Changes

[[Category:Short Stories|*]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ben OkriAllTomorrowsFutureCover|title=Tales of FreedomAll Tomorrow's Futures: Fictions that Disrupt|author=Benjamin Greenaway and Stephen Oram (Editors)

|genre=Literary Science Fiction|summary=Tales ''Opening up new ways of thinking about the shape of Freedom things to come.'' I've heard it said that 'technology' is what happens after you're eighteen. Well, I must confess that there have been more than a book few decades of two halves, technology in my lifetime. I've kept up reasonably well with what's advantageous to me but I'm left with a short story entitled Comic Destiny taking up the majority feeling that it's all getting away from me. Some of it is - frankly - quite frightening. Of course, I could research the possibilities and the bookprobabilities and end up down rabbit holes without really understanding whether I'm reading someone who knows what they're talking about or the latest conspiracy theorist. Comic Destiny is made up of I needed people I knew I could trust and who could deliver information in a series of short pieces that follow on from each other and are probably best described as being closer to prose poetry than anything elseway I could understand.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846041597</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jane FeaverB0CDZRGT1M|title=Love Me TenderSuper Short Stories: Flash Fiction|author=Mark C Wallfisch

|summary=A woman remembers her dead husband playing Love Me Tender (the song made famous by Elvis Presley) on his tenor horn''Got a minute to be amused, entertained, or challenged?''''These 100 stories are super short. She None is more than 300 words. You can read one in a daze, feeling the grief flash.''''Some are funny. Some are poignant. All are short.'' Question: how do you review flash fiction? How do you give a flavour of the bereaved widow she a fully rounded little story if that story is, told in fewer than three hundred words? Or do you try to draw out themes from all the betrayal flash fictions in a book of the deceived wife, and the guilt of having murdered him. The title story them? I don't know! Perhaps we could start by explaining that there really isn't a fixed definition of flash fiction but that for this collection is all the more moving and startling because of its understated style, and what is not said as well as what isauthor Mark C Wallfisch has gone for a three hundred word limit. That's about a single page in your average paperback.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099521288</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Aravind AdigaRachel Harrison|title=Between the AssassinationsBad Dolls

|summary=It's been some time since I'Between the Assassinations'' is ve read any horror. I had a collection of short stories set in the fictional South Indian town couple of Kitturmisspent teen years reading Stephen King, which is almost certainly Mangalore (where borrowing the Adiga grew up). But books from a boy I fancied at school and scaring myself half silly with them to the plight point that I couldn't shut my bedroom curtains at night for fear of the residents can be found in any Indian city vampires outside! Don't worry - which this short story collection isn't like that! It doesn't have those jump scares, and I imagine is Adigadidn's point of setting t have to read it during daylight hours only! But it in a fictional location. The twelve stories are vaguely interlinked (there are some recurring characters) but for the is creepy, and I found most part of that feeling came from the fact that these are stories stand alone. The time period is set between the assassinations of Indira Gandhi in 1984 about women, living normal lives, and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi that at least in 1991part, although like the locationhorrors arises from very normal situations such as a breakup, the time period trying a new dieting app, going to a hen party and the assassinations of the title have little bearing on the events themselvesa coping with grief.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848871236</amazonuk>1803363932

