Anthologies & Short Stories

Book SynopsisFollowing on from the 1950s collection, this is the second collection of Brian Aldiss’ short stories, taken from the 1960s. A must-have for collectors. Part three of four.Trade Review‘Aldiss is a magician’ Sunday Times‘The titan of science fiction.’ Telegraph ‘Brian Aldiss is one of the most influential – and one of the best – SF writers Britain has ever produced.’ Iain M Banks ‘The best contemporary writer of science fiction.’ Guardian ‘One of the truly prophetic figures of the space age… the colossus of science fiction’New Yorker ‘Once again he demonstrates the power of his imagination.’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisA collection of rare ghosts and horror stories by the brothers of one of the finest writers of the genre, E. F. Benson.The Benson brothers Arthur Christopher, Edward Frederic and Robert Hugh were one of the most extraordinary and prolific literary families, between them writing more than 150 books. Arthur alone left four million words of diary, although his most lasting legacy is the words to Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory, while Fred is acknowledged as one of the finest writers of Edwardian supernatural fiction: the name E. F. Benson is mentioned in the same breath as other greats such as M. R. James and H. R. Wakefield.In fact, all three brothers wrote ghost stories, although the work of Arthur and Hugh in this field has long been overshadowed by their brother's success. Now the best supernatural tales of A. C. and R. H. Benson have been gathered into one volume by anthologist Hugh Lamb, whose introduction examines the lives and writings of these two complex and fascinating men. OrTrade Review‘If you have read the ghost stories of M.R. James, you will already be familiar with the basic formula used to construct these stories … the language of these shows the influence of the fantasies of William Morris and George Macdonald.’ Amazon reviews

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Book Synopsis16 modern fiction superstars shine a startling light on the romance and pain of the infamous literary pair Heathcliff and Cathy.Short stories to stir the heart and awaken vital conversation about love.Sixteen stories inspired by Wuthering Heights.In Terminus' a young woman hides in an empty Brighton hotel; in Thicker Than Blood' a man sits in a hot tub stalking his newly-married love on social media; and in A bird half-eaten' an amateur boxer prepares for a match.A woman recalls the Heathcliffs I Have Known' and the physical danger she has borne at their hands; in Anima' a child and a fox are unified in one startling moment of violence; and in One Letter Different' two teenagers walk the moors and face up to their respective buried secrets.Curated by Kate Mosse and commissioned for Emily Brontë's bicentenary year in 2018, these fresh, modern stories pulse with the raw beauty and pain of love and are as timely as they are illuminating.The full list of contributors is:Leila Aboulela, HanTrade Review‘Inspired by Wuthering Heights, these tales of toxic relationships, an entirely disturbing episode of stalking and necrophilia, blighted lives and bleak landscapes reveal that contemporary responses to Emily Bronte’s endlessly controversial classic can be equally stark, cruel and shocking’ Daily Mail ‘Visceral writing that lays bare the savagery of Heathcliff’ Financial Times ‘Tales of toxic relationships, a hungry, howling, anorexic ghost, drug addled lovers and blighted lives and landscapes … But there are surprises in store, too. Crime writer Sophie Hannah delivers a high school musical murder mystery while Louisa Young’s Heathcliffs I Have Known is a furious, funny, riotous rant on the role of this supposedly romantic hero’ Sunday Express S Magazine ‘In the wonderful, wistful One Letter Different by Joanna Cannon, two teenagers head to the moors in silent, secretive communion’ Daily Mail ‘Louisa Young’s furious, funny, righteous rant redresses the ‘romantic’ hero myth as she recites the violent misdemeanours of bad boyfriends in Heathcliffs I Have Known’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisThe first ever story collection from the inimitable Lionel ShriverGenius' StylistPhenomenal' ObserverBrilliant' The TimesIn her first ever story collection, Lionel Shriver illuminates one of the modern age's most enduring obsessions: property.A woman creates a deeply personal wedding present for her best friend; a thirty-something son refuses to leave home; a middle-aged man subjugated by service to his elderly father discovers that the last place you should finally assert yourself is airport security.This landmark publication explores the idea of property in both senses of the word: real estate, and stuff. Immensely readable, it showcases the biting insight that has made Lionel Shriver one of the most acclaimed authors of our time.Trade Review‘Shriver’s intellect and talent, her political convictions and her impressive confidence are all on display … assertive, frequently funny and altogether satisfying … her confident grasp of the material and her natural gifts as a storyteller will keep you in her spell and leave you, at the end, slightly altered … persuasive and richly entertaining’ NEW YORK TIMES ‘Phenomenal… Shriver has the gift for making one instantly curious, entertained, involved and ready to move in – no matter what the property’ OBSERVER ‘Genius’ STYLIST ‘At her best, she takers the familiar and mundane and turns it into something surprising and strange’ SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE ‘All Shriver’s stories are satisfying. I exhaled a little triumphant “Ha!” at the end of each one … Shriver is brilliant’ THE TIMES ‘Shriver remains a formidably sharp writer, one of the best we have’ EVENING STANDARD ‘Shriver is at her best here, an acerbic comedian, Dickensian in style, whose vibrant characters are best seen in dramatic action and dialogue’ FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Whip-smart … Crisp, conversational and convincingly true to life, Shriver’s stories are a treat’ DAILY MAIL ‘A pugnacious, brilliantly articulate, hilarious collection’ i NEWS ‘Shriver is the master of the neat twist’ DAILY EXPRESS

