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[[Category:Short Stories|*]] __NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=AllTomorrowsFutureCover|title=The Science of HerselfAll Tomorrow's Futures: Fictions that Disrupt|author=Karen Joy FowlerBenjamin Greenaway and Stephen Oram (Editors)|rating=35|genre=Short StoriesScience Fiction|summary=''Opening up new ways of thinking about the shape of things to come.'' I've heard it said it before, and Ithat 'technology' is what happens after you'll say it againre eighteen. The most fun when facing a new authorWell, especially I must confess that there have been more than a big name one, is to come through the underground, tackling the smaller works, the quirkier output, the less representative sections few decades of her or his oeuvretechnology in my lifetime. And for those who have or havenI't read ve kept up reasonably well with what's advantageous to me but I'The Jane Austen Book Club'', there is plenty of potential for that m left with the rest of [[The Case of the Imaginary Detective by Karen Joy Fowler|Karen Joy Fowler]], for her output includes almost as many selections of short stories as feeling that it does very successful novels, and what's more they carry the science fictional bannerall getting away from me. Some of it is - frankly - quite frightening. A long time ago there was a teenage me very happy to be reading ''Lord of Of course, I could research the possibilities and the Fliesprobabilities and end up down rabbit holes without really understanding whether I'm reading someone who knows what they' and writing an essay re talking about how sci-fi it was, and I do relish the mainstream author entering a genre, or the inverse of thatlatest conspiracy theorist. But boy, I normally come away needed people I knew I could trust and who could deliver information in a lot happier than way I did herecould understand.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1604868252</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kate MosseB0CDZRGT1M|title=The Mistletoe Bride and Other Haunting TalesSuper Short Stories: Flash Fiction|author=Mark C Wallfisch

|summary=This book of 14 short ''Got a minute to be amused, entertained, or challenged?''''These 100 stories and a are super short play is based on the ideaof haunting. Sometimes the haunting None is the ghostly kind and sometimessomething psychologically deeper and more primalthan 300 words. All the stories drift tous from different eras, both past and recent, but all have You can read one thing incommon: they centre on a troubled person. For instance we meet Gaston, aFrench child who witnesses an odd event on the beach just after losing hisparentsflash. In the inevitably touching but beautiful ''Red Letter Day'' wetravel to a French castle with a woman who has an appointment with the pastSome are funny. Some are poignant. All are short.If you want something completely different, there's ''The Duet'' which drawsus into a fascinating dialogue and then hits us with a sting.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409148041</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|title=The Time Traveller's Almanac|author=Anne VanderMeer and Jeff VanderMeer|rating=4|genre=Anthologies|summary=From H.G Wells to ''Doctor Who'', there is something about Question: how do you review flash fiction? How do you give a flavour of a good time-travel fully rounded little story if that has the power story is told in fewer than three hundred words? Or do you try to ignite draw out themes from all the imagination flash fictions in a way unique to the genre. book of them? I don't know! Perhaps it is due to the fact we could start by explaining that when dealing with the subject there really isn't a fixed definition of time travelflash fiction but that for this collection, literally author Mark C Wallfisch has gone for a three hundred word limit. That''anything is possible''. Well, almost anything...apart from going back s about a single page in time and killing your Grandfather, which we know would cause an almighty paradox and probably destroy the universeaverage paperback.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781853908</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Diana WellsRachel Harrison|title=Odes and Prose for Older WomenBad Dolls

|summary=It's been some time since I've read any horror. I am, had a couple of coursemisspent teen years reading Stephen King, not an older woman borrowing the books from a boy I fancied at school and nether is Diana Wells. scaring myself half silly with them to the point that I couldn't shut my bedroom curtains at night for fear of the vampires outside! We were born in the same year and we are what is best described as Don't worry - this short story collection isn'upper middle agedt like that! It doesn't have those jump scares, but - perhaps in anticipation of what is to come - Diana has collected together her writings on the subject and I didn't have to read through them in two sittings (the break was enforced) it during daylight hours only! But it is creepy, and I laughed and cried, but the wry smile found most of recognition never left my face that feeling came from beginning to end. There the fact that these are stories about eighty five short stories women, living normal lives, and odes - with none more than that at least in part, the horrors arises from very normal situations such as a few pages long - writtenbreakup, we are toldtrying a new dieting app, from observation, experience or imagination going to a hen party and I can only conclude that Wells has led a very rich lifecoping with grief.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1780356838</amazonuk>1803363932

