★★★★★ – “Well written and thoroughly researched, with realistic characters and events. I could not put the book down.”
★★★★★ – “A great story with memorable characters, but to me the most fun was the historical aspect of it. Mari has done her research.”
★★★★★ – “One of the most unusual sci-fi stories I’ve read… I love these books and recommend them completely.”
★★★★★ – “I don’t usually read western-themed books but this book breaks the mold, blending western, historical, and sci-fi / paranormal all into one. It was spellbinding.”
★★★★★ – “Well written and thoroughly researched, with realistic characters and events. I could not put the book down.”
★★★★★ – “A great story with memorable characters, but to me the most fun was the historical aspect of it. Mari has done her research.”
★★★★★ – “One of the most unusual sci-fi stories I’ve read… I love these books and recommend them completely.”
★★★★★ – “I don’t usually read western-themed books but this book breaks the mold, blending western, historical, and sci-fi / paranormal all into one. It was spellbinding.”
5.0 out of 5 stars Punchy and quippy stories packed into one bookReviewed in the United States on August 19, 2022
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Twisted and Untwisted Tales, by Mari Collier is simply great entertainment packed into one book. These are relatively short stories; quirky, quippy and simply fun to read. These bite-sized stories are perfect for a bedtime read, or a quick escape into cleverly designed worlds that the author does a wonderful job of conjuring up. I recommend it for anyone, any age.
The third definition of skewed is to look obliquely. That somehow describes my mind as I may see things a bit differently than the rest of the population. To me there is always something more, perhaps something hidden or shaded by another dimension.
You’ll meet a boy who doesn’t grow old, a witch that wants to be normal, an Iowa farm woman battling frogs, a vampire that chooses to live in a sunny desert, ghosts, and vampires.
Carolyn Breckinridge5.0 out of 5 stars A collection of short stories sure to leave you smilingReviewed in the United States on January 6, 2019Verified Purchase‘Twisted Tales from a Skewed Mind’ by Mari Collier is a collection of fantasy short stories brimming with twists and wit. There is dry humor in some of the stories, such as ‘The Boy Who Refused to Grow Old,’ and other stories that left me chuckling as I didn’t anticipate the plots’ endings. The author promises vampires, witches, frogs, and ghosts, but also delivers a living house and slugs, among a host of other oddities. As with all collections, readers each have their favorites. Were I to choose mine, they would be ‘The Present,’ ‘Pink Boots,’ ‘Living Double,’ ‘Once a Frog Always a Frog,’ and ‘You Really Should Know Your Neighbors.’ all of which are very deserving of five-stars in my mind. This is only one of the books in her ‘Twisted Tales’ series and I certainly plan to read them all.
Travel through time, encounter witches as they move about their day, be enchanted by childhood fairies, and slay dragons from tales of old. Encounter ordinary people in extraordinary situations, and rocket through space to a wasted planet that auctions its one exportable product… women.
As in life, Twisted Tales from the Universe offers a range of stories that include humor, murder, love, and situations that never end quite the way one would expect.
These stories are very well written. The author draws you into the story with her attention to detail and her obvious understanding of human nature. Then, on top of all that, she gives you a twist ending that is both surprising and plausible. This book is definitely worth the read.
In this collection you will find humor, murder, a love story involving a ghost, an inhabited ghost town, a Fairy Godmother tale unlike anything you would expect, and more. NOTE: Contains content considered unsuitable for readers 17 and under.