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Book SynopsisHERE BE DRAGONSA unique collection of stories by the greatest fantasy writers working today.Sparking myths and legends from Asia to Europe, Africa to North America, dragons are the most universal and awe-inspiring of magical creatures.Whether they are fearsome, rampaging monsters or benevolent sages with much to teach humanity, dragons bring creation, destruction, and adventure in stories told all around the globe.In this landmark collection, award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan combines nearly thirty never-before-seen short stories and poems, written by modern masters of science fiction and fantasy, and illustrations by acclaimed artist Rovina Cai.Featuring stories from Scott Lynch, R.F. Kuang, Garth Nix, Ken Liu, Kate Elliott, and many more, THE BOOK OF DRAGONS breathes fresh life and fire into the greatest magical beasts of all.Trade ReviewWINNER OF THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST ANTHOLOGY OF THE YEAR ‘A heaping hoard of literary gems that fans of dragon-powered stories will surely treasure’KIRKUS ‘THE BOOK OF DRAGONS seems almost certain to be the most significant fantasy anthology of 2020’LOCUS ‘There is not a single false note among these 29 stories and poems of dragons collected by Strahan … With myriad approaches to its subject, this wide-ranging anthology is a treasure trove of wonder’PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘A colourful assortment of dragons reimagined … Something for everyone and a reader will likely come away hungry for more’STRAITS TIMES

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Book SynopsisNot since Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber have old stories been made to feel so electrically new.Not since Wim Winders' Wings of Desire have the numinous and the everyday been so magically combined.It''s in the nature of myth to be infinitely adaptable.Each of these startlingly original stories is set in modern Britain. Their characters include a people-trafficking gang-master and a prostitute, a migrant worker and a cocksure estate agent, an elderly musician doubly befuddled by dementia and the death of his wife, a pest-controller suspected of paedophilia and a librarian so well-behaved that her parents wonder anxiously whether she'll ever find love.They're ordinary people, preoccupied, as we all are now, by the deficiencies of the health service, by criminal gangs and homelessness, by the pitfalls of dating in the age of #metoo. All of their stories, though, are inspired by ones drawn from Graeco-Roman myth, from the Bible or from folk-lore.The ancients invented myths to express wTrade Review Praise for Fabulous: 'Once you have entered the world of Fabulous, you are unlikely to leave until you're done … there is a magnetic quality to the writing … Hughes-Hallett uses myth to get at the shimmering violence underneath the dowdy trappings of little England' TLS ‘A surprisingly exhilarating collection of ancient stories … retold and refigured for modern times … Lucy Hughes Hallett’s acute eye for appearances and her ear for modern speech make the surface drama compelling. Her greatest achievement is to bring out the underlying tragedies of the workings of fate’ The Tablet ‘Brilliant fantasies that blend the power of the ancient myths with the immediacy of real life’ John Carey, author of William Golding: The Man Who Wrote Lord of the Flies 'Familiar yet strange, its modern characters wittily observed, the narrative charged with emotion. These eight incantatory tales, like the fables they’re based on, enthral’ Tatler ‘Lucy Hughes-Hallett is a wonderfully versatile writer and her enthralling modern reworkings of ancient myths shows her at the absolute top of her game. Hughes-Hallett’s new book is playful and moving, sharply observed and hauntingly mysterious. Fabulous indeed’ Fiona McCarthy, author of Walter Gropius: Visionary Founder of the Bauhaus ‘Fabulous is enchanting. The sort of book you can't stop reading, even though you never want it to end’ Sue Prideaux, author of I Am Dynamite! A Life of Friedrich Nietzsche ‘The writing in Fabulous is fabulous. So is the imagination, the wit and the storytelling. This is such a marvellous book, and with each chapter I became more astonished that ANYONE could know so much about the detritus and edges of our modern life’ Carmen Calil, author of Bad Faith: A History of Family and Fatherland