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn= B0CCCVRSGX|title=Sad MonstersStories 2|author=Frank LesserRichard F Walker

|summary=Alice Munro has made an art form of short story writing. ''Dear Life'This is Richard F Walker' is a collection s second volume of truly beautiful short stories, perfectly crafted . There are thirteen in all and I took something from each of them. There isn't a way single one that leaves no wanting feeling, as is often an issue with doesn't deserve to be among the others or brings down the overall quality. It can be tricky to review short stories. Each of the 14 stories contained within the collection is without giving too much away, so I'll just that; a story in its own right. There is no getting caught up and lost in style pick two to talk about and literary flare, but I think they give a cool prose, a calmness of tone and good strong storiesgeneral flavour.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099578638</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1739593901|title=22 Ideas About The Complete Short Stories: Volume TwoFuture|author=Roald DahlBenjamin Greenaway and Stephen Oram (Editors)

|genre=Short StoriesScience Fiction|summary=Having only recently read the first volume of this collection of all of Roald Dahl’s short stories I couldn’t help but think of the phrase ''too much of a good thing'' although I have never really agreed with the phrase (I could happily gorge on chocolate or whisky for days without the slightest regret) I am still pleased that this book provides yet Our future will be more evidence of the inaccuracy of the expressioncomplex than we expected. With stories as diverse as a butler getting revenge on his employer and a baby being brought up on royal jelly by a fanatical bee lover, these are tales Instead of horrorflying cars, humour, adventure, love we got night-vision killer drones and all out weirdnessautomated elderly care with geolocation surveillance bracelets to track grandma.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405910119</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|title=Tales from the Dead I've got a couple of Night: Thirteen Classic Ghost Stories|author=Cecily Gayford (editor)|rating=4confessions to make.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=This collection of classic ghost I'm not keen on short stories as I find it easy to read a few stories covers all kinds of chilling talesand then forget to return to the book. There are physical ghosts, emotional ghosts, ghosts that are never seen but merely sensed, and even the odd entity that just seems ghostly, even though it might 's got to be an ordinary everyday thing - but still makes you feel as if you’ve, well, seen a ghostvery compelling hook to keep me engaged. Each story is preceded Then there's science fiction: far too often it's the technology which takes centre stage along with some information on the authorworld-building. The stories are from are from several different periods It's human beings who fascinate me: the technology and the settings range from winter nights in England to sultry summers in Indiaworld scape are purely incidental. This combines to make for an excellent overview So, what did I think of all kinds a book of spooky sagastwenty-two science fiction short stories? Well, I loved it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781250944</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Aimee BenderB09XZMCDVF|title=The Color MasterStories: 13 tantalising tales|author=Richard F Walker|rating=4.5

|summary=Another parade ''A news vendor is crying out the headlines in the middle of fascinating, unusual personalities and oddevents from the author of [[Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender|WillfulCreatures]]. This 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 out [[:Category:Aimee Bender|Aimee]]introduces us to people like Hans correct an iconic quote; a volunteer teacher proves the fake Nazi, young William ideal person to whomall people look have around in a lawless village; the same and Janet who decides to spice up herlove-life new boy on the pub football team is very useful with detrimental results. Among other things we alsowitness a less-than-altruistic anti-war demonstration his feet, and an oddoccurrence in an orchard showing how odd an apple-only diet could makeus.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091953898</amazonuk>}}awfully familiar…''

{{newreview|title=The Complete Short Stories: Volume One|author=Roald Dahl|rating=4.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=Roald Dahl’s name on a book This collection of thirteen short stories by Richard F Walker has for me always meant I was in for a fun and imaginative readlot to offer the eclectic reader. His children’s books are the pinnacle of children’s literature and combine fantastic ideas with wordplay and some of Tying them together is the most amusing characters idea that remarkable and situations. The stories for a younger audience always managed strange, even miraculous, things can happen to thrill and entertain both adult and child and reading them aloud is a joyordinary people. In short I believe Roald Dahl was a true master of storytellingAnd that ordinary doesn't mean boring or uninteresting. I have however only actually read one of his adult books before reading Form and tone varies so this collection little treasury of short storiesfiction is never boring and you're never quite sure what's coming next.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405910100</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1737030942|title=The Dinner Club and Other StoriesBag O'Goodies|author=Rob KeeleyJolly Walker Bittick

