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The Odd and The Strange: A Collection of Very Short Fiction
A Collection of Very Short Fiction from a variety of genres, including but not limited to horror, science fiction, politics, and the surreal. These celebrated very short stories have been collected over a number of years and have been published in a variety of online e-zines and posted on various websites. Each story is roughly 3-4 pages on average.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2021
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6,460 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 28, 2022
I chose this book as I occasionately like to take a break from other reading and get a seletion of short stories, ideally from a different author.
This book gave me a few samples of the author's varied writing styles and had more been available, I would have certainly continued into the early hours the next day.
In particular, I liked the wall street story which was written in two different perspectives. My favourite though was the one about the man who drowned himself but did not completely die - now that would be a good story to expand on, covering how he to took revenge on those selected.
This book gave me a few samples of the author's varied writing styles and had more been available, I would have certainly continued into the early hours the next day.
In particular, I liked the wall street story which was written in two different perspectives. My favourite though was the one about the man who drowned himself but did not completely die - now that would be a good story to expand on, covering how he to took revenge on those selected.
November 12, 2020
“Some stories are less Borges and more Stephen Crane (author of The Red Badge of Courage): bleak, violent. Like “Lightning Love,” narrated by a wife whose husband changes into something (the twist at the end is brilliant). Others are political fables, like “Santa Claus and Madam Secretary,” which makes Havel’s proclivities as clear as the image on a 98-inch TV. The Odd and The Strange is quite an accomplishment: unusual, provocative, and honest. Mixing the fabulism of Jorge Luis Borges with the bleakness of Stephen Crane, the tales contained in Harvey Havel’s The Odd and The Strange draw the reader into a world they won’t soon forget.” ~ IndieReader
“The focus is on unusual occurrences with extraordinary outcomes. It encompasses the deepest thoughts of man and the results they produce. Although the storylines are bizarre, the author makes the characters relatable and the events realistic. The author challenges profound minds to understand his narration. If you’re going to read this book, you have to think out of the box — the short stories aren’t conventional. What I like most about this book is the author’s writing style. Each sentence has a deep meaning to it. The author’s choice of words is direct, yet with a powerful effect. The author’s ability to infuse a story in just a few paragraphs is commendable.”
~ Online Book Club
“The focus is on unusual occurrences with extraordinary outcomes. It encompasses the deepest thoughts of man and the results they produce. Although the storylines are bizarre, the author makes the characters relatable and the events realistic. The author challenges profound minds to understand his narration. If you’re going to read this book, you have to think out of the box — the short stories aren’t conventional. What I like most about this book is the author’s writing style. Each sentence has a deep meaning to it. The author’s choice of words is direct, yet with a powerful effect. The author’s ability to infuse a story in just a few paragraphs is commendable.”
~ Online Book Club
August 31, 2021
A collection of short fiction stories that will not disappoint.
This collection of short stories by Author Harvey Havel was very enjoyable for me. I usually always carry my Kindle with me, so it was actually perfect to read a story or two while waiting at the doctor’s office, taking a break at work, or just before going to bed. With a regular book, it’s sometimes difficult to stop reading; but that’s the beauty of this particular book. Every story was intriguing, bizarre, and encompassed many different genres. The characters were unique and relatable. I actually enjoyed the heavy narrator style this writer uses because it is after all a “short story!” The book is a fast-paced, well written, with interesting characters and a great story lines. It’s written concisely with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. When I tried to figure out what was going to happen next, I was always wrong. I consistently looked forward to finding out what would happen next and what unusual story would follow.
This collection of short stories by Author Harvey Havel was very enjoyable for me. I usually always carry my Kindle with me, so it was actually perfect to read a story or two while waiting at the doctor’s office, taking a break at work, or just before going to bed. With a regular book, it’s sometimes difficult to stop reading; but that’s the beauty of this particular book. Every story was intriguing, bizarre, and encompassed many different genres. The characters were unique and relatable. I actually enjoyed the heavy narrator style this writer uses because it is after all a “short story!” The book is a fast-paced, well written, with interesting characters and a great story lines. It’s written concisely with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. When I tried to figure out what was going to happen next, I was always wrong. I consistently looked forward to finding out what would happen next and what unusual story would follow.
October 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories by Harvey Havel.
I’m a massive fan of short stories and think that they’re a very tricky art form to do well, so was really excited to get stuck in to ‘The Odd and the Strange’.