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Book SynopsisFrom the Queen of Crime, the first time all of her spookiest and most macabre stories have been collected in one volume.Trade Review“It’s tempting to say that Agatha Christie is a genius and let it go at that, but the world’s had plenty of geniuses. Agatha Christie is something special.”— Lawrence Block “Agatha Christie’s books are both wonderful crime novels and studies in contrast and duality, and I adore them still. Underestimate them at your peril.”— Louise Penny “Agatha Christie taught me many important lessons about the inner workings of the mystery novel before it ever occurred to me that I might one day be writing mysteries myself.”— Sue Grafton “Any mystery writer who wants to learn how to plot should spend a few days reading Agatha Christie. She’ll show you everything you want to know.”— Donna Leon “Agatha Christie’s indelibly etched characters have entertained millions across the years and a love of her work has brought together generations of readers—a singular achievement for any author and an inspiration to writers across the literary landscape.”— Jacqueline Winspear

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Book SynopsisThis anthology of rare stories of crime and suspense brings together 18 tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction for the first time in book form, including uncollected stories by Ngaio Marsh and John Dickson Carr. The Golden Age of detective fiction had begun inauspiciously with the publication of E.C. Bentley's schismatic Trent's Last Case in 1913, but it hit its stride in 1920 when both Agatha Christie and Freeman Wills Crofts latterly crowned queen and king of the genre had crime novels published for the first time. They ushered in two decades of exemplary mystery writing, the era of the whodunit, the impossible crime and the locked-room mystery, with stories that have thrilled and baffled generations of readers.This new volume in the Bodies from the Library series features the work of 18 prolific authors who, like Christie and Crofts, saw their popularity soar during the Golden Age. Aside from novels, they all wrote short fiction stories, serials and plays and although moTrade Review‘Tony Medawar triumphs again with this treasure trove of lost Golden Age gems.’—John Curran, author of The Hooded Gunman 'For the third year running it has been an annual treat – almost like the summer version of a Christie for Christmas.' Kate Jackson, author of The Pocket Detective

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Book SynopsisThis annual anthology of rare stories of crime and suspense brings together tales from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction for the first time in book form, including a short novel by Christianna Brand.Mystery stories have been around for centuriesthere are whodunits, whydunits and howdunits, including locked-room puzzles, detective stories without detectives, and crimes with a limited choice of suspects.Countless volumes of such stories have been published, but some are still impossible to find: stories that appeared in a newspaper, magazine or an anthology that has long been out of print; ephemeral works such as plays not aired, staged or screened for decades; and unpublished stories that were absorbed into an author's archive when they died . . .Here for the first time are three never-before-published mysteries by Edmund Crispin, Ngaio Marsh and Leo Bruce, and two pieces written for radio by Gladys Mitchell and H. C. Baileythe latter featuring Reggie Fortune.Together with a newly uneTrade Review‘In this trip down memory lane, familiar names from the golden age, such as Ngaio Marsh, Gladys Mitchell and Edmund Crispin, share the honours with lesser lights claiming their overdue recognition as gifted contributors to classic crime. The centrepiece is a novella by Christianna Brand who, after years of neglect, is now enjoying a revival. Other snappier tales of criminal intent, gathered for the first time in book form, testify to Tony Medawar’s skill as an excavator of lost treasures of crime fiction. This, the fourth in the series of Bodies From The Library, is the best yet.’—Daily Mail 'An annual treat – almost like the summer version of a Christie for Christmas.'—Kate Jackson, author of The Pocket Detective and Cross Examining Crime ‘One of the best mixed anthologies I’ve come across … If you’re already a vintage crime fan, then this is one to grab; and if you’re new to the genre, then you’ll find this a very enjoyable way to introduce yourself to some of the greats. Highly recommended!’—FictionFanBlog

