Teething
and Other Tales From the American Dystopia
Teething and Other Tales from the American Dystopia introduces readers to a strange but familiar world where AI remnants of the deceased post online for eternity, school shooters are All-American heroes, Meme Cults run havoc across the country, and people everywhere slaughter their own livestock at slaughter gyms. Other stories explore the most essential interpersonal elements of American life: a mother trapped forever in her daughter’s 9th birthday party, a man plagued by the reality that his family needs to kill him, and an irresistibly lovable neighbor whose identity is a lie.
Insightful and raw, Nothum’s black humor forces readers to ask the same questions asked by one story’s protagonist: is America getting worse, or is it only becoming clearer what America has always been? Is dystopia the future, or are we already there?
Stephen Nothum
was born in St. Louis, Missouri. From a young age he was crafting stories, mainly sprawling epics with action figures. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a BA in English Teaching and currently a learning designer in Eugene, Oregon. Stephen writes speculative fiction that explores societal issues, relationships, perceptions, politics, and religion. Some of his favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Flannery O’Connor, Ray Bradbury, and Will Sheff.
Stephen has published poetry, fiction, and articles in a variety of academic and literary journals. He has presented at state and national conferences on writing and teaching writing, and has worked as a professional consultant to teachers helping them to improve their craft.
Stephen Nothum 