitant to tackle Mithu M. Sanyal's award-winning book about sexualized violence, simply called Vergewaltigung (transl. Rape), for a long time now but I'm very glad I finally committed time to this. I didn't regret it either as this was easily one of the most gripping non-fiction books I've read so far and will end up being one of the best books I'll read all year.
Sanyal manages to compile an incredibly thorough and well-researched text about the titular crime. What meaning it carried throughout history and the changing society, where its overwhelming notoriety over other acts of violence comes from, and the many different ways of how we talk about and react to the subject itself.
It's safe to say that everyone of us finds rape despicable and rates it as one of the worst things a human can do to another. But we probably rarely think about the effect even the concept alone, without actual act, has done to us on a sociological level. If nothing else, I think this book should be some sort of essential reading when it comes to the subject (or problem) of gender roles and how brutally they shape us as well as the way we treat each other.
Sanyal talks about how the public treats perpetrator and victim, and how that might hinder the way people can heal or change. She talks about the way rape has been used politically to demonize marginalized groups. How and why efforts to prevent rape are still so unequal between male and female experiences. Why we give the simple word "rape" so much power in itself to a degree that makes it difficult to talk about this subject in the first place in an arguably self-sabotaging way.
She also explores how the subject of sexualized violence, in media as a whole, is almost always dissected through the women that experience it. And through that, even with the best intentions, often ends up putting a disproportionate extra burden on them, while we rarely even allow ourselves (collectively) to fill the equally important gap of the involved men. Because no one wants to talk about men in this context. Even in cases when they experience sexualized violence themselves. Which is why it's so powerful and thought-provoking when Sanyal dissects this phenomenon from so many different perspectives and contexts.
It has also challenged me in ways I didn't expect. Not, for example, in the way I, as a man, might treat or perceive women, but rather how I treat and perceive men, and through that might help perpetuate a whole different cycle that I didn't see from this perspective before.
I have immense respect for Sanyal for being able to write about such a difficult, inherently uncomfortable, and touchy subject with so much intellect and empathy but also refreshing bluntness when needed, and present it all in such a genuinely gripping read.
I highly recommend this to anyone, even if (or maybe especially if) you are afraid of how difficult this read might be. I definitely way. And yes, of course this is a heavy and serious subject. But I think Sanyal has a great talent of not overwhelming the reader and delivering the information in a rather comfortable voice.
I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a long time after having put it away.
Transcendent: The Year's Best Transgender Speculative Fiction by K.M. Szpara
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
Interesting ideas and conceptually cool collection, but I just haven't been in the mood for short stories.