Fantasy, science, crime, and adventure come together in Book of 5 by Richard T, a collection of five short stories that will punch you where it hurts. Beginning with the first story, The Park, which takes place on another planet, prison reform takes a revolutionary turn with the use of an android--but something in its system goes awry. The second story, Fractured, is a fascinating look at the virtues of chivalry, and why it is wise to choose your battles. The third story, You Can’t Catch Me, is a hardboiled detective tale that will pit a retired detective against a cunning murderer. The Tolands is a touching story of fraternal bonds and the strength of unity. Finally, White Cloud tells the story of an aging mailman, who, in his newfound hobby, discovers a rare find that will push him to try something that he had been longing to do.

These are spellbinding tales that are terrifying, intriguing, and sometimes even vicious. If there is an underlying philosophy or idea that Richard T is trying to get across, it's that these are profound speculations that offer plausible warnings about the future. Well-written and intelligent, the five stories herein lament philosophical and moral issues. They are infused with themes ranging from societal ills to restless pursuits in changing the world in which we live—without much thought on the ramifications. The irrepressible prophetic tone in this collection reminds me of a work that is a cross between Harlan Ellison and Mickey Spillane. It’s a collection that will remind you of your fragility as a mortal, and I recommend Book of 5 to anyone who has a taste for good fantasy, sci-fi, and crime thrillers.

Book of 5 by Richard T is an anthology of five short stories that cover a variety of topics. In Story One, The Park, the author takes us into the future in a science fiction tale in which humanity’s answer to its criminal element is to ship them off to another planet, where the criminals will be supervised by an android. But what happens when the android malfunctions and goes rogue? Story Two, Fractured, is a time travel adventure that takes five college-age boys back to the seventeenth century in America’s wild west. How will these young men cope in an alien environment but armed with the knowledge of modern technology and history. Story Three, You Can’t Catch Me, details the hunt for a serial killer by one retired policeman and his friends. Story Four, The Tolands, details the short but fascinating lives of three orphan brothers, who all are successful in their chosen careers but none of whom is destined for a long life. The final tale in this anthology is White Cloud which examines the impact of finding a magical, Native American amulet that can instantly transport its holder to a time and place he or she is currently thinking about.

Book of 5 is an interesting way to while away a few hours of reading time. Author Richard T clearly has a fascination for magic and mysterious happenings. A number of the stories revolve around mysticism or magical occurrences that affect ordinary, everyday people and the key is how these people react to the strange circumstances surrounding them. As a rule, I generally don’t read short stories but these five were varied and interesting enough to capture my attention. In any anthology, you will always have your favorites and this is no exception. I particularly enjoyed the second story, Fractured, because the concept of time travel and the ability to alter the events of the past and change the course of history has been a fascination of novelists and readers for centuries. This collection is short enough for each story to be enjoyed in an hour or so when the reader has some free time. I did enjoy the read and can recommend it as an ideal standby book to pick up when time is limited.

Imagine a monastery in some isolated location, perhaps not even on this planet. The monastery’s monks are changed every few years and at a recent changeover, an Android intervenes, out of control, and wreaks havoc, killing everyone in its path. That doesn’t end its path of destruction and there’s no one powerful enough to stop it. That is until it faces the simple powers of a young girl. Another story leads readers on a one-way jump in time, back to the year 1690. Can the protagonists, a group of young friends, survive in the new era? Will they ever return to their own time? Will they want to return? Crime, fantasy, and science fiction interweave in compelling tales of nefarious deeds and events.

Richard T’s Book of 5 is a collection of five short stories, each story clean and free of offensive language and actions. The genres include fantasy, science fiction, and crime thrillers, and the reader will be led into riveting tales of suspense and lots of action. The format of each story is almost bullet point in presentation; in other words, it reads like a stage script. There is some intense descriptive narrative, like at the beginning of the first story, The Park, and this effectively sets the stage and invites the reader into the setting. There is a considerable amount of dialogue, which also adds to its stage script presentation. The stories would clearly make excellent short plays. With compelling and engaging, page-turning, action-laced plots, these stories will appeal to a wide range of readers.

Book of 5 is a short collection of five stories by Richard T. "The Park" follows a group of people as they try to bring back an out-of-control android warden from a prison colony on a distant planet. "Fractured" is a story about five friends who unwittingly find themselves traveling centuries back into the past, and now must try their best to survive the Old Wild West. "You Can't Catch Me" follows a retired law enforcement officer who becomes obsessed with a serial killer roaming in his locality, only to arrive at an unexpected outcome. In "The Tolands", a trio of highly successful brothers find their lives turned upside down when one of them is arrested for murder. "White Cloud" is about a middle-aged man who discovers an ancient amulet, which gives him the ability to change history.

Author Richard T delves into the genres of sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, and thrillers to craft an enthralling collection of short stories to keep your eyes glued to the pages. Each story brings something unique to the narrative and captivates the reader with a plethora of thrills, intrigue, and vividly described action sequences. The author doesn't take much time to draw the reader into the narrative, and each story culminates in a soaring climax that you never see coming. All the characters have distinct personalities and traits that pop out of the pages. Although I enjoyed them all, "Fractured" was my personal favorite of the bunch. I highly recommend Book of 5 to anyone who enjoys a diverse collection of short stories.