Fiction. The surface of FLUORIDE is inhabited by bizarre misanthropes, fumbling humans, and radical subversives, but in its basement live characters that only want something just out of reach: popularity, the perfect family, a full head of hair, restitution, a glimpse into the future to cope with the present. Chad Meadows’ engaging debut collection brims in absurd and hilarious situations that are deeply sad and sympathetic. His dystopic, ultra-capitalistic worlds don’t seem so far off from our own, and his protagonists–yearning for connection with a father, lover, friend, or the past–can be found in any of us. This is a book that will remind you that even the strangest of us is human, and our world is crumbling around us. In his wonderful debut collection, FLUORIDE, Chad Meadows gives us worlds inhabited by bizarre misanthropes, fumbling idiots, and radical subversives. These stories dramatize enough absurd and hilarious situations to last a lifetime. At the same time, these seem like people we know in their yearning for direction and connection. Indeed, this book reminds us that even the strangest among us is human.–Jeffery Renard Allen
When I first saw Chad Meadows’ FLUORIDE I thought, ‘What a cute way to spell Florida–sounds French!’ But don’t fret, friends–this book has zilch to do with that Hell Hole, and everything to do with Good Times. If it’s a ‘Doom Loop’ you want, well, take a knee, because this bad mamma jamma has four of them. Kicked out of your community college explosives course? Class is in session, Poindexter, courtesy of ‘How To Make A Bomb.’ In summary, Chad’s merchandise contains 275 pages. Do the math!–Thomas Mundt
The stories in FLUORIDE are zany, dark tales of celebrity worship, internet addiction, and wild metaphysical quests. This is the land of the absurd, populated by baffled seekers and adventurers full of vision and persistence. Chad Meadows is a hilarious, maverick writer.–Rene Steinke
