Short stories by Maxwell Conroe

A compilation of Maxwell Conroe's Mind Twisters 14 to 17, narrated by Phil Rowe.

At some point I smack into the ground – rather forcefully. I briefly lose my sense of orientation and taste dust; I have literally bitten the dust! Then I hear snorting nearby. The snorting just grows more intense. I estimate the beast is only about eight meters away. I hear chewing sounds. May be it is digging up roots? Fuck the hog! There is no way I can fall asleep with this omnivorous monster right next to me. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

The wind suddenly drops, and I hear the breathing of a person behind me. I can smell a faint apple blossom. “This is Sarah,” says an elderly female voice. The voice does not come from behind me, but from somewhere in front of me. I cannot see anyone but am sure that person is very nearby. What happens next is one of the enigmatic secrets of the night. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

All of a sudden, someone lights a lantern, a bit further down the path, at may be ninety feet from my position. The lantern swings from left to right and then veers off track, up a gentle slope. What am I to do? Should I follow the person carrying the lantern? Is this real or just an illusion? Narrated by Phil Rowe.

I intended to walk back home for five miles over a dirt track in pitch darkness. A fit person with a good vision can walk the route in about an hour or two. But not until sunrise would I re-emerge from the mountains. The strange thing is that my mind continues to make up stories about what happened to me that memorable night. Let me share with you, in the following three Mind Twisters, the most plausible recollections of events. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

Maxwell, struggling with his own issues, argues with Adeline, who suggests he should talk to his mother about his trauma. Finally, Adeline, the key character of this story, asks Maxwell if he will still love her, as their story draws to a close.  Narrated by Revoicer.

Clytemnestra tells her side of the story, accusing Agamemnon of being a selfish monster. She justifies killing him to regain control of her life. Narrated by Revoicer.

Maxwell is invited by Aphrodite to meet Athena on Mount Olympus. Athena provides new information, and Father Demetrius presents Maxwell with a scroll containing his fate. Narrated by Revoicer.

Maxwell intervenes when a group of men taunt a young woman named Hecate in Sparta. He stands up for what is right, believing that his words have the power to influence others. Narrated by Zoey.

Father Demetrius advises Maxwell to use his writing skills to harmonize Athena's virtues and Aphrodite's passions. Maxwell resolves to incorporate both to help Adeline seek redemption. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

Athena and Aphrodite both seek Maxwell's story to promote their interests in Sparta. Maxwell seeks guidance from Father Demetrius, who advises him to balance the virtues of both goddesses. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

Maxwell uses an electronic platform to rewrite his story, with Athena and Aphrodite playing larger roles. Athena protects Adeline, while Aphrodite creates a romantic conflict for Maxwell. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

Athena, daughter of Zeus, reveals how the Trojan War started with a dispute among goddesses over a Golden Apple. Maxwell learns about Athena and Hera's displeasure with the outcome. Narrated by Zoey.

Adeline questions Maxwell's motives for writing about her family and her tragic past. Maxwell explains his inspiration but begins losing control over his own narrative. Narrated by Zoey.

Applying the method of ratiocination to corroborate with evidence the claims made by Sherlock Holmes in his court filing against Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, private detective Auguste Dupin ‒ who was trained in his craft and the method of ratiocination by no one less than Edgar Allan Poe ‒ uncovers some salient facts concerning Doyle's treatment of his most famous creation. A short story by Maxwell Conroe where detective Dupin supports Sherlock Holmes' claims against Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, revealing significant information about Doyle's treatment of his renowned character, narrated by Axel.

Applying the method of ratiocination to corroborate with evidence the claims made by Sherlock Holmes in his court filing against Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, private detective Auguste Dupin ‒ who was trained in his craft and the method of ratiocination by no one less than Edgar Allan Poe ‒ uncovers some salient facts concerning Doyle's treatment of his most famous creation. A short story by Maxwell Conroe where detective Dupin supports Sherlock Holmes' claims against Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, revealing significant information about Doyle's treatment of his renowned character, narrated by Axel.

