Not From Around Here: The Complete Collection by J S Zuczek

This review first appeared on Reader Views. Read the Reader Views version here. 

Not From Around Here: The Complete Collection is a book of seven short stories by J.S. Zuczek. Included in this collection is the tale of a woman who haunts the life of a man until he is finally ready for her. Also, a supernatural story combined with the real estate market. The next tale weaves the narrative of how cosmological events and, perhaps, spirits, helped lead searchers to find a missing young boy. There is an adventure in four different emergency bunkers leading to an uncertain end, and a drama of how supernatural fables and urban legends are utilized by a governmental agency to cover up larger conspiracies. Then there’s a story that features a lover of science fiction who encounters aliens, and finally, a tale that explores a world whose inhabitants have translucent skin.

Zuczek does a good job of crafting different realities with a similar eerie feel across his seven short stories. This appears to have been his goal, as he details The Twilight Zone as an inspiration for this collection. A uniting narrator like The Twilight Zone could have been an interesting twist to this already somewhat twisty collection of tales Zuczek presents.

Each short tale presents a vividly different world with its own themes, metaphors, and messages. Best read one at a time to appreciate these differences, the collection of short stories in “Not From Around Here” will provoke consideration, thoughtfulness, and the hairs on the back of readers’ necks.

“Not From Around Here” is best read by those looking for a dose of sophisticated spookiness. While none delve into gore or intense darkness, which would provoke a more definite age rating, the narratives of this slim volume are sure to cause some shivers in both the spine and brain. Thus, this volume is most appropriate for older teens and adults.

This slim volume reminds us there is charm in having a quick read of short stories, even if those tales are on the eerie end of charm. Overall, Not From Around Here by J.S. Zuczek is a slim and highly readable, diverse, and fantastical volume sure to please sci-fi fans and those who prefer their reads quick and spooky.

Not From Around Here: The Complete Collection by J S Zuczek, Jeffrey Zuczek