I wasn’t disappointed. These short stories are well written, interesting and engaging. Some of the stories are very short indeed (only a couple of pages long) but I had no problem with that as good writing is good writing. It’s refreshing to be able to dip in and out of a book whenever you have a spare minute or two and doing so presents a very different reader experience. To be able to interact with a book this way probably enhances the all-round experience and in a strange way, makes it more readable.
The author attempts to include a wide variety of genres from sci-fi to horror with some paranormal thrown in for good measure! I find that these genres do seem to suit the short story mode as they can be tailored to the shorter, ‘punchier’ form (and you get more bang for your buck).
Like with any good short story, the vast majority of these stories stuck with me long after reading them. My particular favourites included ‘The Past and the Future’, and ‘Sophie’s Mirror’.
To be honest, this collection of short stories was so different, I found just about every story was intriguing. The characterisation was interesting and relatable enough to remain plausible/believable.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this form as well as fans of horror, slasher, paranormal type fiction. Well worth a look!
I’m a massive fan of short stories and think that they’re a very tricky art form to do well, so was really excited to get stuck in to ‘The Odd and the Strange’.
I wasn’t disappointed. These short stories are well written, interesting and engaging. Some of the stories are very short indeed (only a couple of pages long) but I had no problem with that as good writing is good writing. It’s refreshing to be able to dip in and out of a book whenever you have a spare minute or two and doing so presents a very different reader experience. To be able to interact with a book this way probably enhances the all-round experience and in a strange way, makes it more readable.
The author attempts to include a wide variety of genres from sci-fi to horror with some paranormal thrown in for good measure! I find that these genres do seem to suit the short story mode as they can be tailored to the shorter, ‘punchier’ form (and you get more bang for your buck).
Like with any good short story, the vast majority of these stories stuck with me long after reading them. My particular favourites included ‘The Past and the Future’, and ‘Sophie’s Mirror’.
To be honest, this collection of short stories was so different, I found just about every story was intriguing. The characterisation was interesting and relatable enough to remain plausible/believable.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this form as well as fans of horror, slasher, paranormal type fiction. Well worth a look!
November 11, 2021
The Odd and The Strange is an accurate title for this collection of short stories. The stories are lively and diverse in their subjects. The characters are all unique and different from one another. I enjoyed the fact that Havel did not hold any punches with writing unlikable central characters in his stories. It really helped take those stories to another level, and build further intrigue in them. These stories are dense and bite sized. Like a piece of rich cake on an afternoon. It was easy to sit down to read a few in a short sitting. You can absolutely see the author's passion for his craft. Many of these stories lean towards current affairs and politics that blend with elements of horror. This collection is eclectic, engaging, and thought-provoking.
4/5 stars due to some typos and formatting issues throughout the collection. Nothing too egregious, but does occasionally pop you out of the moment.
4/5 stars due to some typos and formatting issues throughout the collection. Nothing too egregious, but does occasionally pop you out of the moment.
December 13, 2022
The Odd and The Strange: A Collection of Very Short Fiction by Harvey Havel is a great short story collection filled with bizarre characters and sketchy themes that are short in nature. Some of the characters on the surface appear rather boring, but then with a twist, they turn into monsters, some of which are of their own making. These stories are great for a short read, and certainly, the collection lends itself to being read at leisure, picking up a story or two at a time. There is a range of topics covered, keeping you engaged and interested in each story. Overall, a fine collection of intriguing stories.
July 28, 2022
A compendium of treasures
New York author Harvey Havel is also an educator, having English at Bergen Community College in New Jersey, and writing and literature at SUNY Albany and College of Saint Rose. He has written and published nineteen books to date, including novels, essays on current affairs, and short story compilations: THE ODD AND THE STRANGE is his latest collection of very short fiction, some stories as short as one page (e.g., ‘Soldiers’ – a potent wisp of death and the futility of war, ‘Delusion’- a thought process between paranoia and need for recognition, and ‘Lovers’ – listening to lovemaking that alters a vantage of women’s sexual behavior).
The themes of these well written stories are varied, and every reader will find favorites that plead for return. One of my favorites is ‘Immigrant,’ an exceptionally well-defined examination of an Iranian immigrant who upon release from a psychiatric institution manages to positively influence the lives of an imbalanced married couple. Harvey explores contemporary issues, including the media influence of purchasing ‘eye glasses with exam’ that floods television commercials, pets, relationships, secrets discovered upon finding family photographs, fantasies – over eighty very short stories that are each tiny masterpieces of writing – and very thought provoking and intriguing.
As an additional advantage to discovering a very talented writer, this collection of stories is just the right companion for those waiting-in-the dentist-office periods, or maximizing the airport pre-boarding hours, or as a reliable bedside table friend. How the author can say so much in so few words is extraordinary. Very highly recommended.