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David EaglemanB0CCCVRSGX|title=Sum: Tales from the AfterlivesStories 2|author=Richard F Walker|rating=4.5|genre=Literary FictionShort Stories|summary=For some reason I find myself unable to start this reviewThis is Richard F Walker's second volume of short stories. So There are thirteen in all and I'll mention this book starts with the end, and see where we go took something from thereeach of them. Of course, There isn't a single one thatdoesn's t deserve to be among the key – this book does just that – starts with the end of our human life here on Earth (others or wherever you happen to be reading this) and posits forty possibilities of what happens thereafter, in brings down the hereafteroverall quality. It's not can be tricky to review short stories without giving too much away, so much 'Five People You Meet in Heaven' as 'Forty Heavens you Might Meet People InI'll just pick two to talk about and I think they give a general flavour.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847674283</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=James Lasdun|title=ItI've got a couple of confessions to make. I's Beginning To Hurt|rating=4m not keen on short stories as I find it easy to read a few stories and then forget to return to the book.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=It There's Beginning got to Hurt is be a collection of sixteen short stories, all bound together by very compelling hook to keep me engaged. Then there's science fiction: far too often it's the technology which takes centre stage along with the theme of hurt in various formsworld-building. It is James Lasdun's third collection of short stories human beings who fascinate me: the technology and, chances the world scape arepurely incidental. So, if you are what did I think of a fan book of the twenty-two science fiction short story then you will have read something by him beforestories? Well, I loved it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099512327</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Andrew PorterB09XZMCDVF|title=The Theory of Light and MatterStories: 13 tantalising tales|author=Richard F Walker

|summary=Both the book cover and its title are enticing, quirky, eye-catching. Personally, I'm a fan of most things American including American fiction, so I couldn't wait to start reading. I was not disappointed. Porter introduces us to characters, many A news vendor is crying out the headlines in the middle of whom would probably be described as deeply flawed. He shares the darker side of modern-day American life night; a wheelchair user loses touch with reality when he tries walking around in his imagination; a stickler for correct grammar goes back in time to correct an iconic quote; a volunteer teacher proves the reader - which is far from ideal person to have around in a lawless village; the bright lights of glitzy New York or new boy on the sun-drenched beaches of California. You could say that this pub football team is all about real life. To underline very useful with his pointfeet, Porterand awfully familiar…''s characters are mostly local folks (to use a favourite American word) shuffling through life as best they can.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>022408982X</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=James Kelman|title=If it is Your Life|rating=3|genre=Short Stories|summary=''If This Is Your Life'' is not so much a collection of thirteen short stories as by Richard F Walker has a collection of pieces of creative writinglot to offer the eclectic reader. Tying them together is the idea that remarkable and strange, even miraculous, things can happen to ordinary people. Kelman And that ordinary doesn't really do 'stories'mean boring or uninteresting. In nineteen pieces of writing of varying length from just a single page to more lengthy pieces, such as the story that gives its title to Form and tone varies so this collection, Kelman writes (mostly) about people on the edge little treasury of society. He addresses issues such as class, politics, gender, age short fiction is never boring and ill healthyou're never quite sure what's coming next.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241142423</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Christopher Golden (Editor)1737030942|title=Zombie: An Anthology of the UndeadBag O'Goodies|author=Jolly Walker Bittick|rating=54|genre=HorrorAnthologies|summary=Anyone who enjoys Sometimes, you deserve a good horror story treat and likes zombie films will love this book, which is a collection of nineteen short stories by a variety of authorsmine was Jolly Walker Bittick's ''Bag O'Goodies''. I have to admit that first encountered his writing about a year ago, when I have only heard of one of the authors before - read his [[:Category:Mike CareyCape Henry House by Jolly Walker Bittick|Mike CareyCape Henry House]], who writes the [[The Naming a rollicking tale of the Beasts (Felix Castor) by Mike Carey|Felix Castor]] novels what happens when five young men find a base for their partying. Right now, I didn't want a full- but length novel, so I am not an avid reader turned to this anthology of the genre verse and donshort stories. Bittick't doubt that the authors will be known to readers more familiar with its writing has matured - and so have his characters. Well... Despite this unfamiliarity, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories, with just one or two seemingly not up to scratch.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749952539</amazonuk>them!