|genre=Confident ReadersAnthologies|summary=Sometimes, you deserve a treat and mine was Jolly Walker Bittick's 'Being on home dinners gives Aidan the chance to make some money...'Bag O'<br>Goodies''A bridesmaid and . I first encountered his writing about a year ago, when I read his [[Cape Henry House by Jolly Walker Bittick|Cape Henry House]], a page chase rollicking tale of what happens when five young men find a runaway wedding cake..base for their partying. Right now, I didn''<br>''Mia and her Dad turn detective...'' These are just t want a few of the premises you can try out for size in Rob Keeley's third book full-length novel, so I turned to this anthology of verse and short stories for middle grade readers. He Bittick's really having some fun with this formatwriting has matured - and so have his characters. I approve Well. We need more short story collections for this age group. They're entertaining and they appeal particularly to reluctant readers. Short stories like this can act as a springboard to full-length novels.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783060603</amazonuk>most of them!

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1529418100|title=Beyond Rue Morgue: Further Tales of Edgar Allan PoeBruno's 1st DetectiveChallenge and Other Dordogne Tales|author=Paul Kane and Charles Prepolec (Editors)Martin Walker|rating=3.54|genre=AnthologiesShort Stories|summary=C. Auguste Dupin is often regarded as I'm not usually a fan of short stories - I find it all too easy to put the first fictional detective book down between stories and at the very least Edgar Allan Poe’s character was the blueprint for many sleuths forget to come, most notably Sherlock Holmes. Dupin is an eccentric genius from Paris whose use pick it up again - but I am a fan of logic and deduction aid the police on their most baffling cases. The characters literary debut was in the short story Martin Walker's [[Martin Walker'The Murders s Commissar Bruno Courreges Mysteries in Chronological Order|Bruno Courreges Mysteries]] so the Rue Morgue'temptation to read ' in 1841 and between 1842 and 1844 Poe wrote two more short stories about Dupin and his exploits. 'Bruno'Beyond Rue Morgues Challenge'' contains nine stories (in addition was hard to the original Poe tale) by various authors resist and gives many different takes on the same character or influenced by himI'm rather glad that I didn't even try. From samurai assassins and For those new to the apocalypse to series, there's an agoraphobic distant relative of Dupin attempting to solve a murder without even leaving her home; the different writers excellent introduction that will tell you all take the intriguing character you need to places we wouldn’t expect know about who's who and the creativity of all keeps the character fresh from story background to storywhy Bruno is in St Denis.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781161755</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=B08NF79QXT|title=Russian StoriesCherry Blossom Boutique|author=Francesc SeresBrooke Adams|rating=53|genre=Short StoriesWomen's Fiction|summary=This brilliant Thirty-one-year old Liberty Rossini has had her shop, the Cherry Blossom Boutique, for just six months when she's nominated for - and varied collection of short stories is wins - the product of a current academic interest in cross-cultural translationRetail Best Newcomer Award. Francisco Guillen Serés is a Catalan professor of Art History from Aragon She's delighted and the two people she's brought with her to the event couldn't be more pleased. A Russophile Sonja, he has travelled widely to collect stories her mother, is an ex-model and Brazilian: you can see where Liberty got her looks from those writing during the past hundred years of Russian history. These have been translated into Catalan Jessica's thirty-four and then into English. These unusual Liberty's best friend: they've known each other since university and delightful storiesLiberty adores Jessica's husband, some twenty one of them written by five writers read fluently Charles and engagingly. They form an informative tapestry of Soviet and posttheir four-year-Soviet lifeold daughter, moving back in time with the older, earlier writers like Bergchenko, who died in the siege of Stalingrad, at the endAva. Ranging over mythic and symbolic tales to realistic portrayals of personal relationships; love trysts Life would be perfect for Liberty if it wasn't for one thing: she misses having a man in St Petersburg, ferocious bears in the deep heart of the Taiga to the perils of becoming lost in continuous orbit in space. All aspects are impressively recountedher life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>085705158X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=B08KKQ85FN|title=Best British Short Stories 2013But Never For Lunch|author=Nicholas Royle (editor)Sandra Aragona|rating=54