Recently, detective Chevalier C. Auguste has been retained in the service of his great friends and successors, Mr. Hercule Poirot and Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Dupin's mission is quite simple: lay bare the basis for their claims, uncover any cover-up attempts by third parties, and document in minute detail his findings, applying rigorously the method of ratiocination. Focusing on Poirot's case, detective Dupin uncovers some unsavory details about Agatha Christie's treatment of her legendary creation.  A short story by Maxwell Conroe where detective Dupin investigates the claims made by Hercule Poirot against Agatha Christie, uncovering unsavory details about her treatment of her famous creation, narrated by Waren.

Recently, detective Chevalier C. Auguste has been retained in the service of his great friends and successors, Mr. Hercule Poirot and Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Dupin's mission is quite simple: lay bare the basis for their claims, uncover any cover-up attempts by third parties, and document in minute detail his findings, applying rigorously the method of ratiocination. Focusing on Poirot's case, detective Dupin uncovers some unsavory details about Agatha Christie's treatment of her legendary creation.  A short story by Maxwell Conroe where detective Dupin investigates the claims made by Hercule Poirot against Agatha Christie, uncovering unsavory details about her treatment of her famous creation, narrated by Waren.

Fallen out with their original creators, Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot have teamed up to seek retribution for their sufferings. The charges filed against Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and their literary estates include coercion into addiction to substance abuse, psychological torture and sustained cruelty, resulting in a range of ailments including suicidal thoughts due to post traumatic stress disorder. The charges are corroborated by the detectives’ respective long-time aides-de-camp, Watson and Hastings.  A short story by Maxwell Conroe where Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot team up to seek revenge against their creators, accusing them of mistreatment and cruelty, narrated by Alex.

A short story by Maxwell Conroe emphasizing the importance of writing for the love of words rather than focusing on societal issues. Some stories succeed to captivate our attention simply by their timeliness. Writing such stories may be fun, but more so is writing purely out of love for words – without confinement to any specific contemporary societal issue. That mindset should awake the poet in any aspiring writer. 

A short story by Maxwell Conroe imaging a chase involving Hooke, Leibniz, and Freeman Dyson pursuing Isaac Newton through the Royal Society, leading to the destruction of Newton's portraits, narrated by Tim. Hooke and Leibniz were chasing Newton across the corridors of the Royal Society of London (founded in 1660); Newton appeared covered in tar and feathers. In their pursuit, Hooke and Leibniz were joined by Freeman Dyson, who had passed only recently. With great vigor, Dyson raided the premises of the Royal Society. He was pulling down a famous portrait of Newton, one where Isaac is 46 years old (painted in 1689). Dyson also tore down a second frame of Newton's image, where he was 60 years old (also painted by Godfrey Kneller, in 1702).  

Maxwell hears the divine voice of Zeus, who accuses him of neglecting the Greek gods in his previous works. Zeus laughs maniacally while Maxwell plans to ask Athena for help. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

Maxwell focuses on Athena's role in the House of Agamemnon's tragedy, linking it to the Trojan War. He reflects on the relevance of ancient myths to modern conflicts fought over ideology. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

Maxwell consults Dr. Freud, who suggests Maxwell's obsession with Adeline and her family may stem from suppressed sexual desires and the Elektra Complex, where girls compete with their mothers for their father's attention. Narrated by Phil Rowe.

Adeline reveals that she is Elektra, the daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. She shares more about the deaths in the House of Agamemnon and implicates Athena in her mother's murder. Narrated by Jane Speaks.

Maxwell learns about Clytemnestra's murder by her son Orestes and the involvement of Athena's Furies. He delves into Greek mythology to understand the tragic events. Narrated by Jane Speaks.

Adeline reappears in Maxwell's life, initially causing confusion. Maxwell apologizes for being rude, and Adeline returns to her old self, continuing to dance, giggle, and tell stories. Narrated by Jane Speaks.

Maxwell Conroe is visited by a Harlequin named Adeline who challenges his obsession with logical answers and proposes the idea of time reversal. Maxwell questions the purpose of creating illusions and surprise. Narrated by Jane Speaks.

A short story by Maxwell Conroe exploring John Coetzee's Nobel Laureate lecture and the psychiatrist's defense of Coetzee's reputation, narrated by Tim. John Coetzee delivered one of the most audacious Nobel Laureate lectures on record. He took his audience all the way back to the romantic times of Daniel Defoe. Coetzee's lecture appears a very taxing piece of writing and to Maxwell seemingly lacks utility; then his psychiatrist steps in to defend Coetzee’s reputation.   

