I’m a fan of Charles Stross’s series about The Laundry–a super secret British government organization organized to fight occult threats. A Conventional Boy collects three stories of The Laundry. The title story deals with Derek, a young man The Laundry swept up decades ago who was playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends. While Derek’s friends were quickly released, he was sent to Camp Sunshine where he was kept for years. The Laundry is no different than any other bureaucracy: it makes mistakes. Yet, Derek pretended to follow the rules and regulations, but secretly planned to escape Camp Sunshine…to attend a gaming convention in a nearby town. But little did Derek or The Laundry know a cult has infiltrated the convention and plans to summon an evil being from another dimension. Plenty of destruction results!

“Overtime” involves one of Stross’s key characters, Bob Howard, who comes face-to-face with a Mr. Kringle from the Future. Bob must solve the threat from the Future or Christmas is at risk!

Bob Howard returns in “Down on the Farm” when he’s sent to inspect the Funny Farm where The Laundry places its most dangerous threats. Bob discovers the Funny Farm is run by a captured demon channeling a 1960s IBM computer! The demon wants its freedom…which might cost Bob and everyone else at the Funny Farm their lives!

Charles Stross can make occult threats humorous and deadly at the same time. Good trick! GRADE: B (for all three stories)

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

A Conventional Boy — 1

Overtime — 135

Down on the Farm — 183

Afterword — 201

Acknowledgements — 215

About the Author –– 217