The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen

By Cameron A. Straughan

A wild, hilarious account of one man's absurd quest for enlightenment, inner peace and a really good pair of trousers.

Anthony Zen is an untroubled man in a deeply troubled world. He lives alone with his perpetually ringing cat, collects round objects, forgets to wear pants with startling regularity, and shrugs off absurd catastrophes-whether it's being attacked by an angry giraffe or having to face a gorilla in traffic court.

While everyone else panics, hustles, and desperately searches for meaning, Anthony simply exists-calm, collected, and utterly unfazed by the nonsense of contemporary life. As reality bends, warps, and occasionally crumbles around him, Anthony remains true to himself, proving that sometimes the best way to survive chaos is to ignore it completely.

A collection of bizarre, hilarious, and strangely profound interconnected short stories, The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen is a deadpan comedy for anyone who has ever felt like the world makes no sense-and wondered if maybe that's okay.

Is the chaos of contemporary life getting you down? Need some fun? Craving a good laugh? Brain needs a stretch? ESCAPE Dive into the world of Anthony Zen - a brilliantly weird and deeply funny mix of absurd humor, satire, and low-key philosophy. Experience Anthony Zen's unshakable selfhood in an absurd world gone mad, remaining calm and unfazed while life throws surreal nonsense at him - a modern-day Zen absurdist hero for these uncertain times
A must-read for fans of Douglas Adams, Kurt Vonnegut, and Terry PratchettPerfect for readers who love deadpan humor, satire, and absurdist fictionSurreal, darkly comedic, and strangely philosophical
Reviews

"Reminded me of 'Rhinoceros' - Ionesco. A commentary on the absurdity of the human condition made tolerable only by self-delusion. Shows struggle of individual (Anthony) to maintain his integrity and identity alone in a world where others have succumbed to 'beauty' of brute force, natural energy and/or mindlessness." -- Colette Stevenson

"Your stories reminded me of a cross between Lewis Carroll and Richard Brautigan"
-- Larry Logan SATIRE - THE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY SATIRE

"North American authors, with the exception of a few (Kurt Vonnegut Jr., et al.), have very little sense of the absurd, something you've been cultivating, I think." -- C.F. Kennedy DRIFT/NECESSARY PRESS

"I found] your Anthony Zen stories funny. In fact, I really enjoyed them. You obviously have a flair for nonsense, and a knack for turning cliches on their heads. The ability to find comic potential in the everyday mundanities of life is pretty rare, and the stuff that good comic writers are made of. I think it's obvious you have this same type of funny bone."
-- Tim Bowling FLASH MAGAZINE

"When the book begins with poor Anthony being harassed by his ringing cat, being late for work, and rushing out the door forgetting to put on pants, you know you're in for a treat. Anthony is a likable character with a good sense of humor. His friends, Harry and Chubby, had me laughing out loud when they were prank-calling Anthony. All 23 short stories have the same theme, mainly the "how-to" deal with a work/life balance, dealing with family, and maintaining the kid spirit that exists in all of us while living an adult life. The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen is a great book if you are looking for a quick read."
-- Danielle Watkins THE BOOK SMUGGLER'S DEN

"The author is a gifted writer. The author's writing prowess is immaculate. Incorporated a lot of themes and literary devices. Light-hearted and fun to read. It was hilariously genius. The writing style and humor are perfect. The hilarious jokes are executed very well."
-- Eunice Geres ONLINEBOOKCLUB.ORG

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0968698115
• ISBN13: 9780968698112
• Release Date: July 2020
• Publisher: Kadath Press
• Length: 172 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"