Hello Readers,
Thank you, Jay, for sending me a ebook copy of Strungballs
by Mike Russell for free in exchange for an honest review.
This is the fourth book I have been lucky enough to
receive from Jay and Mike Russell and I honestly couldn’t wait to jump back down the
rabbit hole that Mike creates through his writing. I have previously reviewed
Strange Medicine, and Strange Secrets and Nothing is Strange. Having already
experienced Mike Russell’s stories, I began this one with an open mind and
ready to jump down the rabbit hole. I knew before I started reading that it
would be like nothing I have read before and I can say it is unique.
The story is revolved around Sydney, a boy living within
a dystopian/futuristic community but all he knows is the corridors within his
city, and the regimented robotic lifestyles he and his parents live. The city
is protected by a barrier that keeps the monsters away so that the citizens can
continue living their tranquil existence in their small world. Sydney world has
identical rooms numbered from 1 – 999 which then brings it back to 1. The
people who exist in this world seem very clinical and in routine, going to work
or school daily and like clockwork, and in addition; the aspirations of most
children is to work in the highly respected industries of Strungball sales or a
Strungball advertising.
Unlike most dystopian/futuristic community this one
donates flesh. when we met 10-year-old Sydney he is in one of the rooms that
appears very clinical. It had to be he had proudly just had his first cube of
flesh removed from his chest. It was for the good of the community. So, every
so often these robots harvest a chunk of flesh from a person’s body.
Cauterising it as they do so. Sydney doesn’t know why; it is just what is done
in this city. After his operation, His proud parents then present him with his
first strungball! Which is placed within the empty space where his flesh used
to be. Everything is fine until Sydney learns of the ‘others’ and meets the man
who has more Strungballs than anyone else. Through the first half of this book,
Sydney seems to be happy, and proud that he has become a part of this tradition
but then he thinks for the first time
The descriptions were minimal but it felt like an
intentional move on Mike's part. Also, the characters seemed robotic and
stereotypical in this city like they have all been brainwashed. It makes the book seem very clinical and
sterile, that they only focus was the Strungballs and their purpose.
I try not dissect Mike Russell’s stories they are just
simply what they are the day I read them, tomorrow I will see something else in
them. If you’ve seen my previous reviews of Mikes work you know that I loved
his writing style. His ability to create such intense imagery in so little
words still leaves me speechless like honestly, this book is only 66 pages! I
know I shouldn’t be as blown away having previously read his work but it’s not
the point he is a brilliant writer and deserves the recognition. I still stand
by my view of Mike’s straightforward narrative paired with extremely odd and
obscure subjects helped him create an enjoyable world.
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