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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Tony Hyland’s Donald Trump’s US/Mexican Border Integration Picnic is a savagely funny, unflinching collection of absurdist stories that dissects modern chaos with surreal wit and haunting relevance.
Donald Trump’s US/Mexican Border Integration Picnic
In a world where reality often feels stranger than fiction, Tony Hyland’s Donald Trump’s US/Mexican Border Integration Picnic and Other Spotlights on an Absurd World emerges as a blistering, darkly comedic collection of absurdist short stories. With scalpel-sharp satire, Hyland dissects the chaos of modern life, confronting issues like domestic abuse, loss, suicide, youth alienation, and existential dread, all while placing public figures like Donald Trump in surreal, headline-grabbing scenarios. This is not just satire for satire’s sake—it’s a necessary lens for navigating a world unraveling at breakneck speed.
Hyland, a master of unflinching wit, delivers tales that are equal parts hilarious and harrowing. His stories tackle the personal and political with biting precision, from a wife murdering her abusive MP husband to a secret cabal forcing youth into National Service, and an elderly couple assisting suicides.
Among the most poignant is a couple grappling with the loss of their son, a narrative that cuts deep with its raw humanity. Yet, Hyland balances this weight with lighter, absurd moments—like the reappearance of the idealistic Mrs. Shah, a character from his earlier works A Night at Sea and Forever England (included in this special edition). In one of the collection’s standout stories, Mrs. Shah hilariously persuades Donald Trump to rethink his stance on immigration during a surreal US/Mexican border picnic, crafting what may be one of the most original short stories ever penned.
The collection also revisits Hyland’s prescient tale of Trump plotting from a Middle Eastern hideaway to transform the UK into “Trumpton,” a sprawling golf club and entertainment hub. Pitting Trump against Boris Johnson in a battle of imperial egos, this story feels eerily plausible in today’s political landscape, blending comedy, horror, and political farce into a narrative that’s as entertaining as it is unsettling.
Hyland’s genius lies in his ability to illuminate the dark corners of contemporary life while forcing readers to question their perceptions. His stories disorient and challenge, offering a kaleidoscopic view of a world growing ever more macabre. From the aphrodisiacal allure of power to the quiet tragedies of personal loss, Hyland’s narratives resonate with uncanny relevance, making this collection a must-read for anyone trying to make sense of the senseless.
As one of today’s most exciting satirists, Tony Hyland proves once again why his work stands out. Donald Trump’s US/Mexican Border Integration Picnic is a fearless, idiosyncratic triumph—packed with savagely humorous insights and stories that linger long after the final page. In an absurd world, Hyland’s spotlights are both a mirror and a magnifying glass, compelling us to confront the madness head-on.
Tony Hyland
Tony Hyland MBE, born in November 1964 at Mile End Hospital within earshot of East London’s iconic Bow Bells, is a distinguished career Civil Servant who earned an MSc in politics and sociology from Birkbeck College and has seen his thought-provoking plays performed in London, Edinburgh, and across Europe.
His latest collection of highly original short stories, often born from spontaneous sketches that defy further development, pulses with a life of their own, inviting readers to engage their imaginations and complete the narratives’ tantalizing gaps—an experience that promises to linger long after reading. These tales, steeped in Surrealism, Absurdism, and the Theatre of Cruelty, confront the stark cruelties and absurdities of modern existence, posing urgent questions about why inhumanity pervades our world and why we so often mistreat one another.
With unflinching explicitness, Hyland’s stories—ranging from shocking to deeply moving—force readers to grapple with these harsh realities, tempered by an underlying plea for compassion and a razor-sharp, blacker-than-black humor that amplifies their emotional weight. Honored with an MBE in 2022 for his dedicated service to disadvantaged communities, Hyland masterfully weaves his signature dark wit into every tale, ensuring each story unsettles, challenges, and resonates with haunting clarity.
Find more from Tony Hyland now:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3YiEomG
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Hardcover: https://amzn.to/42NRsSp
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