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1529418100|authortitle=Katie Fforde (Editor) Bruno's Challenge and Sue Moorcroft (Editor)Other Dordogne Tales|titleauthor=Loves Me, Loves Me NotMartin Walker|rating=4.5

|summary=What I'm not usually a feast is presented in these forty fan of short stories from well-loved I find it all too easy to put the book down between stories and prolific romantic authors, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary forget to pick it up again - but I am a fan of Martin Walker's [[Martin Walker's Commissar Bruno Courreges Mysteries in Chronological Order|Bruno Courreges Mysteries]] so the Romantic Noveliststemptation to read ' Association. In a Who'Bruno's Who of the genre, there are writers from every age group, including one or two who might Challenge'' was hard to resist and I'm rather glad that I didn't even have been founder members of the RNA, back in 1960try. My advice is For those new to sip through the stories slowlyseries, rather than gobbling them up quickly there's an excellent introduction that will tell you all you need to know about who's who and suffering from indigestionthe background to why Bruno is in St Denis.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303373</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephanie TillotsonB08NF79QXT|title=Cut on the BiasCherry Blossom Boutique|author=Brooke Adams|rating=4.53|genre=Short StoriesWomen's Fiction|summary=If Thirty-one-year old Liberty Rossini has had her shop, the Cherry Blossom Boutique, for just six months when she's nominated for - and wins - the Retail Best Newcomer Award. She'Cut on s delighted and the Biastwo people she's brought with her to the event couldn' t be more pleased. Sonja, her mother, is in your local bookshop, an ex-model and Brazilian: you will surely be won over by the feisty covercan see where Liberty got her looks from. Stories about women Jessica's thirty-four and Liberty's best friend: they've known each other since university and Liberty adores Jessica's husband, Charles and their clothes are about identityfour-year-old daughter, so what better start to a set of short stories than Ava. Life would be perfect for Liberty if it wasn't for one thing: she misses having a fashion statement cover featuring the bags man in which said clothes arrive home?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906784132</amazonuk>her life.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Janice GallowayB08KKQ85FN|title=Collected StoriesBut Never For Lunch|author=Sandra Aragona|rating=54

|summary=In this collection''If a woman approaching the menopause can be likened to a Rottweiler in lipstick, stories are taken from two previous volumes, Blood and Where You Find It. The forty-two snap shots of life are mainly of women and young girls, struggling with emotions, sometimes realized and sometimes not. In all, there seems an Ambassador nearing retirement resembles a pampered peacock about to be an underlying link released into the company of isolation and truth. The settings are variedcarrion crows or, from a visit to the dentist more to the place known as homepoint, about to a walk in discover the evening. We have a peek into the deepest darkest corners real world of everyday relationships, with lovers, partners bus timetables and most of all ourselvespaying his own gas bills.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099540398</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Shirley Jackson|title=You don't get many better opening sentences than that, do you? We first met His Excellency and The Lottery Ambassador's Wife in [[Sorting the Priorities: Ambassadress and Other StoriesBeagle Survive Diplomacy by Sandra Aragona|rating=4.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=Even though Sorting the Priorities]] and we learned what it was written over sixty years ago, The Lottery, coming in at fewer than 3,500 words still like to be moved around countries like accompanying baggage by the Italian Government but the time has the power come for HE to retires and for Sandra Aragona to shockbecome The Wife of Former Ambassador.. When it first appeared in the . They have left The New Yorker Career and settled in 1948 it caused many outraged readers to cancel their subscriptions such was the devastating nature of the storyRome. Time may have lessened sensibilities over the latter half of Well 'settled' rather overstates the twentieth century situation and the beginning of the twenty first but The Lotterytheir dog, Beagle, like many has no intention of the other stories in this timely reissueslowing down any time soon, still packs a mighty punchdespite being sixteen and deaf.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141191430</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Edgar Allan Poe and Gris GrimlyB08CHJLNBS|title=Tales of Death and DementiaCapturing Emilia|author=Brooke Adams|rating=53|genre=Graphic NovelsWomen's Fiction|summary=Wow! What He's Charles Devereaux, thirty-eight and a wonderful combination: Edgar Allan Poepartner at Wickham Jones, master of the gothic horror short storyMayfair letting agents. She's Emilia, twenty-nine, librarian and Gris Grimlyarchivist in the heritage library next door. Emilia has read [[The Secret by Rhonda Byrne|The Secret]] but she's moved on from new age books like that, outstanding illustratorwhich leave you dependent on someone else's philosophies, known for his to something a little deeper. Charles is more of a [[The Dangerous Alphabet Personal by Neil Gaiman and Gris GrimlyLee Child|work with Neil GaimanJack Reacher]]. Poeman himself, but, above all, he's shocked that Emilia reads ''The Guardian'Tales of Death and Dementia'. They' are shown off re obviously not at their very best in all compatible, so why can Charles not get this editionwoman out of his mind? She's not his usual type at all: it's obvious to his friends.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847386474</amazonuk> And given that Emilia regularly feels repulsed by Charles's superficiality, why does she feel drawn to him? The relationship's obviously a non-starter, isn't it?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=William BedfordMarie O'Regan and Paul Kane (editors)|title=None Cursed: An Anthology of the Cadillacs was PinkDark Fairy Tales|rating=4.5|genre=Short StoriesFantasy|summary=I chose this book because Curses. They're there throughout tales of its superb title faery and other fantastical folk – the last and best memoir in a collection of sixteen stories. These Humberside and Lincolnshire stories have a background beat of Fifties' music that sets them firmly in an exciting, disturbing time for young people everywherebeing cursed to do this, or not least for the author and his friendsto be able to do that. Children can be cursed, as old ways of living made way for new along can princesses on the East Coast verge of Englandmarrying, and older people too.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904529445</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Clive Cussler (editor) |title=Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=If you enjoy thrillers or short stories then you might find this book It seems in a treat. If you enjoy them both then itway there's a treasure troveno escaping it. ''Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down'' Which is edited by best-selling author [[:Category:Clive Cussler|Clive Cussler]] (although none why the theme of his work is included) and includes work by some authors who are the top this book of their game. There are twenty three short stories in is such a standout – we may well think we know allthere is to know about this accursed character, that demonised place, each about twenty pages long and theythat other bewitched person. We're perfect for those moments when you just want to dip into something short and satisfyingd be very wrong.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0778303209</amazonuk>1789091500

