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A thought-provoking collection of contemporary short stories from the winner of the Arthur C. Clarke award 2013.
Chris Beckett's thought-provoking and wide-ranging collection of contemporary short stories is a joy to read, rich in detail and texture. From stories about first love, to a man who discovers a labyrinth beneath his house, to an angel left alone at the end of the universe, Beckett displays both incredible range and extraordinary subtlety as a writer. Every story is a world unto itself - each one beautifully realized and brilliantly imagined.
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published January 3rd 2018 by Atlantic Books
Fiction Short story
For review
My thoughts:
I do not know how to review this one. There are 21 one short stories spanned over 300 pages. Do the math. Maybe just review one here and there then. That I will do. Here are the best ones in the entire collection.
Cellar
What was up with this cellar? I need more info! How can there be a bottomless cellar?
The end of time
WOW. This one made me feel really really alone. Was it really worth it man?
Lake
Weird....he is really good at these short ones.
The Kite
How we miss things when they are gone. Is this a collection about loneliness? No happy ones so far.
The Steps
This one was good and about something horrible. That poor child...
Rage
Good point at the end, good point. And a sad one
Ooze
A creepy sea creature...
The man who swallowed himself
What the h? These are weird and good
Sky
Nice finish, though not a conclusion to that story, I think this one needs an entire book. I really want to know what's going on
So this was just a few of them. There are others dealing with people growing apart, lost chances and just taking a look at a moment in your life. Some are not a good, some are sad, some are weird, all in all making it one interesting collection of short stories. They all work perfectly just as they are, it's like walking by a window, looking in and moving on. You do not need to know what happened before you walked by, you are there now.
Conclusion:
A good and interesting collection
A good and interesting collection
wow that's a lot of short stories
ReplyDeleteOh yes
DeleteSounds like an interesting concept. I'm not personally a fan of short stories, but glad you enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDeleteThey really do worj
DeleteLooks like a really good collection thanks for sharing some of your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to write a review for something like this. I laughed at the one where the guy swallowed himself. Ha! Sounds like an interesting collection of stories.
ReplyDeleteThat one was freaky!
Deleteo.o that is why I have a hard time reviewing short stories myself
ReplyDeleteIncredible the range of thoughts in these short stories. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI like your comments at the end about what a short story is like. They are slightly disconcerting ( a short story) but when done well they really do work.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of stories in a single book. Sounds like a decent read.
ReplyDeleteOh yes
DeleteAnthologies are so hit or miss anyway - never mind trying to review them. Sounds like an interesting collection though.
ReplyDeleteFor What It's Worth
Here it works better since they are all by him
DeleteSome of these stories sound awesome. It is good you enjoyed them.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteAh, Chris Beckett, I'm still waiting for his new Eden book to be published here. I did see his book America City available at Audible though, thinking of checking it out. Short story collections though, hmm, maybe not.
ReplyDeleteMogsy @ BiblioSanctum
It's not out? For real? I have it to read
DeleteSometimes I'm in the mood for these short snapshot type of stories and even the weird ones. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention.
ReplyDeleteThey do work for those short burst of reading
DeleteSounds pretty good! Cellar and The End of Time both have me REALLY curious...
ReplyDeleteHaha, oh you can not even imagine
DeleteI usually have a tough time reading a lot of stories in one book, but this sounds interesting. Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteRead one here and there
DeleteI'll keep this collection in mind - even though I don't love short stories.
ReplyDeleteI get that, they can be so short you know
DeleteHaha, omg that one was so out there
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Sounds like a collection of randomness. I love your analogy about walking past the window. I'm intrigued.
ReplyDeleteThey were very random
DeleteDefinitely adding this to my list.
ReplyDeleteyay
DeleteThe cover is boring but aesthetically pleasing. I am torn.
ReplyDeleteDang that is a lot of little reads.
ReplyDelete;) hehe oh yes
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