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[[Category:Short Stories|*]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=AllTomorrowsFutureCover|title=All Tomorrow's Futures: Fictions that Disrupt|author=A L KennedyBenjamin Greenaway and Stephen Oram (Editors)|rating=5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=''Opening up new ways of thinking about the shape of 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 few decades of technology in my lifetime. I've kept up reasonably well with what's advantageous to me but I'm left with the 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 probabilities 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. I needed people I knew I could trust and who could deliver information in a way I could understand.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=B0CDZRGT1M|title=What BecomesSuper Short Stories: Flash Fiction|author=Mark C Wallfisch|rating=4.5

|summary=You're three stories into this collection and two people have cut their hands open preparing food - 'Got a man with love drooping away from his marriageminute to be amused, making soupentertained, and another, a greengrocer, preparing stock and thinking about his own relationshipor challenged?''''These 100 stories are super short. But there None is no pattern to thatmore than 300 words. Four stories You can read one in and there have been two bursts of non-sequitur comedy. Why your fruit might be ruined by stray fingers, and the thoughts of a woman in a flotation tank, remembering Doctor Who, locked parental doors - and the urban myths of gerbilsflash. But there's still no pattern - and that's the point of these combined stories''Some are funny. Some are poignant. Life and all of its emotions does not live to ruleAll are short.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>009949406X</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Tove Jansson|title=Travelling Light|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=In her home country of Finland – and no doubt throughout much Question: how do you review flash fiction? How do you give a flavour of 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 rest flash fictions in a book of Europe which is not quite so sniffy about foreign literature as Britain tends to be – Jansson is generally recognised as an author them? I don't know! Perhaps we could start by explaining that there really isn't a fixed definition of talent, skill, verve and wit flash fiction but that extended far beyond the Moomin Troll stories for which she is best known in this countrycollection, author Mark C Wallfisch has gone for a three hundred word limit. Those childrenThat's books were first published in England sixty years ago and have remained in print ever since (as well as being adapted for just about every other medium going), and a joy they are too, but it is only recently that we have been granted the pleasures of reading her fiction for adultssingle page in your average paperback.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>095489958X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=John GrishamRachel Harrison|title=Ford CountyBad Dolls

|summary=When It's been some time since I think of John Grisham I tend to think firstly of lawyers've read any horror. Well, actually, I think had a couple of Tom Cruise first to be honestmisspent teen years reading Stephen King, borrowing the books from a boy I fancied at school and then scaring myself half silly with them to the whole lawyer thing. point that I expect surprising twists and long, detailed plots. This collection, however, is a book couldn't shut my bedroom curtains at night for fear of short stories so has to work differently. the vampires outside! There isnDon't room within a worry - this short story for a lengthy, twisting plotcollection isn't like that! It doesn't have those jump scares, and so Grisham has to rely on other skills I didn't have to make them work. read it during daylight hours only! My But it is creepy, and I found most of that feeling was came from the fact that some do these are stories about women, living normal lives, and some don't. Set that at least in America's Deep South all part, the stories revolve around horrors arises from very normal situations such as a rather mixed bag of characters from Ford Countybreakup, with the ever-present lawyers but also gamblerstrying a new dieting app, murderers, con artists, drunks going to a hen party and scoundrelsa coping with grief.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099545780</amazonuk>1803363932

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John HarveyB0CCCVRSGX|title=A Darker Shade of BlueStories 2|author=Richard F Walker|rating=4.5

|summary=There are eighteen This is Richard F Walker's second volume of short stories covering the East Midlands, those parts of London you'd generally really rather avoid and rural East Anglia. You'll see broken families, revenge killings, prostitution There are thirteen in all and drugsI took something from each of them. Thereisn's corruption – not unusual when you have an overstretched police force and underpaid men and women staffing itt a single one that doesn't deserve to be among the others or brings down the overall quality. And then there are the people whoIt can be tricky to review short stories without giving too much away, in spite of everything, fight for justiceso I'll just pick two to talk about and I think they give a general flavour.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099548232</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ben Okri1739593901|title=Tales of Freedom22 Ideas About The Future|author=Benjamin Greenaway and Stephen Oram (Editors)