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Will Eisner Stibbe_Xmas|title=Minor MiraclesAn Almost Perfect Christmas|author=Nina Stibbe

|genre=Graphic NovelsHumour|summary=This short story collection starts with two appetisers before getting Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. You only have to think about the turkey for that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on with two main coursesthe downstairs loo to defrost overnight, but as with and if that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best meals even the smallest dishes can have the most depthbet. We start with the entire life cycle Nowadays it's all having to make sure it's suitably free- riserange and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, falland get too friendly with it to want to eat it. Christmas, risethough, fall - is of course also a hobo feeding pigeons in the parktime of great boons. Obviously he hasn't been doing that all his years - heIt's been keeping his dignity intact, with cash in hand for a huge amount lot of chutzpah plump people who can hire red suits and more. Nextbeards, it was always a smart Alec defeats godsend for postmen with all the older kids on thank-you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and as for the stoop with a bit makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and sell them any other time of canny street wisdom.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393328147</amazonuk>the year?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Agnes Owens 0954899520|title=The Complete NovellasA Winter Book|author=Tove Jansson

|summary=Who is Agnes Owens? A Scottish author who portrays working class life from Tove Jansson's worldwide fame lasts on the nineteen forties and fifties. Now an octogenarianMoomin books, apparently Agnes Owens started writing at written in the age 1940s and later becoming television characters of 58. Here are five previously published stories collected into one new editionthe simplicity, a companion volume to her short stories, published in 2008. I donnaivety and sheer 't think yougoodness'll be disappointed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971373</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kazuo Ishiguro |title=Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall |rating=3that would later produce flowerpot men or teletubbies.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=A jobbing guitarist from an Eastern European countrySimple drawings, playing in Venicesimple stories, simple goodness. What is given a most singular gig by an ageing, passing crooner. An old friend often forgotten outside of her native Finland is that she was a couple at loggerheads stays in their flat, but enters serious writer…that she wrote for adults as well as children…and that she had a nightmare feeling for the natural world of comedy, doing greater and greater wrongs to cover his first transgression. A younger couple running a cafe employ a friend to help out, despite his wish to hide in the hills and compose new songs for his simple life that notonly informed those child-very illustrious careerlike trolls but went far beyond any fantasy of how the world might be.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>057124498X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Aleksandar Hemon 1911115847|title=Love and ObstaclesNights of the Creaking Bed|author=Toni Kan

