A Humourless Death is a short story about a young boy, enchanted by the lure of the circus. With the enthusiasm of youth he dreams of becoming a clown. As an adult, that dream is no closer to becoming a reality. Faced with an ideal opportunity, the young man seeks out his childhood hero.
"This is a fairly enjoyable tale, more like Tales of the Unexpected than a modern horror piece but worth it especially for anyone who enjoys a tale about the circus."
Reviewer: Angel for Bookangel.
Kevin always wanted to be a clown, so much so that when he was taken to the circus, his grandfather took him backstage for a special treat to meet the clown Zozo. Several years later, Kevin is looking to be a clown full time as other jobs do not interest him. As the very same circus has returned, Kevin resolves to meet Zozo again and become his apprentice. However Zozo is not interested in having someone learn from him and sends him away. Finally, Kevin decides that the only thing to do is to take Zozo's place in the ring and show him that Kevin has what it takes to be a clown.
This is a fun short story, well written and engaging that keeps the plot moving along to its conclusion. The twist in the tale at the end is a little gruesome and comes slightly out of the left field. There isn't any real horror in it and certainly not clown based as might be expected. However, the main characters come across well as do the minor characters and it really captures the feelings around a circus, the enjoyment that families have there, and the acts that go on. The behind the scenes look at the circus also feels real enough at the various times the characters are shown it.
This is a fairly enjoyable tale, more like Tales of the Unexpected than a modern horror piece but worth it especially for anyone who enjoys a tale about the circus. Rating:3