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Book SynopsisFrom ‘one of the greatest writers of our time’ (Toni Morrison) – the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and Barracoon – a collection of remarkable short stories from the Harlem Renaissance With a foreword by Tayari Jones, author of An American MarriageTrade Review‘wickedly funny’ THE OBSERVER NEW REVIEW ‘Published in one gorgeous volume for the first time … [these] stories are fascinating, harrowing and beautifully written’ Stylist ‘this collection reaffirms [Hurston’s] status as a truly visionary writer.’ Vogue UK ‘the rediscovery of [Hurston’s] work has been one of the literary joys of recent decades.’ The Financial Times ‘Illuminating’, ‘every day is a good day to read Zora Neale Hurston’s brilliant writing’ REFINERY29 ‘[A] jewel of the Harlem Renaissance’ New Statesman ‘Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick … helps illuminate Hurston’s path to iconic status’ ‘Add [Hurston’s] matchless powers of observation, exemplary fidelity to idiomatic speech and irresistible engagement with folklore, and the outcome is a collection of value to more than Hurston completists. Any addition to her awe-inspiring oeuvre should be met with open arms.’ New York Times Book Review ‘Fans and scholars of Hurston’s work and the uninitiated alike will find many delights in these complex, thoughtful and wickedly funny portraits of black lives and communities… [this] is a significant testament to the enduring resonance of black women’s writing.’ Washington Post ‘Decades on, this new collection is a powerful reminder of [Zora Neale Hurston’s] lasting resonance.’ Time Magazine ‘Fluid, polymathic voice; what a class act’ Naoise Dolan, author of Exciting Times Praise for Barracoon ‘A searing reminder of how recently American slavery ended, and the depth of the pain it caused’ The Economist ‘A deeply affecting record of an extraordinary life’ Daily Telegraph ‘Barracoon and its long path to print is a testament to Zora’s singular vision amid so many competing pressures that continue to put us at war with ourselves’ Huffington Post

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Book SynopsisAround the world in 22 murdersLONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 CWA SHORT STORY DAGGER AWARD22 hugely engaging and eloquent crime stories from around the world the plots sizzle and evoke a variety of emotions. The Perfect Crime comes with a massive thumbs up from me and marches straight in to sit as a LoveReading Star Book.' LoveReadingMURDERBLACKMAILREVENGEFrom Lagos to Mexico City, Australia to the Caribbean, Toronto to Los Angeles, Darjeeling to rural New Zealand, London to New York twenty-two bestselling crime writers from diverse cultures come together from across the world in a razor sharp and deliciously sinister collection of crime stories.Featuring Oyinkan Braithwaite, Abir Mukherjee, S.A. Cosby, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, J.P. Pomare, Sheena Kamal, Vaseem Khan, Sulari Gentill, Nelson George, Rachel Howzell Hall, John Vercher, Sanjida Kay, Amer Anwar, Henry Chang, Nadine Matheson, Mike Phillips, Ausma Zehanat Khan, Felicia Yap, Thomas King, Imran Mahmood, David Heska Wanbli Weiden and WaltTrade Review‘A truly fabulous and satisfying read’ Lovereading ‘[A] collection of cunning, suspenseful and dark crime stories.’ CBC Radio ‘An absolute delight! The Perfect Crime is the most original, and captivating, short fiction anthology to come along in ages. The diversity of voice, of setting, of sensibility, of approach to storytelling is wondrous! I don't usually say this about compilations, but this book is a one-sitting read.’JEFFERY DEAVER, bestseller author of The Midnight Lock ‘Huge talent, wide horizons, endless fascination – this is the best collection I have seen for ages … maybe ever’LEE CHILD, bestselling author of Better off Dead 'A positive cornucopia of criminal delights'Mike Ripley, ShotsMag ‘This is a wonderful collection of short stories from some of the best crime writers working today.’ STEVE CAVANAGH, no. 1 bestselling author of Thirteen 'A stunning collection of highly original short stories.' M.W. CRAVEN, bestselling author of Dead Ground ‘The Perfect Crime is a nicely curated and wide-ranging collection which brings together a perfect blend of established stars such as Walter Mosley and Mike Phillips and exciting new voices’MARTIN EDWARDS ‘A collection of crime writers from diverse cultural backgrounds, united by the quality of their compelling stories. A hugely welcome and long-overdue anthology.’MARK BILLINGHAM, no. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller ‘The fact that The Perfect Crime is edited by two luminaries of the crime scene (one a newish star and one a respected veteran) has made for an irresistible collection of short fiction. Vaseem Khan and Maxim Jakubowski have assembled 22 bestselling crime writers from diverse cultures around the world, taking readers to every point of the compass in exploring the criminous side of human nature. Sheer pleasure.’ Financial Times