|genre=Short StoriesLiterary Fiction|summary=We start with ''Nights of the young narrator away from home, and in Africa, due to his diplomat father. HeCreaking Bed''s left behind home, is a potential girlfriend, collection of short stories by Toni Kan. The series of stories tell of the lives and more, but finds company with lusts of an older, chancer character assortment of characters living in and his junkie girlfriendaround Lagos, and their pot, drinks and 70s rockNigeria. Closer to his rootsNigeria, but still a young man abroadin this collection, is imbued with its very own heart of darkness. Danger stalks the second story sees him travelling across his homeland on an errand - to deliver payment shadows and people are killed for the biggest chest freezer his father could findnothing more than a wrong look. But poems, losing his virginity, keeping his money, Kan writes with a vitality and various other fantasies might just put passion that allows these cynical stories to achieve a cooler on that unusual taskglimmer of hope...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330464434</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Charles Stross 1529014484|title=WirelessExhalation |author=Ted Chiang|rating=45|genre=Short StoriesScience Fiction|summary=In his introductionOver the past twenty-eight years, Stross explains that one of the reasons he likes writing shorts Ted Chiang has published fifteen science fiction short stories, these magnificent stories is because they have won twenty-seven major science fiction awards so if you are the ideal format in which to focus on a particular concept science fiction fan it is likely that you have already come across some of the future and play around with itwork by Ted Chiang. It doesnIf you haven't matter then take this opportunity to do so much if the idea doesn't ultimately work because neither the reader nor the author has invested in it the way they would in a novelnow. ''Wireless'' then, is something of an experiment. Stross employs many different styles, tackles many different subjects and is very skilful at creating mood. His stories are a strange blend of the technical and the archaicTrust me; your imagination will be grateful.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841497711</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Oxfam1794467440|title=Ox-Tales: Air|rating=3.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=Four books of short stories each taking (rather loosely on occasions) as a theme one of the elements: [[Ox-Tales: Earth by Oxfam|Earth]], [[Ox-Tales: Fire by Oxfam|Fire]], [[Ox-Tales: Water by Oxfam|Water]], and this book ''Air'', sold in aid of Oxfam but not about Oxfam's work. The writers, many household names, have given their work for free and at least 50p from the sale of each new book goes to Oxfam. That's not entirely the point though, is it? You want to know if the book is worth buying.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846682614</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewWatchwords |author=Oxfam |title=Ox-Tales: Earth|rating=3.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=Published in aid of Oxfam work, Ox-Tales comprise of four books featuring original stories donated to the project by a variety of writers. The framework for the books is provided by the four elements of the classical philosophy. Each collection starts with Vikram Seth's elemental poem and ends with a short article highlighting Oxfam's work in a key area ([[Ox-Tales: Fire by Oxfam|fire]] – conflict and war, [[Ox-Tales: Water by Oxfam|water]] – sanitation and clean water, earth – agriculture and air – climate change).|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846682584</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Irvine Welsh |title=Reheated Cabbage|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=Irvine Welsh's choice of title for this collection of short stories may serve to warn some unwary readers of its unpalatable nature. To the uninitiated, its stream of unrestrained swearing, drug taking, sex and casual violence could come as a shock. His fans though, will no doubt lap it up.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224080555</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Oxfam |title=Ox-Tales: FirePhilip Neal