|summary=Expect to read some quality work in ''Best British Short Stories 2013'', sourced from If a number of short story magazines; 'Granta', 'Shadows and Tall Trees', 'Unthology' and 'The Edinburgh Review' are just some of woman approaching the publications in which these pieces were to menopause can be seen first. If asked likened to identify a red thread between the components of Nicholas Royle’s anthology, I would say that Rottweiler in each short storylipstick, everything is left to simmer under the surface. There is an Ambassador nearing retirement resembles a frustration brought pampered peacock about by to be released into the lack company of clarity in every short storycarrion crows or, more to the point, which about to me is a reflection of just how unclear discover the most seismic real world of situations may be to any individual involvedbus timetables and paying his own gas bills.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907773479</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|title=This Close|author=Jessica Francis Kane|rating=5|genre=Short Stories|summary=You don'This Closet get many better opening sentences than that, do you? We first met His Excellency and The Ambassador' is a sensitively written collection of short stories exploring s Wife in [[Sorting the fragile nature of Priorities: Ambassadress and Beagle Survive Diplomacy by Sandra Aragona|Sorting the bonds connecting friends, neighbours Priorities]] and family. As we learned what it was like to be moved around countries like accompanying baggage by the Italian Government but the title suggests, most time has come for HE to retires and for Sandra Aragona to become The Wife of Former Ambassador... They have left The Career and settled in Rome. Well 'settled' rather overstates the stories contain pivotal moments where a missed opportunitysituation and their dog, fleeting as it may beBeagle, can propel a person along a path culminating in regret or loss. Each story is poignantly written and perceptively observed. As a readerhas no intention of slowing down any time soon, I was drawn in despite being sixteen and became so emotionally involved with the characters that it was often impossible to close the book until I knew how each story endeddeaf.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1555976360</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=B08CHJLNBS|title=Behind the FacadeCapturing Emilia|author=Dennis FriedmanBrooke Adams|rating=43|genre=Short StoriesWomen's Fiction|summary=We have allHe's Charles Devereaux, thirty-eight and a partner at one time or anotherWickham Jones, wished that we had the ability to read mindsMayfair letting agents. Imagine how interesting it would be to peer beyond the external appearance She's Emilia, twenty-nine, librarian and to understand archivist in the various thought processes lurking beneath the surfaceheritage library next door. Psychiatrist Dennis Friedman gives the reader the opportunity Emilia has read [[The Secret by Rhonda Byrne|The Secret]] but she's moved on from new age books like that, which leave you dependent on someone else's philosophies, to do just something a little deeper. Charles is more of a [[Personal by Lee Child|Jack Reacher]] man himself, but, above all, he's shocked that with Emilia reads ''The Guardian''. They're obviously not at all compatible, so why can Charles not get this woman out of his mind? She's not his collection of short stories usual type at all: it's obvious to his friends. And given that Emilia regularly feels repulsed by Charles's superficiality, why does she feel drawn to him? The relationship'Beyond the Facades obviously a non-starter, isn'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0720615070</amazonuk>t it?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Margo LanaganMarie O'Regan and Paul Kane (editors)|title=YellowcakeCursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales

|genre=Short StoriesFantasy|summary=We should always make time for short storiesCurses. Especially if they are written by Margo Lanagan. In They''Yellowcake'', a traveller boy uses three items to reunite an old man with his memories. A boy with a crippled foot watches his townfolk butcher a beautiful creature washed up in their harbour. Rapunzel gets a makeover in which things turn out differently. We find out how the Ferryman re there throughout tales of the Dead became the Ferrywoman. And more.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849921113</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Melvin Burgess|title=Krispy Whispers|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=''A woman stops you in the road faery and gazes fearfully into the pram. "Your babies are other fantastical folk – people being cursed to do this, or not human," she saysto be able to do that. Then she runs off.'' Ooh! Alien changelings! Cuckoos in the nest? Are they really? Really, reallyChildren can be cursed, really? Can you be sure? So begins as can princesses on the first story in ''Krispy Whispers'', a series of flash fictions by Bookbag favourite Melvin Burgess. You also get a girl dreaming verge of richesmarrying, a lonely woman who finds a pet and gets a boyfriend older people too closely together for mere coincidence. And It seems in a priest who actually meets Godway there's no escaping it. And Which is why the theme of this book of short stories is such a very worrisome monsterstandout – we may well think we know all there is to know about this accursed character, that demonised place, and that other bewitched person. Concentrate hard. Because youWe'll need to keep up..d be very wrong.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>B00DAC68EM</amazonuk>1789091500