Bjonsmom4.0 out of 5 stars A Gentler TwistReviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021Verified PurchaseI’ve now read all three of Collier’s Twisted Tales, and found this one a gentler collection, perhaps a bit more traditional than the previous two. The scenarios are just as imaginative, but far less bizarre and creepy. The characters are more relatable, more like regular folk, who find themselves in extraordinary situations – but the twisty end is there: surprising, ironic, and oh, my! Who among us hasn’t hoped to hit a big money payoff? Or felt the presence of a loved one who has passed on? Believe in ghosts? Maybe not, but how do you explain two “entities” in an eternal battle for male/female dominance shape shifting before your eyes? Conversations on either side of a radio “Portal” result in an identity switch. There are Bad Seeds, a battered wife fantasizing a way out and driven to the brink, a Fairy Godmother (be careful what you wish for). There’s a stunning reminder to always maintain “control” while driving; and watch out for that sculpture of a Desert Iguana. I gave the book four stars because one of the stories is published in a previous collection, although it is an intriguing adventure. Pick up this final anthology and make your collection complete.
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2016Verified PurchaseI don’t know exactly how to review these stories except to say they were very well written, very entertaining and very worthwhile reading. I loved the completion of the book and each of the stories resonated. I am so used to reading a continuous tale that a series of stories such as these is almost a shock as each story ends and a new one begins. But no matter. Each was entertaining in its own right and in its own way. All the tales put together make a fine presentation worthwhile for any group of readers.
Tonath is a planet in danger of being torn apart. Only one can inherit the knowledge to one day save the Tonathian people, and her name is Marika.
It’s been seventeen years since her father passed. Coming of age, she inherits a cattle hold, a trust account, and many gifts. One special gift is a chest, which comes with instructions that will guide her to the Bergman Mountains.
With a spaceship and the knowledge of three ancient civilizations, will she have time to access it all.. or will the Star Shifts hide the information, and drive her into the arms of her childhood love?
December 31, 2018Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseThe makings of this story lie in the first of Ms. Collier’s books of Tonath which told of the birth of a young girl named Marika. She was a descendant of the Justinians, space travelers who settled Tonath earlier. Her brilliance and ability as an engineer enabled a whole new generation of Tonathians to escape the rigors of “star shifts” causing major catastrophes on Tonath. If you love a good science fiction novel then you should start with the first Mari Collier wrote and read through her entire series of books. They are all excellent, present exceptional characters well-drafted, and storylines which keep you reading furiously. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of a woman coming of age, becoming a leader despite all the machinations of self-serving men. Women grace the lives of all who have contact with them. Mari Collier graces us all with her skills as an author.
December 20, 2018Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.” -Martin Luther
There’s a thread of unity amid battles, gunfights and arguments that is woven through this Sci-Fi Western novel from the beginning until the end. These factions are Silver or Green, something the inhabitants of Tonath find disheartening, because the disagreements about the correct star path leads to war and suffering. One character by the name of Brother Amos persists. As a Seeker, he’s rather impartial to war. In his opinion, a good map of the stars will provide clear answers and the best Pathway. Only time will tell which side, is correct about their assumptions. There are so many stars that need to be charted and many things to learn. We find him traveling with a group of Wayfarers, moving as far away from danger as possible. Among the Wayfarers is Venta, a single woman with a dream about building a refuge for divorced women called the Haven–and Jack Donald–a man with two hearts–from Thalia—another planet–who loves her. They need to escape the Green Marauders, Bentz and the Mechs so that Brother Amos can build an institute of his own and say, “We are neither Silver, nor Green. We are the Silver and the Green.”
When a passing freighter finds him and takes him to the Western Starshift Institute of the Way, he finds the Teacher. Tonath is a planet torn apart by the forces of nature, and only the Teacher can predict the movement of the stars and interpret the prophecies.
But will the Teacher be able to recognize True Man and True Foe in time to save Tonath from a thousand years of burning?
November 22, 2017Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseOn the planet of Tonath, a man awakens. His memory is gone and he is attacked by creatures that can only be given the name greenies. Surviving that. the man again awakes in another strange place. People, not quite the same as him are trying to help the man who now is going by the name Loren. The man is going to find the world he is in trouble, but he will survive. The story takes readers into the life of Loren and a science fiction adventure that is hard to put down. The author has combined science fiction with a chronological look at what a man endures as he finds love, life, hardships and even some horrors on a planet far, far away.
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