“Sometimes the suffering of one individual is so great that it renders unjustifiable any purpose that the universe could possibly have.”

Described as “weird and wonderful stories for all that ails you,” Strange Medicine is exactly that. The book consists of eight short stories, each with a twist and a lesson. Characters range from a mime to a person who only wants to think rationally.

Mike Russell has written two other books, also full of “strange” short stories. I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. I found it easy to read and while the stories were strange, they were also fascinating.

One of the most memorable stories is about a woman who becomes a mime, which is truly being an invisible person who can see invisible items in our world. The story about the man who only wants to think rationally, but ends up being irrational comes to an interesting conclusion. “Telephone” and “Shish” were more sci-fi.

It has been a while since I’ve read a book of short stories. Since they are short, characters have to be developed quickly and Russell does a good job of that. The book is for fans of science fiction or oddities. However, anyone who appreciates reading about a good character would appreciate this book. It is probably best for high school ages or older.

Buy the book here (affiliate link).