|genre=Literary Science Fiction|summary=Tales of Freedom is a book ''Our future will be more complex than we expected. Instead of two halvesflying cars, we got night-vision killer drones and automated elderly care with a short story entitled Comic Destiny taking up the majority of the book. Comic Destiny is made up of a series of short pieces that follow on from each other and are probably best described as being closer geolocation surveillance bracelets to prose poetry than anything elsetrack grandma.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846041597</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Jane Feaver|title=Love Me Tender|rating=4I've got a couple of confessions to make.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=A woman remembers her dead husband playing Love Me Tender ( I'm not keen on short stories as I find it easy to read a few stories and then forget to return to the song made famous by Elvis Presley) on his tenor hornbook. She is in There's got to be a daze, feeling very compelling hook to keep me engaged. Then there's science fiction: far too often it's the grief of technology which takes centre stage along with the bereaved widow she is, the betrayal of world-building. It's human beings who fascinate me: the deceived wife, technology and the guilt of having murdered himworld scape are purely incidental. The title story So, what did I think of this collection is all the more moving and startling because a book of its understated styletwenty-two science fiction short stories? Well, and what is not said as well as what isI loved it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099521288</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Aravind AdigaB09XZMCDVF|title=Between the AssassinationsStories: 13 tantalising tales|author=Richard F Walker

|summary=''Between A news vendor is crying out the Assassinations'' is a collection of short stories set headlines in the fictional South Indian town middle of Kittur, which is almost certainly Mangalore (where the Adiga grew up). But the plight of the residents can be found in any Indian city - which I imagine is Adiga's point of setting it night; a wheelchair user loses touch with reality when he tries walking around in his imagination; a fictional location. The twelve stories are vaguely interlinked (there are some recurring characters) but stickler for the most part the stories stand alone. The correct grammar goes back in time period is set between to correct an iconic quote; a volunteer teacher proves the assassinations of Indira Gandhi ideal person to have around in 1984 and a lawless village; the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, although like new boy on the locationpub football team is very useful with his feet, the time period and the assassinations of the title have little bearing on the events themselves.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848871236</amazonuk>}}awfully familiar…''

{{newreview|author=David Eagleman|title=Sum: Tales from This collection of thirteen short stories by Richard F Walker has a lot to offer the Afterlives|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=For some reason I find myself unable to start this revieweclectic reader. So I'll mention this book starts with Tying them together is the endidea that remarkable and strange, even miraculous, and see where we go from therethings can happen to ordinary people. Of course, And thatordinary doesn's the key – t mean boring or uninteresting. Form and tone varies so this book does just that – starts with the end little treasury of our human life here on Earth (or wherever short fiction is never boring and you happen to be reading this) and posits forty possibilities of 're never quite sure what happens thereafter, in the hereafter. It's not so much 'Five People You Meet in Heaven' as 'Forty Heavens you Might Meet People In'coming next.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847674283</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=James Lasdun1737030942|title=ItBag O's Beginning To HurtGoodies|author=Jolly Walker Bittick|rating=4.5|genre=Short StoriesAnthologies|summary=ItSometimes, you deserve a treat and mine was Jolly Walker Bittick's Beginning to Hurt is ''Bag O'Goodies''. I first encountered his writing about a collection of sixteen short storiesyear ago, all bound together when I read his [[Cape Henry House by the theme Jolly Walker Bittick|Cape Henry House]], a rollicking tale of hurt in various formswhat happens when five young men find a base for their partying. It is James Lasdun Right now, I didn's third collection t want a full-length novel, so I turned to this anthology of verse and short stories . Bittick's writing has matured - and, chances are, if you are a fan of the short story then you will so have read something by him beforehis characters. Well...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099512327</amazonuk>most of them!