New York author Harvey Havel is also an educator, having English at Bergen Community College in New Jersey, and writing and literature at SUNY Albany and College of Saint Rose. He has written and published nineteen books to date, including novels, essays on current affairs, and short story compilations: THE ODD AND THE STRANGE is his latest collection of very short fiction, some stories as short as one page (e.g., ‘Soldiers’ – a potent wisp of death and the futility of war, ‘Delusion’- a thought process between paranoia and need for recognition, and ‘Lovers’ – listening to lovemaking that alters a vantage of women’s sexual behavior).
The themes of these well written stories are varied, and every reader will find favorites that plead for return. One of my favorites is ‘Immigrant,’ an exceptionally well-defined examination of an Iranian immigrant who upon release from a psychiatric institution manages to positively influence the lives of an imbalanced married couple. Harvey explores contemporary issues, including the media influence of purchasing ‘eye glasses with exam’ that floods television commercials, pets, relationships, secrets discovered upon finding family photographs, fantasies – over eighty very short stories that are each tiny masterpieces of writing – and very thought provoking and intriguing.
As an additional advantage to discovering a very talented writer, this collection of stories is just the right companion for those waiting-in-the dentist-office periods, or maximizing the airport pre-boarding hours, or as a reliable bedside table friend. How the author can say so much in so few words is extraordinary. Very highly recommended.
October 25, 2022
There is something about short stories that twist into a bizarre ending that sticks with you. Harvey Havel mastered penning uncanny pieces within The Odd and The Strange. With Halloween around the corner, these stories will get you in the mood for the eerie frame of mind that hovers over this season. Each story ends with a twist, but I find the author's ideas woven within the fabric of the characters and plots. I believe the author not only wishes to give you the chills, but he goes down paths we avoid for the thrill of dramatic effect.
September 12, 2022
This collection of shorts has a ton to offer any reader. You can read these in spurts; most stories are under ten pages. The stories span many genres; even though each story is short, they all feel complete. Havel did well not to extend a story beyond its life, keeping suspense and intrigue through each short.
It’s hard to give a synopsis since it spans many themes and genres, so I’ll keep it to the writing. Havel does a great job with his style and captures the theme of each story very well. He’s captured the ‘visual’ aspect of storytelling and genuine dialogue (realistic conversations between characters). I reread Gaming after I got through all the stories just because of how good the interactions were in that story. I like this author. His style in short fiction is amazing. There is something for everyone in this book!
It’s hard to give a synopsis since it spans many themes and genres, so I’ll keep it to the writing. Havel does a great job with his style and captures the theme of each story very well. He’s captured the ‘visual’ aspect of storytelling and genuine dialogue (realistic conversations between characters). I reread Gaming after I got through all the stories just because of how good the interactions were in that story. I like this author. His style in short fiction is amazing. There is something for everyone in this book!
January 11, 2023
The Odd and the Strange Is an intriguing and peculiar set of short fiction stories aimed at every type of reader. As the title suggests they are odd and most definitely strange! (But in a good way).
I loved Harvey Havel’s collection of weird fiction. It takes quite a creative mind to come up with such an imaginative collection of stories, especially while making sure each one was also engaging and entertaining. The way each story starts is pretty normal but each meander off in a very thought provoking way. There are one or two of these stories I would have loved the author to develop further, but I guess by leaving the reader wanting more is the perfect way to write short fiction. A very enjoyable read.
Im looking forward to reading more from this author, definitely recommend
I loved Harvey Havel’s collection of weird fiction. It takes quite a creative mind to come up with such an imaginative collection of stories, especially while making sure each one was also engaging and entertaining. The way each story starts is pretty normal but each meander off in a very thought provoking way. There are one or two of these stories I would have loved the author to develop further, but I guess by leaving the reader wanting more is the perfect way to write short fiction. A very enjoyable read.
Im looking forward to reading more from this author, definitely recommend
January 5, 2023
First things first…Look at that creepy cover!!! This pretty much tells you that what you are about to read is just pure mystery, suspense and maybe horror?? I love how this compilation has very short stories, so get can get a taste of the authors writing.
I loved every story, a few more than others but I truly enjoyed reading every single one of them. Give it a try and have a break between long books, we all need a fresh start and this is the perfect way to do it.
I loved every story, a few more than others but I truly enjoyed reading every single one of them. Give it a try and have a break between long books, we all need a fresh start and this is the perfect way to do it.
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