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alison MooreStibbe_Xmas|title=The Pre-War House and other short storiesAn Almost Perfect Christmas|author=Nina Stibbe

|genre=Short StoriesHumour|summary=Alison Moore's ''Pre-War House'' is a collection Christmas – the time of 24 short stories, traditional trauma. You only three of which are original have to think about the turkey for that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to this collectiondefrost overnight, but most were first published in and if that failed the last couple of years and, unless you are a an avid reader of hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. Nowadays it''The New Writer'' they will probably s all be new having to you. Mooremake sure it's themes tend suitably free-range and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, and get too friendly with it to concentrate on fairly dark characterswant to eat it. Christmas, though, usually with is of course also a hidden secret, and more often than not dealing with the past and frequently some kind time of personal loss or anguishgreat boons. If you enjoyed MooreIt's Booker Prize shortlisted [[The Lighthouse by Alison Moore|The Lighthouse]]cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, it was always a godsend for postmen with all the thank-you will find plenty letters to enjoy here aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as most of the stories have a similar hauntingly sad feel to them. With one possible exceptionchild, a very short piece called ''The Yacht Man'' which did nothing and as for methe makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, the stories are beautifully judged did they even try and equally satisfying, often saving a final hit or a surprise until the end sell them any other time of the pieces.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907773509</amazonuk>year?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert Walser0954899520|title=The Walk and other storiesA Winter Book|author=Tove Jansson

|summary=The publication of this collection of around forty short stories affords Tove Jansson's worldwide fame lasts on the English speaking public a unique opportunity; that of reading WalserMoomin books, possibly written in the leading modernist writer 1940s and later becoming television characters of Swiss German in the last century. He has received high praise in simplicity, naivety and sheer 'A Place in the Countrygoodness'that would later produce flowerpot men or teletubbies. Simple drawings, W G Sebald's recently published posthumous collection and he simple stories, simple goodness. What is often forgotten outside of her native Finland is that she was a serious writer…that she wrote for adults as well-known as being a significant influence on Franz Kafka. His work here dates from 1907 to 1929 and along with his poetry won him recognition with Berlin's avant garde. He combines lyrical delicacy with detailed observation; reflective melancholy with criticism of brash commercialism. The fine writing in this volume strives to achieve children…and that she had a hard won integrity together with an experimental capacity feeling for reflection. It challenges the reader natural world and provokes him to new insights.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846689589</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ted Olinger|title=The Woodpecker Menace|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=The Key Peninsula is a small spur of land on the Puget Sound in Washington state, shaped - you guessed it simple life that not only informed those child- like a key. Its resident are disparate and include both incomers and those who'd see themselves as pioneer settlers. But they're joined in a communal sense trolls but went far beyond any fantasy of island living. It's on a much smaller scale, but I think most British people can feel affinity with identifying as an islander. It flavours our relationship with continental Europe in so many wayshow the world might be. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0984840036</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Nikolai Leskov, Richard Pevear (translator) and Larissa Volokhonsky (translator)1911115847|title=The Enchanted Wanderer and Other StoriesNights of the Creaking Bed|author=Toni Kan

|summary=This ''Nights of the Creaking Bed'' is a collection of 17 Nikolai Leskov short stories as mixed in subject matter as they are in lengthby Toni Kan. From the very short ''Spirit The series of Madame de Genlis'', warning stories tell of the dire consequences lives and lusts of selecting literature for a mollycoddled princess, to the novella-length ''The Enchanted Wanderer'' telling the tale an assortment of the apparently immortal monk who prayed for suicide victimscharacters living in and around Lagos, Leskov (aided greatly by the talented translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky) unlocks the moresNigeria. Nigeria, traditionsin this collection, religion is imbued with its very own heart of darkness. Danger stalks the shadows and superstitions of 19th century Russia people are killed for nothing more than a wrong look. Kan writes with a modern readershipvitality and passion that allows these cynical stories to achieve a glimmer of hope.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099577356</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1529014484|title=Exhalation |author=Roberto SavianoTed Chiang|rating=5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=Over the past twenty-eight years, Carlo LucarelliTed Chiang has published fifteen science fiction short stories, Valeria Parrella, Piero Colaprico, Wu Ming, Simona Vincithese magnificent stories have won twenty-seven major science fiction awards so if you are a science fiction fan it is likely that you have already come across some of the work by Ted Chiang. If you haven't then take this opportunity to do so now. Trust me; your imagination will be grateful.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1794467440|title=OutsidersWatchwords |author=Philip Neal

