The Adventurists: and Other Stories

The Adventurists and Other Stories by Richard Butner is a gorgeously mesmerizing compilation of short science fiction and fantasy stories that contain and reflect back the entire spectrum of human emotions, sometimes from one extreme to the other, without leaving the reader with that nagging sense of psychological whiplash that so often accompanies similar compilations in the genre.

Butner creates immersive tales with beautifully descriptive detail and an almost dream-like sense of fantastical logic where the limitations of reality simply cease to exist for the duration of one story, only to have those same limitations flipped completely on their head for the next. If you enjoy short stories by the likes of fantasy author Neil Gaiman or science fiction giant Ray Bradbury, then you’ll love this collection.

Whether you like stories about lost friends reunited, unrequited love, second chances, or the transformative power of both grief and hope, there’s something here for you. Mostly surreal and often touching, these stories make wonderful and quick reads for late-night dreamers and back-seat readers on their way to destinations unknown.