Synopsis: 'Arcane Mathematics' and 'The Woes of Death'
ARCANE MATHEMATICS and THE WOES OF DEATH are the two stories that make THE CHRONICLES OF STAN. The novel is handwritten this year because my computer is broke (and has been since about June) and I decided that I wouldn't let technology woes dampen the NaNo experience!
"ARCANE MATHEMATICS" - Stan's life sucks. He's a high school student (circa 1962) at a rubbish comprehensive, his teachers are evil and his best friend (a Spam freak by the name of Brian "Lazuli" Spencer) is trying to shove music down his throat.
When a strange book belonging to his Maths teacher winds up in his sock drawer, things get weird. What is its purpose? What has it got to do with the Order of Benevolent Cleaners; the mop-wielding guardians of the school? And who is the mysterious lookalike who seems intent on earning Stan detentions? Maybe that tin of sweetcorn has the answer...
"THE WOES OF DEATH" - Seven years later. Stan's life still sucks. He has run the gauntlet of Whitbrook High, gone through university, moved to a new, saner town and got a job... as a telemarketer. But if there's one thing that'll never be in Stan's life, it's normality. Closely seconded by a girlfriend.
For, you see, Stan has a "night" job. One that he frequently has to do during the day. He's a Death. And when he runs out of his workplace to reap the wrong person, he quickly finds himself jobless on both fronts. To make things worse, Deaths get paid in time to live. Stan's is now running out...