Listen To The Signal: Short Stories Volume 1

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Pub Date 01 Feb 2019 | Archive Date 30 Apr 2019

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Description

Like episodes of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits, the sixteen stories contained in Listen To The Signal, Short Stories Volume 1 ask questions like, "What would happen if an iPhone game was addictive - to everyone?" and "Are we all living inside a simulation? And if so, who's running it?" and "When a pilot has to emergency land in a remote town near Area 51 what does he find?"

Hi, Rob Dircks here. I'm the Audible bestselling author of Where the Hell is Tesla?, and I've been writing and narrating these stories since 2016 on my podcast, Listen To The Signal. But now I've made them available ONLY here in this book. They include: Dakō • Today I Invented Time Travel • End Game • November 8, 2016 • Quick Fix • Horatio Breathed His Last • Purgatory • Out of the Blue • Tick Tick Tick • Rose • Red Parka • Bloop • Their DNA Was No Longer the Same • The Last One • Mister Personality • Christmas in Silver Peak.

Back when I started this project, I was thinking what the heck, writing some short stories will keep me fresh, let me try things I might not try otherwise, act as a sort-of sketch book of my story ideas: the funny, the weird, the scary, the sappy, and sometimes all of that mashed up together. Well, two years later, I had no idea how proud I would be of this body of work, and how genuinely psyched I am to be sharing these stories with you in this format. I probably shouldn’t pump up the hype too much, and let you decide on your own, but man, going through these again for production, I felt like a proud papa, gathering up all my little babies, or like I was collecting a bag of gems.Wow, I just wrote “bag of gems” in all seriousness, like it’s a totally everyday phrase, like I might find myself out on horseback in some medieval European country and have the need to reach into my little leather sack for a gem to purchase an entire village.Anyway, it feels like a bag of gems to me, and I hope it does to you, too.

P.S. Your enjoyment of these short stories doesn't end with this book! I’ll continue to write more and publish them first free on the Listen To The Signal podcast, I try to do one a month (but you know how that goes). And if you’d like to be reminded when they come out, you can sign up for my very occasional and not-at-all spammy email newsletter at ListenToTheSignal.com.

Like episodes of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits, the sixteen stories contained in Listen To The Signal, Short Stories Volume 1 ask questions like, "What would happen if an iPhone game was...


A Note From the Publisher

Rob Dircks is the Audible bestselling author of Where the Hell is Tesla? The Wrong Unit, Don't Touch the Blue Stuff!, You're Going to Mars!, and the new Listen To The Signal: Short Stories Volume 1. A member of SFWA (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America), his prior work includes the anti-self-help book Unleash the Sloth! 75 Ways to Reach Your Maximum Potential By Doing Less, and a drawerful of screenplays and short stories. Some of these sci-fi short stories appear on Rob's original audio short story podcast Listen To The Signal, also narrated by the author.



Rob's a big fan of classic science fiction, and sci-fi conspiracy theories (not to believe in them, just for entertainment. Really.) When not writing, he's helping other authors publish their own work with his own little imprint, Goldfinch Publishing. He also writes and designs for the award-winning ad agency he owns with his brother (appropriately named Dircks Associates). Otherwise, he generally engages in what he calls "sampling": video production, audio production, app development, comics/cartooning, photography, guitar, reading, cooking. (Note the absence of the phrases "going to the gym" and "running iron-man triathalons.") He lives in New York with his wife and two kids. You can get in touch at www.robdircks.com.

Rob Dircks is the Audible bestselling author of Where the Hell is Tesla? The Wrong Unit, Don't Touch the Blue Stuff!, You're Going to Mars!, and the new Listen To The Signal: Short Stories...


Advance Praise

“★★★★★ There is no one writing scifi as well as Rob Dircks right now, and this short story collection proves it.

"★★★★★ Awesome, so much fun! I loved every story!! Loved it, highly recommended to anyone who loves a good story. Audio was excellent and fun to listen to, completely kept my attention the entire book!"

"★★★★★ The Perfect Road Trip Listen. This is probably the perfect road trip listen. You get small digestible stories to help pass the time, but almost all of the stories are built around a bigger question. This bigger question leaves you and your stinky car-mates with something to talk about while getting another bladder buster and sack of Twizzlers at the Gulp n' Go.”

"★★★★★ Best Mix of Sci-Fi and Realism Yet. These short stories mix the most entertaining twists of plot with a truly realistic point of view by the characters. I guess the phrase I'm looking for is 'real speak' in fantastic situations. Rob's stories have amazing plots with last minute twists and zings that I find extremely refreshing in the genre,”

"★★★★★ Never want them to end. Man, I just love Rob's writing and narration. So many great stories and ideas, oh, I can't wait for the next full book.”

“★★★★★ There is no one writing scifi as well as Rob Dircks right now, and this short story collection proves it.

"★★★★★ Awesome, so much fun! I loved every story!! Loved it, highly recommended to...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781732610750
PRICE $4.99 (USD)

Average rating from 11 members


Featured Reviews

These stories were originally sent into the world via the author’s podcast. But not being a podcast fan, I’ve never heard of them of him until this book appeared on Netgalley. I’m always up for stories with twists, especially science fiction with a twist, and though I’ve long ago adjusted my expectations not to expect a Black Mirror sort of awesomeness, these sorts of things still tend to be fun. And so it was. Dircks’ got a great overactive sort of imagination powered up by various what ifs and conspiracies and the result is a very entertaining bunch of tales with twists. Most of them curated, which I like, because it offers explanations for inspirations. Quality wise these stories feature uniformly decent writing, but then again the contents not the packaging seem to be the star of the show here. It’s kinda sorta like Outer Limits lite, and also quite funny at times. Your mind may not be blown per se, but you’ll be very entertained. It’s such a quick read too and a lovely vacation from reality for an afternoon or so. Recommended for fans of speculative fiction with a twist and maybe a joke or two. Thanks Netgalley.

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I LOVE short story anthologies, and this one definitely didn't disappoint. They run the gamut from hilarious, to scary, to stories that make you stop and think, to the occasional warm and fuzzy--and there wasn't a single one I didn't enjoy. I love Mr. Dirck's writing style and I enjoyed the times when he referenced what he was thinking, or what the story I was about to read was connected to. The stories were the perfect length to consume during my lunch break and long enough for each to be complete.

I definitely enjoyed this--if you like Sci-Fi that doesn't take itself TOO seriously, this is the book for you!

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Received via NetGalley for review.

A great collection of short stories, all about the mundane and the fantastic in our lives. While there isn't much stylistic difference in the stories, they're all enjoyable and fun, and short enough that even if you find yourself not liking it, you're quickly on to the next one.

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