I say it every time and I’ll say it again now. Single-author collections are hit-and-miss. The best of these stories would make good episodes of whatever the current equivalent of the Twilight Zone is, and the worst of these are often more like scenarios than stories (there’s no punchline). Others are too preachy about the evils of VR. It can’t be all bad but I guess he wasn’t up for writing a utopian book.

If that sounds too negative, the stories I like I really like. Kudos to the author for writing a concept collection like this. I’d like to see him take these same ideas and make a single novel out of them.

I like his writing style and will be checking out his published work next.

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Restricted Fantasies was released to the public on May 27, 2018, but I had received an email from NetGalley to check it out. After reading the blurb (see below), I was intrigued.

"A Black Mirror-style sci-fi short story collection about the perils of our virtual reality future - and whether we're already living in it."

I am not usually a heavy sci-fi reader. I lean more towards high fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, contemporary fiction, chick-lit, and paranormal and contemporary romances. But recently with my book club, I've been trying to branch out of my comfort zone.

I happened to watch Black Mirror earlier this year and I loved the concept. So I decided to give this collection of short stories a chance.

Restricted Fantasies contains 11 short stories, each involving virtual reality, but each one is a different story. I wasn't sure of the best way to go about reviewing this book, but after some thought, I felt it'd be best to do a small review on each short story and then end with my final thoughts on the collection as a whole. For the sake of space on NetGalley and Goodreads, I will post my overall thoughts on the collection, but please visit my full book review here on my blog, Rainy Days, Books, and a Cup of Coffee at https://rainydaysbooksandcoffee.wordpress.com/2018/06/18/book-review-restricted-fantasies-kevin-kneupper/.

Overall Thoughts: I felt that the author could have left out about 4 of these short stories and the collection would have been better for it. I am glad I read this because it was definitely thought-provoking. I was already leary of virtual reality after watching Sword Art Online (I don’t want to get stuck in a virtual reality death game) and this book has kind of sealed the deal.

I think humanity already spends too much time connected virtually and we are losing a lot of what makes us human, even though some may not see it that way. I feel that the further we advance in technology, the more we lose ourselves and the greater the corruption and violence will spread.

My overall score: 3.5 stars (I’ll round up to 4 on Goodreads and Netgalley since they don’t allow for ½ scores.) If you are interested in stories that take place in virtual reality, give this one a shot. You may enjoy it more than I did. :)

This book is ok. It is unfortunate it is compared with Black Mirror, as it isn’t on that level. black Mirror often provides a scathing commentary of modern society from its horror perspective. The stories in this are interesting and creepy, but don’t really seem to be trying to make any comment or point, they are just horror/sci-fi for the sake of being horror/sci-fi.

Some use very shocking topics but don’t utilize the material to make a point as much as using them for shock value. Generally speaking I can come along with such topics if it goes somewhere, but this felt gratuitous.

The writing isn’t bad and the style is enjoyable, I just wish the author would have a stronger point of view. The stories all have strong potential to be more, but are just short achieving that.

I was a little disappointed In this volume, but I will follow this author because I feel there is strong potential for something great in the future.

This was a fantastic, compelling, slightly disturbing little collection of speculative sci-fi. The description of a Black Mirror read-alike was accurate and did not disappoint! I really enjoyed these stories.

I read a lot of sci-fi, and this was one of the first purely speculative fiction pieces I have read. Far from the typical blasters and 'bots, this is a great near-future commentary on our own times and its foibles. I really enjoyed how each simulation experience left you wanting to return to the real world. I also found it a sad commentary that, like in the contemporary world, everyone is seeking an escape from our daily hum-drum existence, only to find out that the life of our dreams isn't all it's cracked up to be. The work is reminiscent of Stephen King's "NeedfulThings".