A review by mastermomin
Strungballs by Mike Russell
3.0
"Once a Strungball is inserted it must never be removed."
Strungballs is a strange and surreal read but at 66 pages it is just the right length to get you thinking. We are introduced to strungballs through 10 year old Sydney as he has his first cube of flesh removed from his chest to make way for his first strungball - a red ball attached to the end of a white string. His cube of flesh is taken to be attached to the skin barrier which protects his city from "the Others". After a chance encounter Sydney is put on a path of questioning his life and the reasons behind it.
The writing style is clear and engaging but as the story progresses we are introduced to stranger descriptions and events which were a bit hard to follow at times. I enjoyed the numerical references to the dimensions of rooms and objects which enhanced the white, sterile feel of the environment. The concept of infinity was the most intriguing and it forms the overarching backbone of the novella.
One question permeates throughout, which is "why?" Why are things done the way they are do they hide a greater purpose? As Sydney unravels the why of strungballs, we unravel the why of our lives. Just like the giants in the story, readers are encouraged to look within themselves and turn their notions of the world inside out. There is a lot of symbolism throughout which lends itself well to multiple readings.
Recommended for fans of strange fiction.
Strungballs is a strange and surreal read but at 66 pages it is just the right length to get you thinking. We are introduced to strungballs through 10 year old Sydney as he has his first cube of flesh removed from his chest to make way for his first strungball - a red ball attached to the end of a white string. His cube of flesh is taken to be attached to the skin barrier which protects his city from "the Others". After a chance encounter Sydney is put on a path of questioning his life and the reasons behind it.
The writing style is clear and engaging but as the story progresses we are introduced to stranger descriptions and events which were a bit hard to follow at times. I enjoyed the numerical references to the dimensions of rooms and objects which enhanced the white, sterile feel of the environment. The concept of infinity was the most intriguing and it forms the overarching backbone of the novella.
One question permeates throughout, which is "why?" Why are things done the way they are do they hide a greater purpose? As Sydney unravels the why of strungballs, we unravel the why of our lives. Just like the giants in the story, readers are encouraged to look within themselves and turn their notions of the world inside out. There is a lot of symbolism throughout which lends itself well to multiple readings.
Recommended for fans of strange fiction.