|summary=Published in aid This satisfying collection of Oxfam work, Ox-Tales comprise of four books featuring original short stories donated to the project by has a variety of writers. The framework for the books is provided by provenance at least as beguiling as the four elements provenance of the classical philosophy. Each collection starts with Vikram Seth's elemental poem and ends with a short article highlighting Oxfam's work in a key area (fire – conflict and war, water – sanitation and clean water, earth – agriculture and air – climate change)antique watches that inspired it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846682592</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Mick Jackson|title=Bears Philip Neal lost a watch. It was a watch he was fond of England|rating=3and had been told was like a 1930s Cartier.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=As you knowInstead of mourning its loss, England has had he began to collect vintage watches that resembled it. And that's how he became a chequered history when it comes watch collector. An eBay purchase led him to her bearsthe Antique Watch Company watch repairers in Clerkenwell. From The eBay purchase was a fake, but the days when we only knew them as horrors making bumping noises - among many others - in friendship that grew between the night, we have learnt more, buyer and used them more. Therefore we have this short little book, detailing some of the more remarkable instances repairer of Anglo-bear relations, from watches was not and the days seed of bear-baiting, to them being shot at when they escaped the circus, to when they were employed in subaquatic labour in the days before SCUBA gear..an idea for a book was born.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571242405</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Paul R Spiring (Editor)1529006031|title=Aside Arthur Conan Doyle: Twenty Original Tales By Bertram Fletcher RobinsonReturn to Wonderland|author=Various Authors

|summary=The shortlived Bertram Fletcher Robinson is sadly little more than In following a young girl called Alice down the rabbit hole a footnote few years ago, when the first book she was in British literature. His fame rests largely on having contributed to, [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (150th Anniversary Edition) by Lewis Carroll and helped to inspire, a couple Anthony Browne|hit 150 years of Sherlock Holmes stories – andage]], if you believe I found that I didn't really find too much favour with it. The wacky-for-the conspiracy theorists-sake-of-it did not gel, having been bumped off by Conan Doyle for threatening to claim authorship of one of them and denounce Doyle I don't remember loving it more as a fraudchild. (Don't go there).|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904312527</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=H. GBut I would suggest I am the perfect audience for this book. Wells, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle |title=Graphic Classics, Volume 17: Science Fiction Classics|rating=4|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=So, an introduction. The Graphic Classics collection is a series whereby I had every chance to enjoy these short stories that come at the best in genre fiction, core from sources both highly likely and remarkably unexpecteda tangent, is collected and dressed up for us in graphic novel formthat show the benefits of the oblique glance. This seventeenth editionI've always preferred coming to an author's output through their least obvious, a belated best-of sciallegedly throw-fi volume, is their first foray into full colouraway pieces, and is headlined by it's the same with franchises – I'd more likely go for Bree Tanner's short novella than the whole Twilight saga (although that remains just a version of The War of the Worldshunch, for obvious reasons). The supporting material ranges from a one-page strip For another thing, there was every reason to thirty-page stories.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0978791975</amazonuk>expect some kind of greatness here – with Carroll much loved by millions, surely pieces written with that love in mind could only provide for success after success?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Edgar Allen Poe, Various, Dan Whitehead (Editor) 1846974658|title=Eye Classics: Nevermore - A Graphic Novel Anthology of Edgar Allan Poe's Short Stories|rating=4|genre=Graphic Novels |summary=So, if I were to mention someone who was born 200 years ago this season, and who changed the world with their writing, who would you think of first? Charles Darwin, probably. But those of a slightly different bent might just have mentioned someone else - someone at the forefront of all things arcane, horrific and thrilling when it comes to fiction. Someone who lost his birth and foster mother both to tuberculosis before he was ever twenty. Someone who had most unusual circumstances surrounding his death, to best Agatha Christie vanishing for a while, and most of the detectives in the fiction he helped inspire. Someone called Edgar Allan Poe.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0955285682</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewThe Long Path To Wisdom|author=MaryJan-Ann Constantine|title=The BreathingPhilipp Sendker

