Sam Pink’s Fantastic Fictions was a wonderful collection of poignant, slice-of-life short stories where Sam explores the deeper meaning behind the mundane, everyday life of a regular, average dude just navigating the waters. There are 12 stories of various lengths included in this collection. The surface topics range from Forklifts to Guns to Cockroach Infestations, but the waters are deep with meaning, and Sam navigates them perfectly.

I will say it now: Sam Pink is my favorite writer. I often get into reading slumps, and when that happens, I just have to grab one of his books and dive in to get the reading juices flowing again — whether or not it’s a book I’ve already read doesn’t matter. His words are infinitely re-readable and life-affirming — yet at the same time, he’s funny and entertaining. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He records the moment and lets it breathe, and he shares it with you, always fresh with keen observations and nuance. I never tire of seeing the world through his eyes.

Yet another masterpiece — as if I needed any more reason to look forward to his next book. He’s my favorite. Period.