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Andrew Porter1529418100|title=The Theory of Light Bruno's Challenge and MatterOther Dordogne Tales|author=Martin Walker

|summary=Both I'm not usually a fan of short stories - I find it all too easy to put the book cover down between stories and its title are enticing, quirky, eyeforget to pick it up again -catching. Personally, but I'm am a fan of most things American including American fiction, Martin Walker's [[Martin Walker's Commissar Bruno Courreges Mysteries in Chronological Order|Bruno Courreges Mysteries]] so the temptation to read ''Bruno's Challenge'' was hard to resist and I'm rather glad that I couldndidn't wait to start readingeven try. I was not disappointed. Porter introduces us For those new to charactersthe series, many of whom would probably be described as deeply flawed. He shares the darker side of modern-day American life with the reader - which is far from the bright lights of glitzy New York or the sun-drenched beaches of California. You could say there's an excellent introduction that this is will tell you all you need to know about real life. To underline his point, Porterwho's characters are mostly local folks (who and the background to use a favourite American word) shuffling through life as best they canwhy Bruno is in St Denis.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>022408982X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=James KelmanB08NF79QXT|title=If it is Your LifeCherry Blossom Boutique|author=Brooke Adams

|genre=Short StoriesWomen's Fiction|summary=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'If This Is Your Lifes delighted and the two people she's brought with her to the event couldn' t be more pleased. Sonja, her mother, is not so much a collection of short stories as a collection of pieces of creative writingan ex-model and Brazilian: you can see where Liberty got her looks from. Kelman doesnJessica't really do s thirty-four and Liberty's best friend: they'storiesve known each other since university and Liberty adores Jessica'. In nineteen pieces of writing of varying length from just a single page to more lengthy piecess husband, such as the story that gives its title to this collectionCharles and their four-year-old daughter, Kelman writes (mostly) about people on the edge of societyAva. He addresses issues such as class, politics, gender, age and ill health Life would be perfect for Liberty if it wasn't for one thing: she misses having a man in her life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241142423</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Christopher Golden (Editor)B08KKQ85FN|title=Zombie: An Anthology of the Undead|rating=5|genre=Horror|summary=Anyone who enjoys a good horror story and likes zombie films will love this book, which is a collection of nineteen short stories by a variety of authors. I have to admit that I have only heard of one of the authors before - [[:Category:Mike Carey|Mike Carey]], who writes the [[The Naming of the Beasts (Felix Castor) by Mike Carey|Felix Castor]] novels - but I am not an avid reader of the genre and don't doubt that the authors will be known to readers more familiar with it. Despite this unfamiliarity, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories, with just one or two seemingly not up to scratch.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749952539</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewBut Never For Lunch|author=Katie Fforde (Editor) and Sue Moorcroft (Editor)|title=Loves Me, Loves Me NotSandra Aragona|rating=4.5