|summary=Mary-Ann Constantine's book is a bit like a piece of embroidery: painstakingly slowOn my travels around the world, sewn with different threads, but the result is I have a beautiful picture by an accomplished hand. It tendency to end up in any bookshop that is a book of short storiesselling English-language books, very different and quite ambiguouswhile I buy as many second-hand escapist tales as the next person, what I'm really looking for is the 'local' – the cookbook maybe, describing the lives of people - and an elephant - of a certain location (or a few) in Wales.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0954088182</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan |title=Demomaps definitely, but above all: v. 1|rating=5|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=It's not every young disaffected teenager that will respond to the withdrawal of her medication so explosivelyfolk tales. ItIf I ever get to Burma, I won's not every young disaffected teenager that runs through empty landscapes because she is too scared t need to speak to anyone – for quite the reasons we see here. Not every family patches itself back together over a funeral in the fashion the third story gives ushunt, I can read before I go. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>184576921X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jay McInerneyB077969HN8|title=The Last Bachelor Alternative Medicine|author=Laura Solomon

|summary=I enjoyed these Laura Solomon's publisher describes the short stories by Jay McInerney in ''Alternative Medicine'' as if they were ''black comedy with a box twist of expensive, dark chocolatessurrealism''. Some centres were nut hard I'm rather glad that I didn't see this until ''after'' I'd finished reading as I'm not normally a fan of either, while but I've come to two conclusions about the rich ganache in others left a bittersweet aftertastebook: what the publisher says is correct - and I really enjoyed it. The seven deadly sins provided distinctive tastes of American comedy is not ''successtoo'', black and the surrealism is gentle and perhaps best described as I nibbled my a twist or flick of reality when you were least expecting it. Your comfort zones are going to be invaded in the nicest possible way through twelve sophisticated stories. Mmm.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>074759984X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lee Child (Editor)9386897504|title=Killer YearTales of Love and Disability|author=Laura Solomon

|summary=This collection of seventeen short stories in the crime genre is by a group of new, young American I've always believed that less-able writers who have all been mentored by more established writers such as Lee Child, Joe R Lansdale and Ken Bruen. Although produce longer books: it is takes a little uneven in quality it does represent an effort to promote the work great deal of younger writers in a world where it can be hard skill and talent to make write a break-through into mainstream publishing. The short story is a specialised medium which holds the reader and the crime genre keeps them coming back for more. There are far too many collections of short story has two prejudices stories which are all too easy to fight - if put down and forget after you don't ve read short stories you are even less likely to read short stories a couple of a particular genrepieces. But whereas mainstream fiction might have its diehard factions, I feel the crime aficionado may well be less uptight and crime novel lovers might 've recently read this collection in the hope a couple of finding the next Harlan Coben or novellas by Laura Solomon - [[Marsha's Deal by Laura Lippman.Solomon|amazonuk=<amazonuk>077830275X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewMarsha's Deal]] and [[Hell's Unveiling by Laura Solomon|author=Tania Hershman|title=The White Road|rating=5|genre=Short Stories|summary=A female café owner situated in a very strange place breaks the mundane routine with a very strange act. A female loses sight of her lifeHell's goals due to having a husband Unveiling]] and childrenenjoyed them, and finds a strange way of reconnecting with her interests. And females on first dates so I was intrigued to see what she could do strange things – to levers in zero-G, and with potteryan even shorter form.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1844714756</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Joyce Carol Oates1986586898|title=Going To The Museum of Doctor MosesLast: Short Stories About Horse Racing|author=K D Knight