|summary=''Outsiders'' is a This satisfying collection of six pieces short stories has a provenance at least as beguiling as the provenance of writing by Italian authorsthe antique watches that inspired it. Philip Neal lost a watch. The pieces have been collated from It was a supplement to an Italian daily newspaper watch he was fond of and six have had been chosen around the theme told was like a 1930s Cartier. Instead of outsiders for translation into Englishmourning its loss, he began to collect vintage watches that resembled it. And that's how he became a watch collector. Thus, An eBay purchase led him to the pieces themselves were not written around this specific theme but have rather had this theme imposed on them Antique Watch Company watch repairers in this collectionClerkenwell. Since The eBay purchase was a fake, but the outsider is often used in various forms by writers to observe friendship that grew between the buyer and the status quo, this is repairer of watches was not and the seed of an idea for a big leap of imaginationbook was born.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857052446</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Aimee Bender1529006031|title=Willful CreaturesReturn to Wonderland|author=Various Authors

|summary= In this collection wefollowing a young girl called Alice down the rabbit hole a few years ago, when the first book she was in [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (150th Anniversary Edition) by Lewis Carroll and Anthony Browne|hit 150 years of age]], I found that I didn're shown t really find too much favour with it. The wacky-for-the reaction -sake-of ten men with terminal illness prognoses-it did not gel, a large man purchasing a very unusual pet and the case of I don't remember loving it more as a hard-done-by boyfriendchild. There are also delights like But I would suggest I am the shop perfect audience for this book. I had every chance to enjoy these short stories that sells words crafted into what they readcome at the core from a tangent, a boy with keys instead of fingers and that show the beautifully touching tale benefits of the pumpkin-headed mother who gives birth oblique glance. I've always preferred coming to an ironauthor's output through their least obvious, allegedly throw-headed babyaway pieces, and 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 hunch, for obvious reasons). NoFor another thing, this isn't your average collection there was every reason to expect some kind of predictable short stories; these are [[:Category:Aimee Bender|Aimee Bender]] short stories.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099558858</amazonuk>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=Karen Russell1846974658|title=Vampires in the Lemon GroveThe Long Path To Wisdom|author=Jan-Philipp Sendker|rating=54

|summary=On my travels around the world, I know you shouldn't judge have a book by tendency to end up in any bookshop that is selling English-language books, and while I buy as many second-hand escapist tales as the covernext person, but when what I'm really looking for is the cover has a title like 'local'Vampires in – the cookbook maybe, the Lemon Grove''maps definitely, I can't help but be a little intrigued, especially when above all: the author has a recent history like Karen Russell'sfolk tales. This history includes a Guardian award nomination for a previous collection with another great title; If I ever get to Burma, I won''Stt need to hunt, I can read before I go. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves'' and a Pulitzer Prize shortlisting for her novel, [[Swamplandia! by Karen Russell|Swamplandia!]]|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701187883</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=George Mann (Editor)B077969HN8|title=Encounters of Sherlock HolmesAlternative Medicine|author=Laura Solomon

|summary=Parajuly is Laura Solomon's publisher describes the son of an Indian father and Nepalese mother hailing from Gangtok short stories in the Indian Himalayas, but spending most of his time somewhere between New York and Oxford. His insight is therefore something we should probably trust.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780872933</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Simon Rich|title=The Last Girlfriend on Earth|rating=5|genre=Short Stories|summary=There is more opportunity than ever these days to downsize your library. You can take all those lumpen classics to the charity shop now that they can be downloaded for free onto an e-reader. And ''Alternative Medicine'' as ''black comedy with these couple of hundred pages you can also divest yourself of a heck twist of a lot of fiction about love, for this can easily replace so much yousurrealism''ve read at greater length, with less imagination and with much less humour elsewhere. That hyperbole is only partly inspired by the style of the contents, for it really is I'm rather glad that good.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668921X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lee Child (Editor)|title=Vengeance|rating=4|genre=Crime|summary=I like short story collections. Theydidn't see this until ''after'' I're useful d finished reading material when youas I're m not normally a mum fan of young children as you can usually manage to squeeze in a six page story at nap timeeither, but you're guaranteed if you try to start that 500 page novel youI've been meaning come to read that just as two conclusions about the book: what the publisher says is correct - and I really enjoyed it starts to get interesting your baby will wake up! This collection of crime stories . The comedy is brought together under the title of not ''Vengeancetoo'' so, black and the surrealism is gentle and perhaps best described as a twist or flick of reality when you'd imagine, they were least expecting it. Your comfort zones are all going to do with revenge and people getting or trying to get their own backbe invaded in the nicest possible way.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857899015</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Deborah Levy9386897504|title=Black VodkaTales of Love and Disability|author=Laura Solomon