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Book SynopsisChosen as one of the best new book releases' by COSMOPOLITANA best summer read' by ELLE MAGAZINEWhen you look at a woman, who do you see?Every aspect of her body or personality was up for inspection: too big, too small, too available, too hidden, too much, not enough.A wedding day brings back memories of sisterhood and betrayals; a motorway service station is the site of explosive violence, but also strange bonds; a trip home forces a reminder of a life-changing, lost friendship; a woman confronts her own infidelity; an artist celebrates a life spent in observation.This debut collection movingly explores how women and girls are looked at, look at one another, and look at themselves, and how living as an object can shape their passions, fears, and joys. With a clear eye and dark humour, Danielle Pender considers sex, parenting, grief and class as lenses for the ways in which the world watches women and how women are always watching back.Trade Review‘Watching Women and Girls is a searing meditation on the moments that make, and break, us. As canny as they are entertaining, these stories are packed with emotional intelligence, capturing the dark and the light of the female experience in a series of vignettes that every one of us will in some way relate to. I loved it.’CHARLOTTE PHILBY, AUTHOR OF THE SECOND WOMAN Vibrant, intense and darkly comic this is a powerful and thoughtful collection told through closely observed, spellbinding characters that stay with you.’ABIGAIL BERGSTROM, AUTHOR OF WHAT A SHAME ‘A page-flipping joy of a read. Pender is a generous writer and observer of society who incisively captures what it is to be a woman in our times.’CHARLOTTE JANSEN, AUTHOR OF GIRL ON GIRL ‘Smart and astute, funny and wry; a catalogue of the modern conditions of dating, working and being. It encouraged me to pay more attention to the world around me and the secret lives of those in it.’AMELIA ABRAHAM, AUTHOR OF QUEER INTENTIONS ‘To see, be seen and know that you are, always, being watched. That is the experience of being a woman today. This thoughtful, meditative and, at times, absurdly funny collection is a reminder that someone is, always, looking right back.’VICKY SPRATT, AUTHOR OF TENANTS ‘A beautifully written exploration of woman and girlhood, with all of its contradictions and quirks. Danielle is a sharp new talent.’SIRIN KALE Chosen as one of the ‘best new book releases’ by COSMOPOLITAN A ‘best summer read’ by ELLE MAGAZINE