|summary=In the opening story, a oneman whose wife has deserted him visits Sandown with little money but comes away with cash in his pocket -sentence rush, we get and his wife. In ''A Grey Day'' an entire short story, starring various joggers, that proves above all else that words can killowner struggles with the problem of whether or not to run his horse in the Gold Cup when the ground is against him. ItMy favourite was ''The Story of H''s a moral bluntly put, and the story of Foinavon. H is depicted as an opener a kind horse who only wanted to please people. After changing hands on various occasions he came to the volume puts us instantly on yard of John Kempton. H (or Foinavon) was entered in the Grand National and considered a nervous edgeno-hoper. We might not be in for In one of the most dramatic runnings of the race, a pile-up occurred at the happiest read23rd fence. Foinavon, we thinkwho had been many lengths adrift, before turning cleared the fence and galloped to the second storyline, which is called Suicide Watchwinning the race at odds of 100/1.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847245595</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gardner Dozois (Editor), Jack Dann (Editor)9386897296|title=Dark Alchemy: Magical Tales from Masters of Modern Fantasy|rating=4.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=I'm always in two minds about short story collections. On the one hand itHell's a bit of a risk – there could be one or two really good stories and a load of rubbish. But, the great thing about them is they can introduce you to writers you might never have read otherwise. While you probably wouldn't be prepared to invest time and money into a book you aren't sure you'll like, spending half an hour or so reading a short story won't leave you feeling too robbed if you don't enjoy it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747589542</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewUnveiling|author=Tobias Wolff|title=Our Story BeginsLaura Solomon|rating=43.5

|summary=Tobias WolffA little while ago I really enjoyed [[Marsha's short stories offer few easy solutions. His troubled characters face choices they are ill-equipped Deal by Laura Solomon|Marsha's Deal]] and I was delighted by the opportunity to makeread the sequel, ''Hell's Unveiling''. You do It's probably not go much of a spoiler to Wolff for a satisfying, tidy tale, neatly wrapped, or for an entertaining twist.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747597278</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kay Green|title=Jungsay that Marsha bested the devil in ''Marsha's People|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=These short stories offer fantasyDeal'', sci-fi, historical and contemporary angles on human personalitybut the devil is not one to take defeat lying down. Kay Green used JungHe's writing out to wage war on dreams to delve into her own subconscious Planet Earth and has come up with an eclectic mix particularly on Marsha (who's thought of storiesas a 'goody two shoes' in Hell). A crisp commentatorAlthough a strong person, she's voice observes life through different lenses and perspectivesvulnerable where her foster children are concerned. I often felt that I was trapped in Daniel is framed for a nest of boxes with the characters, not quite sure which way was out. My interest hooked, I delved into the fifteen stories crime he didn't commit and enjoyed their surprising twists sent to juvenile detention and multiple layers as characters discover their tragic destiny within whatever happens refused permission to return to be the chance setting of their liveslive with Marsha. I'll just give you a flavour of three of them.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>190645101X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Donald Ray Pollock|title=Knockemstiff|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summary=Welcome to KnockemstiffThen, a quiet little town in Ohio, USA. Wait, I take it back. You are not welcome. Strangers do not come to Knockemstiff. Unless you are lost of course, like that Californian photographer woman, there are all the other children who took random pictures and could are not believe the town was for real: so poor, so lost, so abandoned. Come to think only targeted but - worst of it, the people of Knockemstiff would be more than happy all - subverted to leave the place themselvesdevil's evil ends. It is just that they never have the chance, or never quite make it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846551560</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kurt Vonnegut |title=Armageddon in Retrospect |rating=2.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=I have been a fan of Kurt Vonnegut since the early 1970s. I still have the old paperbacks – ''Mother Night'', ''Cat He's Cradle'', ''Slaughterhouse 5''. There was something about his style, and especially about the things he had out to say, that was refreshing prey on their fears and new. But he began to go off the boil, or fell out of style, weaknesses and I stopped reading his books around about the time I stopped buying Crosbyas with many foster children, Stills and Nash LPstheir self-esteem is very fragile. For me This is no small-scale operation, ''Breakfast of Champions'' was both the last decent book he wrote, and the first of the stream of beloweither -par books that followed. I just checked my bookcase – ''Slapstick'' in 1976 was the last Vonnegut book I boughtdevil has set up a training complex on earth, and the ancient bookmark stuffed midway through shows I never managed to finish it. And I had problems trying complete with an elevator to finish his 'new' collection, tooHell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224085395</amazonuk>