The World Doesn't Require You

Stories

By: Rion Amilcar Scott

Narrated by: JD Jackson

The World Doesn't Require You announces the arrival of a generational talent, as Rion Amilcar Scott shatters rigid genre lines to explore larger themes of religion, violence, and love - all told with sly humor and a dash of magical realism.

Established by the leaders of the country's only successful slave revolt in the mid-19th century, Cross River still evokes the fierce rhythms of its founding. In lyrical prose and singular dialect, a saga beats forward that echoes the fables carried down for generations - like the screecher birds who swoop down for their periodic sacrifice, and the water women who lure men to wet deaths.

Among its residents - wildly spanning decades, perspectives, and species - are David Sherman, a struggling musician who just happens to be God's last son; Tyrone, a ruthless PhD candidate, whose dissertation about a childhood game ignites mayhem in the neighboring, once-segregated town of Port Yooga; and Jim, an all-too-obedient robot who serves his Master. As the book builds to its finish with Special Topics in Loneliness Studies, a fully-realized novella, two unhinged professors grapple with hugely different ambitions, and the listener comes to appreciate the intricacy of the world Scott has created - one where fantasy and reality are eternally at war.

©2019 Rion Amilcar Scott (P)2019 HighBridge Company

Interesting structure, good subjects

I recommend reading this based on how it is constructed as well as what it tackles with honesty, intelligence, and creativity. I’ve not read another book like it—in a good way! The reason for four not five stars is that it took me a while to really engage with the work. But I thought the last half was very strong.

Amazing Short Stories, Great Narrator

The story telling here is very good. I would describe this book as a collection of short stories, some of them related, with varying degrees of magical realism and surrealism. Everything about this is good, the word choices are great, the descriptions are vivid, and I feel like I'm the main character in each story even when I don't have much in common with these guys.

Not only is the book itself great. The narrator's cadence and his acting is incredible good.

The best collection of stories ever!

This is a book you will not want to put down! The author's cadence and rhythmic storytelling is one of the best that I've read (listened to) in a long time. Get your copy now! You won't regret it!

I just can’t

Of all the books I’ve read in the past few years (a few hundred) this is 1 or 2 I’ve abandoned. It’s a confusing mess. I wasted 10hrs waiting for it to improve and it didn’t. Buyers remorse.