Description (from Amazon.com):
Mr. Kite’s Cavalcade of Unnatural History tours the country, presenting unusual wonders and sights, but something more sinister is at work.
For Palequus and Peter, agents sent to investigate, they realize what a threat the Cavalcade is. But can a retired Grim Reaper and discharged cherub stop Mr. Kite and his plans, lest they become a curiosity of the Cavalcade, a memento of a forgotten history?
Overall: 4 1/2 stars
Unnatural Time was a fantasy short story that reminded me of the classic Ray Bradbury novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes, in the sense that both stories involved a carnival. In Unnatural Time, however, instead of offering seductive promises of youth regained, Mr. Kite’s Cavalcade of Unnatural History offered visitors something even more enticing. (But the carnival food was mundane, not even offering funnel cake!)
The three characters in the story were not the typical good-versus-evil figures of a fantasy tale. Mr. Kite was a fast-talking showman in the vaudevillian style, who was suspected of some kind of evil plot, but it would take the investigative talents of Palequus and Peter to ferret out his secret. Palequus and Peter worked well together, with Peter being pensive and inquisitive, and Palequus being more outgoing and wary, but if they weren’t careful, this case could be the end of them.
Unnatural Time was a well written, imaginative story that was fun to read. The author did a nice job of creating a bizarre fantasy situation where the characters fit in and interacted perfectly. The dialogues matched the tone of the story, even showing a bit of humor at times.
Unnatural Time has 285 Kindle locations. Text-to-Speech and Lending are enabled.
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From the author, Julio Angel Ortiz:
How did you come up with the title?
During the development of the story, when I looked at the motives of the antagonist and what exactly he was doing to Time, it popped out at me.
How long have you been writing?
The short answer is that I have been since I was 10, when I realized that I wanted to do this for a living. The longer answer is more complicated, as life and responsibilities got in the way and it wasn’t until my early 20′s that I seriously started writing, both in audio dramas and prose fiction.
What authors have inspired you?
Gabriel Garcia Marquez, whose stories blew my mind when I discovered them in high school. Since then, Grant Morrison, Ted Chiang, and Mark Z. Danielewski have become big inspirations.
Where did you get the idea for the story?
Confession time: I was never a Beatles fan growing up. My wife turned me on to them, and one song that stuck out to me was “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” from the famous “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album. My wife hates the track; I was intrigued by the (perceived by me) subtext of what Mr. Kite was. He struck me as something more than a showman, and my writer’s wheels started turning and formulated this story as a result.
Who is your favorite character?
It’s tough to choose between Palequus and Peter, but I’ll go with the latter. There’s something fun about writing such a ball-breaker who happens to be a cherub (and a cynical one, to boot).
Bio: Julio Angel Ortiz works as a Systems Engineers during the day and works at his writing under cover of darkness. He recently decided to try his hand at being an “indie author” and loves it. He maintains his collection of curiosities at http://www.signaldotnoise.com.
Unnatural Time (Infinity, Ltd.)
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