“The Boy Atop the Bed” has been included in Mad Scientist Journal‘s anthology I Didn’t Break the Lamp: Historical Accounts of ImaginaryAcquaintances, released today. IDBTL is an anthology for imaginative figments who help, harm, and hustle to get what they want out of life. The stories inside run the emotional range from lighthearted to grim and feature imaginary creatures from all walks of life.
“Boy” started out even before I Didn’t Break the Lamp as a way to look at monsters who do good things for the wrong reasons and whose motives for great things are suspect. As monsters and imaginary friends they can do things that regular people can’t, but their motives can still be suspect and they can make mistakes like anyone you might meet on the street.
I Didn’t Break the Lamp contains the following stories and features cover art by Luke Spooner.
“Duality” by E.D.E. Bell
“The Boy Atop the Bed” by Jade Black
“Meltwater” by Die Booth
“Jack in the Matchbox” by Maureen Bowden
“When I Helped” by Veronica Brush
“Seen” by Jacob Budenz
“The Last Cory” by Sam Crane
“A Lost and Lonely Fire” by Matthew R. Davis
“See Me” by Julian Dexter
“Ludwig” by Sam Fleming
“My Student’s Obsession” by Troy H. Gardner
“Of Rorschach Worlds and Little White Shoes” by Kiki Gonglewski
“Payment is Coming Due” by Cindy Gunnin
“Touch the Earth” by Neil James Hudson
“End User Agreement” by Blake Jessop
“Wild” by Vivian Li
“Exit Interview” by Tucker Lieberman
“Carbon Transfer” by K. K. Llamas
“Games of Angry Children” by Christine Lucas
“Nimble” by M. Lopes da Silva
“Fortress of Ash and Bone” by Ville Merilainen
“The Voice” by Jennifer R. Povey
“Monster Spray” by Lizz-Ayn Shaarawi
“The Tutor” by Kayleigh Taylor
“Across My Effervescence” by Jieyan Wang
“State VS Salmah” by E. R. Zhang
Jade Black 