A short story by Maxwell Conroe exploring John Coetzee's Nobel Laureate lecture and the psychiatrist's defense of Coetzee's reputation, narrated by Tim. John Coetzee delivered one of the most audacious Nobel Laureate lectures on record. He took his audience all the way back to the romantic times of Daniel Defoe. Coetzee's lecture appears a very taxing piece of writing and to Maxwell seemingly lacks utility; then his psychiatrist steps in to defend Coetzee’s reputation.   

A short story by Maxwell Conroe exploring John Coetzee's Nobel Laureate lecture and the psychiatrist's defense of Coetzee's reputation, narrated by Tim. John Coetzee delivered one of the most audacious Nobel Laureate lectures on record. He took his audience all the way back to the romantic times of Daniel Defoe. Coetzee's lecture appears a very taxing piece of writing and to Maxwell seemingly lacks utility; then his psychiatrist steps in to defend Coetzee’s reputation.   

A short story by Maxwell Conroe reflecting on Mick Jagger's ability to gain attention and promote visibility for himself and his band, The Rolling Stones, narrated by Jane Speaks. Getting attention is half the trick, knew Mr. Mick Jagger all along ‒ he never passed an opportunity to promote visibility of both himself and The Stones, his legendary rock band. Behind the poker face of Mick’s stage persona hid a determined and dedicated professional performer, as was observed up-close by a young medical doctor in the 1970s when he took Mr. Jagger in a Volkswagen Beetle to an X-ray machine in the middle of the night ‒ negotiating the labyrinth of Amsterdam’s canals ‒ to finally examine the performer’s sprained ankle. 

A short story by Maxwell Conroe wherein the protagonist encounters a vision of Albert Einstein, leading to recurring nightmares suggesting their responsibility for Einstein's death, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. Albert just happens to be there, in my living room. When I write ‘Albert’, it is not a parrot flying in from the terrace. No, this concerns ‘the’ Albert – Mr. Einstein, who simply appears and states “You know why I am here?” He looks exactly what you’d expect him to look like. When he finally leaves, I suffer from recurrent nightmares with frightening scenes; all suggesting that I am somehow responsible for Einstein’s death. 

A short story by Maxwell Conroe exploring the hidden secret within the seemingly innocent garden of a reclusive writer named Isaac, narrated by Jane Speaks. Living alone in his secluded homestead, surrounded by his garden, Isaac (a writer) cares little for socials and generally thrives living the secluded life he had chosen to live. The seemingly innocent garden he dreamily stares into from his writer's den – it actually harbors a dark secret long lost. 

A short story by Maxwell Conroe exploring how fictional characters like Alice and the Hobbits gain more recognition than their creators and imagines Alice as the Queen of Hearts in a society fighting against global warming, narrated by Stephen Fry. In the long run, the main characters of classic stories frequently become much better known than their creators. For example, Alice – from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland – and the Hobbits – from J.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and its Lord of the Rings-sequel – these characters presently have higher name recognition than their creators. Lately, the retired characters (with their creators long gone) appear to seek out new opportunities to make themselves heard and useful again; Alice – now the Queen of Hearts in a Hobbit-hole Society – seeks to prioritize the fight against global warming. 

A short story by Maxwell Conroe comparing the author's Mind Twisters to Kurt Vonnegut's graphic illustrations called Confetti, narrated by Jane Speaks. I call my stories Mind Twisters. That is perhaps a very pretentious label, as I realized when stumbling upon the works by Kurt Vonnegut ‒ his graphic illustrations are labeled with a lovely unpretentious name: Confetti. Let me explain first what Kurt wanted to convey to his readers in Confetti, then I’ll come back to what I am after with my Mind Twisters. 

A short story by Maxwell Conroe inspired by Tolstoy's Hadji Murad, highlighting the tragedy of soldiers in a steel plant and the inevitability of human suffering, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson. Maxwell shares a story where Tolstoy's war-memories of Hadji Murad are updated to highlight the tragedy of dying soldiers in the Hell of Mariupol's steel plant. War struggles never cease to create men tough as thistles. Tolstoy’s description of the thistle, which opens his story, is the tangible object of our suffering as men in life; ending with us sagging in quicksand or sticky mud that reclaims our ashes: ashes-to-ashes is what life is all about — nothing less, nothing more.