|summary=What ''If a feast is presented woman approaching the menopause can be likened to a Rottweiler in these forty stories from well-loved and prolific romantic authorslipstick, celebrating an Ambassador nearing retirement resembles a pampered peacock about to be released into the fiftieth anniversary company of the Romantic Novelists' Association. In a Who's Who of the genrecarrion crows or, there are writers from every age group, including one or two who might even have been founder members of more to the RNApoint, back in 1960. My advice is about to sip through discover the stories slowly, rather than gobbling them up quickly real world of bus timetables and suffering from indigestionpaying his own gas bills.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303373</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Stephanie Tillotson|title=Cut on You don't get many better opening sentences than that, do you? We first met His Excellency and The Ambassador's Wife in [[Sorting the BiasPriorities: Ambassadress and Beagle Survive Diplomacy by Sandra Aragona|rating=4.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=If ''Cut on Sorting the Bias'' is in your local bookshop, you will surely Priorities]] and we learned what it was like to be won over moved around countries like accompanying baggage by the feisty coverItalian Government but the time has come for HE to retires and for Sandra Aragona to become The Wife of Former Ambassador... Stories about women They have left The Career and settled in Rome. Well 'settled' rather overstates the situation and their clothes are about identitydog, Beagle, so what better start to a set has no intention of short stories than a fashion statement cover featuring the bags in which said clothes arrive home?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906784132</amazonuk>slowing down any time soon, despite being sixteen and deaf.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Janice GallowayB08CHJLNBS|title=Collected StoriesCapturing Emilia|author=Brooke Adams|rating=53|genre=Short StoriesWomen's Fiction|summary=In this collection, stories are taken from two previous volumesHe's Charles Devereaux, Blood and Where You Find It. The fortythirty-two snap shots of life are mainly of women eight and young girlsa partner at Wickham Jones, struggling with emotionsthe Mayfair letting agents. She's Emilia, sometimes realized and sometimes not. In alltwenty-nine, there seems to be an underlying link of isolation librarian and trutharchivist in the heritage library next door. Emilia has read [[The Secret by Rhonda Byrne|The settings are variedSecret]] but she's moved on from new age books like that, from a visit to the dentist to the place known as homewhich leave you dependent on someone else's philosophies, to something a walk in the eveninglittle deeper. We have Charles is more of a peek into the deepest darkest corners of everyday relationships[[Personal by Lee Child|Jack Reacher]] man himself, but, with loversabove all, partners and most he's shocked that 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 usual type at all ourselves: it's obvious to his friends.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099540398</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=Shirley JacksonMarie O'Regan and Paul Kane (editors)|title=The Lottery and Other StoriesCursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales

|genre=Short StoriesFantasy|summary=Even though it was written over sixty years ago, The Lottery, coming in at fewer than 3Curses. They're there throughout tales of faery and other fantastical folk – people being cursed to do this,500 words still has the power or not to shock. When it first appeared in the The New Yorker in 1948 it caused many outraged readers be able to cancel their subscriptions such was the devastating nature of the storydo that. Time may have lessened sensibilities over Children can be cursed, as can princesses on the latter half verge of the twentieth century marrying, and the beginning of the twenty first but The Lottery, like many of the other stories older people too. It seems in this timely reissue, still packs a mighty punchway there's no escaping it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141191430</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Edgar Allan Poe and Gris Grimly|title=Tales Which is why the theme of Death and Dementia|rating=5|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=Wow! What a wonderful combination: Edgar Allan Poe, master this book of the gothic horror short story, and Gris Grimlystories is such a standout – we may well think we know all there is to know about this accursed character, outstanding illustratorthat demonised place, known for his [[The Dangerous Alphabet by Neil Gaiman and Gris Grimly|work with Neil Gaiman]]that other bewitched person. Poe's We''Tales of Death and Dementia'' are shown off at their d be very best in this editionwrong.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847386474</amazonuk>1789091500

