The Unnatural Order of Things by Rick M. ClausenA collection of short stories inhabiting a universe full of mystery and wonder, The Unnatural Order of Things by Rick M. Clausen displays the author’s masterful command of the written word. In a series of surreal tales, we find thugs trapped in a desert loop, metaphysical visions of god-like horses, and the experiences of immortal cowboys, with each story being both eloquent and unpredictable. The stories possess a vital balance between fantasy and realism, so the narrative never becomes too absurdist to be believable, with Clausen mixing together straightforward prose with lyricism, authentic emotion with irony, for an innovative work of magic realism that is accessible enough for those who are unfamiliar with the genre.