Recommended Reading Path for Don Broyles
Because Don Broyles writes standalone novellas, micro-fiction anthologies, and prose poems rather than serialized epics, there is no single mandatory narrative sequence. Readers have complete freedom to choose their starting point based on their preferred format. However, depending on what type of reader you are, we recommend one of three paths:
- The Variety Route (Highly Recommended): Start with Doughboy: And Other Strange Tales (2018). This debut collection features 57 bite-sized stories that showcase the author's versatility, humor, and unsettling imagination in quick succession.
- The Novella Route: Start with The Elevator (2019). If you prefer a longer, claustrophobic psychological horror story over quick-read flash fiction, this standalone novella is the perfect introduction to his longer-form prose style.
- The Prose Poem Route: Start with The Graveyard Mannequins (2025). For readers who enjoy abstract, poetic, and highly experimental weird fiction, his third book offers a collection of surreal prose poems and brief dark narratives.
Don Broyles Books in Publication Order
If you prefer to see how Broyles's surreal style and writing voice have evolved over time, reading his books in the order they were published is a satisfying way to experience his bibliography. Here is his complete publication list:
- Doughboy: And Other Strange Tales (2018) – A debut collection of 57 short stories.
- The Elevator (2019) – A standalone claustrophobic horror novella.
- The Graveyard Mannequins (2025) – A collection of weird prose poems and horror-tinged short fiction.
Deep Dive into the Works
Doughboy: And Other Strange Tales (2018)
Spanning 177 pages, this collection serves as a masterclass in flash fiction. Most of the 57 stories are extremely concise, often running no more than three pages, making the book ideal for reading in short bursts. The stories focus on taking everyday scenarios and twisting them into the surreal. Notable stories within this collection include "Baking Bob," "The Peytons," "Hillbilly Clowns," "The Stains in the Attic," and "Scrawny Butts." Themes range from clown-induced madness to the literal cries of the title character—a sentient baking doughboy stuffed into an oven.
The Elevator (2019)
This novella scales up the length of Broyles's storytelling, focusing on a single, prolonged nightmare. The story centers on a protagonist who becomes trapped in a shopping mall elevator for 15 years. While crowds of shoppers pass by daily, the protagonist remains completely invisible to the outside world. To survive this claustrophobic ordeal, they must share the cramped space with a rotating cast of bizarre misfits, including psychotic individuals and a flatulent dog. It combines dark psychological themes with Broyles's signature surreal humor.
The Graveyard Mannequins (2025)
Broyles's third book departs slightly from standard short stories, leaning into the format of weird prose poetry. This volume is a dark, dangerous, and sometimes funny journey through abstract concepts. The stories deal with uncanny themes, such as the odd behavior of display mannequins and the desperation of an evil doll, blending poetic flow with horror genre elements.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Don Broyles's books, there are a few unique characteristics of his work to keep in mind:
- Graphic Content: While his stories often feature dark humor and absurd situations, they frequently border on graphic horror and contain adult themes. They are generally recommended for mature readers.
- Meticulous Editing: Drawing from his ten-year stint as a moderator on the MobileRead ebook forum and his professional past as a Press Association editor, Broyles's self-published ebooks are highly polished, well-edited, and cleanly formatted.
- Key Influences: Readers who enjoy the magical realism of Haruki Murakami, the dense modernism of José Saramago, or the classic weird fiction of Ramsey Campbell will find similar literary DNA in Broyles's prose structure and thematic choices.