 {{newreview|author=William Bedford|title=None of the Cadillacs was Pink|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=I chose this book because of its superb title – 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 everywhere, not least for the author and his friends, as old ways of living made way for new along the East Coast of England.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904529445</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Clive Cussler (editor) Stibbe_Xmas|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 a treat. If you enjoy them both then it's a treasure trove. ''Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down'' is edited by best-selling author [[:Category:Clive Cussler|Clive Cussler]] (although none of his work is included) and includes work by some authors who are the top of their game. There are twenty three stories in all, each about twenty pages long and they're perfect for those moments when you just want to dip into something short and satisfying.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303209</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewAn Almost Perfect Christmas|author=Will Eisner |title=Minor MiraclesNina 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 58the simplicity, naivety and sheer 'goodness' that would later produce flowerpot men or teletubbies. Here are five previously published stories collected into one new editionSimple drawings, a companion volume to her short simple stories, published in 2008simple goodness. I don't think you'll What is often forgotten outside of her native Finland is that she was a serious writer…that she wrote for adults as well as children…and that she had a feeling for the natural world and the simple life that not only informed those child-like trolls but went far beyond any fantasy of how the world might be disappointed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971373</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kazuo Ishiguro 1911115847|title=Nocturnes: Five Stories Nights of Music and Nightfall |rating=3.5|genre=Short Stories|summary=A jobbing guitarist from an Eastern European country, playing in Venice, is given a most singular gig by an ageing, passing crooner. An old friend of a couple at loggerheads stays in their flat, but enters a nightmare 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 not-very illustrious career.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>057124498X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewCreaking Bed|author=Aleksandar Hemon |title=Love and ObstaclesToni 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 |rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=In his introduction, Stross explains that one of the reasons he likes writing shorts stories is because they are the ideal format in which to focus on a particular concept of the future and play around with it. It doesn't matter 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 novel. ''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 archaic.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841497711</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Oxfam|title=Ox-Tales: AirTed Chiang|rating=3.5|genre=Short StoriesScience Fiction|summary=Four books of short stories each taking (rather loosely on occasions) as a theme one of Over the elements: [[Oxpast twenty-Tales: Earth by Oxfam|Earth]]eight years, [[Ox-Tales: Fire by Oxfam|Fire]]Ted Chiang has published fifteen science fiction short stories, [[Oxthese magnificent stories have won twenty-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, seven major science fiction awards so if you are a science fiction fan it is likely that you have given their work for free and at least 50p from the sale already come across some 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>}} {{newreview|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 writersTed Chiang. The framework for the books is provided by the four elements of the classical philosophyIf you haven't then take this opportunity to do so now. 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)Trust me; your imagination will be grateful.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846682584</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Irvine Welsh 1794467440|title=Reheated CabbageWatchwords |author=Philip Neal

|summary=Irvine Welsh's choice of title for this This satisfying 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 has a provenance at least as beguiling as a shock. His fans though, will no doubt lap it up.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224080555</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Oxfam |title=Ox-Tales: Fire|rating=4|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 provenance 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 (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 footnote in British literature. His fame rests largely on having contributed to, and helped to inspire, young girl called Alice down the rabbit hole a couple of Sherlock Holmes stories – andfew years ago, if you believe when the conspiracy theorists, having been bumped off first book she was in [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (150th Anniversary Edition) by Conan Doyle for threatening to claim authorship Lewis Carroll and Anthony Browne|hit 150 years of one of them and denounce Doyle as a fraud. (Donage]], I found that I didn't go there).|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904312527</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Hreally find too much favour with it. G. Wells, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle |title=Graphic ClassicsThe wacky-for-the-sake-of-it did not gel, Volume 17: Science Fiction Classics|rating=4|genre=Graphic Novels|summary=So, an introductionand I don't remember loving it more as a child. The Graphic Classics collection is a series whereby But I would suggest I am the best in genre fiction, from sources both highly likely and remarkably unexpected, is collected and dressed up perfect audience for us in graphic novel formthis book. This seventeenth edition, I had every chance to enjoy these short stories that come at the core from a belated best-of sci-fi volumetangent, is their first foray into full colour, and is headlined by a version of The War that show the benefits of the Worldsoblique glance. The supporting material ranges from a one-page strip I've always preferred coming to thirty-page stories.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0978791975</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|an author=Edgar Allen Poe, Various, Dan Whitehead (Editor) |title=Eye Classics: Nevermore - A Graphic Novel Anthology of Edgar Allan Poe's Short Stories|rating=4|genre=Graphic Novels |summary=Sooutput through their least obvious, if I were to mention someone who was born 200 years ago this seasonallegedly throw-away pieces, and who changed it's the world same with their writingfranchises – I'd more likely go for Bree Tanner's short novella than the whole Twilight saga (although that remains just a hunch, who would you think of first? Charles Darwin, probablyfor obvious reasons). But those of a slightly different bent might just have mentioned someone else - someone at the forefront of all things arcaneFor another thing, horrific and thrilling when it comes to fiction. Someone who lost his birth and foster mother both to tuberculosis before he there was ever twenty. Someone who had most unusual circumstances surrounding his death, every reason to best Agatha Christie vanishing for a whileexpect some kind of greatness here – with Carroll much loved by millions, and most of the detectives surely pieces written with that love in the fiction he helped inspire. Someone called Edgar Allan Poe.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0955285682</amazonuk>mind could only provide for success after success?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary-Ann Constantine1846974658|title=The BreathingLong Path To Wisdom|author=Jan-Philipp 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 FantasyHell's Unveiling|author=Laura Solomon|rating=43.5