|summary=I''Black Vodka'' is ve always believed that less-able writers produce longer books: it takes a collection great deal of ten previously published skill and talent to write a short pieces of writing by Deborah Levy, many first published in story which holds the early 2000sreader and keeps them coming back for more. The most recent is the piece from There are far too many collections of short stories which this collection gains its title which has been shortlisted for the 2012 BBC International Short Story Awardare all too easy to put down and forget after you've read a couple of pieces. As I've recently read a compilation couple of her writingnovellas by Laura Solomon - [[Marsha's Deal by Laura Solomon|Marsha's Deal]] and [[Hell's Unveiling by Laura Solomon|Hell's Unveiling]] and enjoyed them, obviously these were not written so I was intrigued to appear together, but some clear themes emerge from the collection, namely a deeply disturbing look at the search for love, particularly amongst those on the edge of society|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908276169</amazonuk>see what she could do with an even shorter form.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Joyce Carol Oates1986586898|title=Going To The Corn Maiden and Other NightmaresLast: Short Stories About Horse Racing|author=K D Knight|rating=4.5

|summary=Many years agoIn the opening story, I stumbled across a Joyce Carol Oates story man whose wife has deserted him visits Sandown with little money but comes away with cash in a horror anthologyhis pocket - and his wife. What I most remember about In ''A Grey Day'' an owner struggles with the story was how vividly problem of whether or not to run his horse in the feelings Gold Cup when the characters experienced were portrayedground is against him. Whilst My favourite was ''The Story of H'', the story itself of Foinavon. H is depicted as a kind horse who only wanted to please people. After changing hands on various occasions he came to the yard of John Kempton. H (or Foinavon) was not exactly entered in the Grand National and considered a horror story in no-hoper. In one of the mould most dramatic runnings of Stephen King and James Herbertthe race, it was very well presenteda pile-up occurred at the 23rd fence. With this experienceFoinavon, I who had high hopes of 'The Corn Maiden been many lengths adrift, cleared the fence and Other Nightmares' a brand new collection galloped to the line, winning the race at odds of short stories from Oates100/1.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908800224</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robin Jones and Ashley Stokes (Editors)9386897296|title=Unthology: No. 3Hell's Unveiling|author=Laura Solomon|rating=43.5

|summary=Unthank Books have brought out their third annual short story A little while ago I really enjoyed [[Marsha's Deal by Laura Solomon|Marsha's Deal]] and I was delighted by the opportunity to read the sequel, ''Hell's Unveiling'unthology'. (See what they did there?) The series is described as showcasing It's probably not much of a spoiler to say that Marsha bested the devil in ''Marsha's Deal''unconventional, unpredictable but the devil is not one to take defeat lying down. He's out to wage war on Planet Earth and experimentalparticularly on Marsha (who's thought of as a ' which is correct as far as it goesgoody two shoes' in Hell). They omit words that I personally would have included; words like Although a strong person, she'refreshings vulnerable where her foster children are concerned. Daniel is framed for a crime he didn' t commit and sent to juvenile detention and refused permission to return to live with Marsha. Then, of course, there are all the other children who are not only targeted but - worst of all - subverted to the devil'excitingly differents evil ends. He' because, if I needed s out to be convinced about short stories (prey on their fears and weaknesses andas with many foster children, their self-esteem is very fragile. This is no small-scale operation, being either - the devil has set up a fantraining complex on earth, I don't) they would be the clinchercomplete with an elevator to Hell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0957289707</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Tania Hershman|title=My Mother Was An Upright Piano: Fictions|rating=5|genre=Short Stories|summary=It's said that the art of short-story writing is totally different from that of novels as the writer only has ten or so pages Move to accomplish what others do in two to three hundred. Imagine, therefore, telling an entire story in prose conveying depth and meaning in fewer words than this review. It may be difficult but, apparently, not downright impossible as [[:Category:Tania Hershman|Tania Hershman]] has nailed it with honours. In fact her first collection [[The White Road by Tania Hershman|The White RoadNewest Spirituality and Religion Reviews]] was commended by the Orange Prize judges of 2009.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906477604</amazonuk>}}