Mik Dietlin's first story collection called 'Frying On This Rock,' magnifies humanity's futile search for meaning to absurd heights. The cosmos, laughing uproariously at our efforts, inevitably will decide its had enough of each and every one of us, removing itself from the equation while we turn our brains into pina colada slushies. Unfortunately, the brains of the characters in these six stories are already fried. Displaying a profound naivety imagining their seeking will solve problems, they either administer their monstrous belief system to those in their immediate vicinity, or are unwilling pawns in the carnage. The result is a grisly demise to quite a few participants, in many creatively funny ways! -In "The Interstellar Maintenance Man," newly retired Renaldo Powell has invented a powerful gum, that when chewed, reveals the reason for life on Earth. People love the flavor, but the aftertaste is devastating. -Can a workaholic law firm researcher trying to access his true individuality, and a government-grown miniature clown, co-exist without driving each other crazy? "A Flower?" is a story about dying to laugh again. -"In The Future, Everyone Will Be A Terrorist For Fifteen Minutes" tells the story of Chuck and Riley, two elderly homeless men trying to survive in a new town where terrorism is as natural as breathing, and being accepted means compliance, or the town's history will cast its tragic spell. Let's face facts. Life, much like this book, is crazy. We're only a few itchy fingers from total annihilation. That realization drives the subtle horror, and a not-so-subtle irreality lingering within these stories. 'Frying On This Rock' won't save mankind from itself, but it sure is funny tasting medicine for this new foolish dark age.