|summary=A little while ago Ireally enjoyed [[Marsha's Deal by Laura Solomon|Marsha's Deal]] and I was delighted by the opportunity to read the sequel, ''Hell's Unveiling''m always in two minds about short story collections. On the one hand it It's a bit probably not much of a risk – there could be one or two really good stories and a load of rubbish. Butspoiler to say that Marsha bested the devil in ''Marsha's Deal'', but the great thing about them devil is they can introduce you not one to writers you might never have read otherwisetake defeat lying down. While you probably wouldn He't be prepared s out to invest time wage war on Planet Earth and money into particularly on Marsha (who's thought of as a book you aren't sure yougoody two shoes'll likein Hell). Although a strong person, spending half an hour or so reading she's vulnerable where her foster children are concerned. Daniel is framed for a short story woncrime he didn't leave you feeling too robbed if you doncommit 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's evil ends. He't enjoy its out to prey on their fears and weaknesses and as with many foster children, their self-esteem is very fragile. This is no small-scale operation, either - the devil has set up a training complex on earth, complete with an elevator to Hell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747589542</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Tobias Wolff|title=Our Story Begins|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=Tobias Wolff's short stories offer few easy solutions. His troubled characters face choices they are ill-equipped Move to make. You do not go to Wolff for a satisfying, tidy tale, neatly wrapped, or for an entertaining twist.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747597278</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kay Green|title=Jung's People|rating=4|genre=Short Stories|summary=These short stories offer fantasy, sci-fi, historical and contemporary angles on human personality. Kay Green used Jung's writing on dreams to delve into her own subconscious and has come up with an eclectic mix of stories. A crisp commentator's voice observes life through different lenses and perspectives. I often felt that I was trapped in a nest of boxes with the characters, not quite sure which way was out. My interest hooked, I delved into the fifteen stories and enjoyed their surprising twists and multiple layers as characters discover their tragic destiny within whatever happens to be the chance setting of their lives. 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 Knockemstiff, 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, who took random pictures and could not believe the town was for real: so poor, so lost, so abandoned. Come to think of it, the people of Knockemstiff would be more than happy to leave the place themselves. 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's Cradle'', ''Slaughterhouse 5''. There was something about his style, and especially about the things he had to say, that was refreshing [[Newest Spirituality and new. But he began to go off the boil, or fell out of style, and I stopped reading his books around about the time I stopped buying Crosby, Stills and Nash LPs. For me, ''Breakfast of Champions'' was both the last decent book he wrote, and the first of the stream of below-par books that followed. I just checked my bookcase – ''Slapstick'' in 1976 was the last Vonnegut book I bought, and the ancient bookmark stuffed midway through shows I never managed to finish it. And I had problems trying to finish his 'new' collection, too.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224085395</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Gerard Woodward |title=Caravan Thieves |rating=3|genre=Short Stories|summary=Gerard Woodward is a much short-listed novelist & poet: the Whitbread First Novel Award (2001), Man Booker Prize (2004), T S Eliot Prize (2005). If it hasn't been already, I can well see this collection being equally short-listed for whatever the 'short-story' equivalent is. (Is there even a major prize for short stories?)|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701177608</amazonuk>}}Religion Reviews]]