Disappearing Act cover art

Disappearing Act

A Host of Other Characters in 16 Short Stories

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Disappearing Act

By: Robert Sheehan
Narrated by: Robert Sheehan
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About this listen

Robert Sheehan is one of Ireland’s brightest stars of the screen, both at home and abroad. Best known for his roles in Love/Hate and The Umbrella Academy, Sheehan has received widespread critical acclaim for his acting talent

In his debut collection of short stories, Robert Sheehan disappears into characters, challenging the complacencies of everyday experience, often from entirely unexpected angles.

Informed by the author’s peripatetic life, Disappearing Act reflects on the absurdity of human behaviour. Sheehan delves deep into his characters’ streams of self-talk and self-imposed delusions, exploring the dark impulses that lurk below the shiny surfaces of many outwardly normal lives.

Dark, provocative and often humorous, the collection will stay with the listener long after the audiobook is finished.

©2022 Robert Sheehan (P)2022 W F Howes Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Psychological Short Stories Fiction Comedy Witty

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Critic reviews

“A whacked-out kaleidoscopic miasma of delightful abandon and fun.... Leaves the reader amused, exhilarated and really quite delighted…you’ve seen Sheehan act—now watch him dazzle.” (Patrick McCabe)

“A dazzlingly eclectic collection of short stories.” (Ben Elton)

“Lots of great stories and voices. Reminded me of Irvine Welsh’s short stories.” (Frankie Boyle)
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Super funny and very well written by Robert Sheehan. He’s always got a good sense of humour and the first story is amazing too

Very good book

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Made me cry both tears of laughter and sorrow. Knocked me sideways.
Very original stories where you have no idea where they'll go next, and told in characterful voices.

Magnificent

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I have to totally admit the audio version of "The Vending Machine " is so far my favourite, was just like some sort of sound therapy I went into a total trance.

a surreal dream

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So creative, magical, funny, disturbing. Narrated by the author who is primarily known as an actor. He brings the characters to life in a great way. I want to be inside his head and work out how he has come up with these stories!! This will stay with me for a long time

astonishing!!! genius

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Really surprised by how good this was, each story brings something new and interesting

Surprisingly entertaining and engaging!

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It's good to know that it's not just my mind that goes off on strange tangents although not quite so unusual as some of these stories! Brilliantly written, thought provoking, stirring and even better when read to you by the author. Robert Sheehan had a real talent for voices and such a calming tone to his voice that I could listen to him for hours. I love the idea that Medusa lives in Macclesfield! Really looking forward to his next book if only to have the senses soothed by his voice again.

Both thoughtful and soothing

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Seven hours of rambling, frenetic monologues. The stories are repetitive and overly similar in style if not plot. Most of them feature the same frantic stream of conscious style. The stories are all written in the same “voice” from what is essentially the same character (probably just the author himself) in different “packaging” and rather surreal settings. The commentary on modern life is trite and offers no real insight or even humour. There are frequent and explicit references to bodily functions that verge on toilet humour. The author clearly wants to flaunt his extensive reading but the constant obscure references feel more desperate than erudite. The author, who is an actor, narrates or rather overacts the book himself (accents and all) making the audio version particularly tiresome. In the end I had to listen at twice the normal speed to finish it.

Seven hours of rambling, frenetic monologues.

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