Summary of Shade: A Tor.Com Original, by Steven Gould

Embark on a whimsical journey with Cent in Steven Gould's 'Shade', where teleportation leads to hilariously awkward adventures and life lessons.

Ah, Shade: A Tor.Com Original! The delightful 22-page laziness of a "book" that feels more like a snazzy appetizer for a full-course meal than an actual entree. In this compact gem, we're greeted by the mind of Steven Gould, who channels his inner magician to sprinkle teleportation like confetti-because who needs boring old travel when you can just jump?

Let's dive into the plot, shall we? So, our protagonist is this adorably confused dude named Cent-a real winner if you catch my drift. Picture him like a kid in a candy store who suddenly realizes he can teleport but still forgets where he left his car keys. Yep, Cent's got the ability to jump from place to place in a blink of an eye. Sounds cool? Absolutely. Until, of course, your teleportation leads you to some just plain awkward situations-like walking in on the wrong people or accidentally leaving your pants in a different dimension.

Now, what's the catch, you ask? Oh, just the fact that teleportation doesn't come with a manual for idiots like Cent. Every jump brings slightly different dangers, and it's a wild ride filled with mishaps that might make you question whether you should keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. Spoiler alert: it's here that you'll realize that jumping around isn't as glamorous as it seems-especially when you end up halfway through someone's living room during a dinner party (awkward!).

As Cent fumbles his way through his adventures-getting into scrapes that would make any ordinary Joe cringe-you can't help but chuckle at his very human imperfections. It's like he's the protagonist of a sitcom, teleported into a world where the laugh track is just a little too loud, and the timing is just a tick off. You feel for the guy, but let's face it, you're here for the drama of it all!

Throughout this whirlwind mini-epic, the author delivers sharp little insights about life-like how being able to teleport won't necessarily make your problems disappear, much like hiding under your blanket doesn't frighten off that monster in your closet. Life has a funny way of catching up with you, even if you're zipping across space at the speed of thought.

To sum it up (and save you from any potential risk of actually reading it), this little nugget of genius takes you on a ride that's the right mix of quirky, humorous, and just a hint of existential dread. So buckle up and prepare for some teleportational shenanigans. You'll finish it in the time it takes to discover all those random things hiding under your couch. And remember-you've been warned: teleporting can be messy!

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.