The Protocols of Splat by Neil Roy McFarlane

Readers and audiobook listeners are familiar with the voice and name of narrator Neil Roy McFarlane. He has narrated several Meryton Press books, which will be listed at the end of this post. Neil also edits for Meryton Press, but this time, he is the author of a sci-fi anthology of short stories.

Neil likes to consider this collection as an example of “slipstream,” a genre of its own, but he said I could call it humorous sci-fi. These short stories blend together science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. The aim is a combination of conventional sci-fi, humor, and absurdist elements, intended to entertain, amuse, and surprise. They should be taken once daily, before bedtime, as a means to distract the mind from the day’s stresses and anxieties, and aid the reader in his or her struggle for a decent night’s sleep.

What do you think? Would you like to give them a try? We hope so! We will tell you more about them in the days to come.

The Protocols of Splat Blurb

These nineteen tales of gripping suspenders, brimming with contents, will transport you to foreign planets populated by alien creatures of indescribable adjectives. Prepare to have your flabbers gasted and hold onto your hats tight—it’s going to be a ride of bumpiness!

From author Neil Roy McFarlane, a bipedal, carbon-based life form from the planet Earth, whose favorite pastimes are vanity and futility.

Neil told me that he thought a comic book cover would be the best way to depict his anthology. Readers would then suspect these were to be fun reads, not serious or scary. He told me a few things that he would like to have on the front, so I went to work. I must confess, I had so much fun playing with this cover, and I learned a few things in the process too! Are you ready to see it?

What do you think? Can you see why it was such fun? Take a look at the full wrapper.

Does this bright and colorful wrapper have the look and feel of a comic book? 🙂

Neil McFarlane has quite an interesting background. Let me introduce him.

About the Author

Neil McFarlane currently works in a DIY store in Scotland. He also edits books and narrates and produces audiobooks. For fifteen years, he lived and worked in Asia, as an English teacher in Taiwan, and in the Beijing film industry, doing voice work, subtitling, and film editing.

He has narrated five books for Meryton Press, and (naturally!) is a big Jane Austen fan. He has also written several books for children, most notably A Month of Bedtime Stories (honoree at the 2014 London Book Festival), Quite Possibly Without Doubt the Best Story Book in the World Ever, Maybe, and Me Tawk Funny, a bookseries about a talking dog. Neil once went for a walk and kept going for 52 days, crossing the Brecon Beacons mountain range in Wales, The Cheviot Hills in the Scottish Borders, and walking the Pennine Way in between. He had a tent with him, camped wild every night, and only got chased by two angry farmers the whole journey. It was lonely (apart from the farmers) but it was also beautiful. He often thinks about that trip, and he pines for the fjords.

Doesn’t sound like this man has many dull moments, does it? Neil, will you tell us more about this anthology? We would love to know your inspiration and the “whys” behind it.

From the Author

This collection of short stories is inspired by some of my favorite offbeat humor (e.g. Monty Python, The Mighty Boosh), along with classic sci-fi such as Star Trek (the original series) and writers like Ray Bradbury and Theodore Sturgeon. I’ve also been influenced by my recent discovery of the remarkable resemblance of word salads to portals of cuddly madness. You what? 

The sci-fi setting here is mostly just a frame. What really interests me are the little human quirks and interactions within each story. Ultimately it’s the ordinary, sometimes silly human moments that matter most. I hope these stories entertain and maybe surprise you, as they did me in the writing.

Universal Buy Link

The book is available for preorder on Amazon. It dropped a day early but that is better than later! We’ll take it!

Giveaway

Meryton Press will be giving away two eBooks of The Protocols of Splat. We would love for you to have your share in the conversation so please let us know what you think about this anthology or just send some love to the author, Neil McFarlane. We want to hear from you. The giveaway is worldwide and will end at midnight, Monday, November 11th. Good luck to everyone and thank you for stopping by.

Audiobooks Narrated by Neil Roy McFarlane

Consequences, The Child, The Mist of Her Memory, and dual narration of Silver Buckles and Old Boots.

Other Books by the Author

Neil Roy McFarlane has written and narrated quite a few children’s books. To see his other published works, check out his Amazon Author page.