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Book SynopsisOne of the most exciting writers working in Ireland today' SALLY ROONEY, author of Normal PeopleTerrific' RODDY DOYLE, author of LoveTruly brilliant' MEGAN NOLAN, author of Acts of DesperationOn an island off Ireland's west coast strange things are afoot: two teenage boys set fires while their worlds fall apart, a couple drive out to the hills in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, a widow seeks a stranger's help to bury her grief and a horse crashes a house party. Adrift in the treacherous waters of small-town boredom, the residents reach out with love and cruelty, desperation and hope, in their pursuit of connection.Pure Gold is a bitterly funny, surprising and profoundly moving short story collection that crackles with the thrilling energy of a bold new literary voice, John Patrick McHugh.Full of stylish brio' Colin Barrett, author of Young SkinsHilarious, shocking, and disturbingly well-observed' Vanity FairSearing John Patrick McHugh joins an illustrious generation of talTrade Review‘This astonishing collection of stories draws the reader into a world at once familiar and deliciously strange … John Patrick McHugh is one of the most exciting writers working in Ireland today’ Sally Rooney, author of Normal People ‘A remarkable, rare and truly brilliant collection’ Megan Nolan, author of Acts of Desperation ‘Ireland produces writers the way some countries produce footballers, and the latest is John Patrick McHugh’ Sunday Times ‘This is a terrific collection. The stories are dark, funny, honest and engrossing’ Roddy Doyle, author of Love ‘Refreshing and ambitious … stories full of heart and balls and mischief’ Lisa McInerney, author of The Blood Miracles ‘McHugh’s stories are full of stylish brio, headlong with energy, and pulse with real feeling and depth. He is a young writer forging a fresh and intense new path through the landscape of Irish letters’ Colin Barrett, author of Young Skins ‘McHugh writes very tenderly about people, and very vibrantly about place. Pure Gold describes the dull lives of a splendid island, in prose that is always splendid and never dull’ Sara Baume, author of A Line Made By Walking ‘Sharp, savage, feral stories. Pure Gold is utterly engrossing and unafraid. From the broken world of masculinity and prejudice, John Patrick McHugh has wrought a precious, beautiful alchemy’ Sean Hewitt, author of Tongues of Fire ‘Emotionally intelligent and savagely funny … Pure Gold is a striking literary debut’ Nicole Flattery, author of Show Them A Good Time ‘John Patrick McHugh is a wildly ambitious craftsman, and such a thrilling writer of sentences’ Danny Denton, author of The Earlie King & the Kid in Yellow

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Book SynopsisWelcome to planet Earth, where wonderful things are happening. They're not always easy to find, but we're here to help you discover how.* ex-military bases in Germany have been transformed into wildlife sanctuaries* a start-up in the Philippines has created pencils that can be planted after use* drones are being used to fight deforestation in Brazil* a cheerleading squad in Japan is smashing stereotypes in sequinsSo, make yourself comfortable, disconnect from your device and allow yourself a few minutes every night to dip into these tales of hope, and wake up feeling energised and inspired to take on the world anew.

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Book SynopsisJRR Tolkien's legacy of short stories which inhabit the realm of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, on CD for the first time.Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring, and provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background and new stories from the twentieth century's most acclaimed popular author.The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth and comprises such elements as Gandalf's lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End, the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand, and an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan.Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Numenor before its downfall, and all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards, the Palantiri and the legend of Amroth. Trade Review‘Moments of mythic grandeur’Sunday Times ‘Another monument to the incredible imagination of Tolkien’Sunday Telegraph

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Book SynopsisIn The Memory Librarian music, fashion, film and futurist icon Janelle Monáe returns to the Afrofuturistic world of her critically acclaimed album, Dirty Computer, to explore how different threads of liberation – queerness, race, gender plurality, love – become tangled in a totalitarian landscape… and to discover costs of unravelling them.Trade Review‘THE MEMORY LIBRARIAN might not be the answer to the social and political upsets of our time, but it is an answer, and a fiercely inspiring one: a deepening of Afrofuturism’s potential to weaponize our dreams for a freer, more joyous world.”WIRED ‘Each story in this collection is a searing but ultimately hopeful glimpse into how marginalized groups can hope and create in a world set against them’BUZZFEED ‘A reminder for those who’ve ever been told they don’t fit in that there’s a world beyond this harsh one’WASHINGTON POST “A poignant commentary on the power of technology, the preservation of queer identity, and the commodification of time’USA TODAY ‘Blistering, hopeful, and richly written. . . All readers will finish the book craving more’BOOKLIST (starred review) ‘A moving, triumphant collection…This is a knockout’PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) ‘Highly recommended for readers of conspiracy and thought-control sf or of Afrofuturist works by the likes of Octavia Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, N.K. Jemisin, and Nnedi Okorafor’LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review) ‘A celebration of queer and Afrofuturist science fiction saluting creativity in difference’KIRKUS ‘This one is sure to leave an impression’BUST MAGAZINE ‘A glorious representation and celebration of a spectrum of sexuality and gender, each written with pure empathy’TOR.COM ‘A vivid, visceral text with as much of a hook as the album the stories were inspired by’LOCUS ‘It confirms Monáe’s incredible power of imagination and creativity whatever medium she’s working in, and the ability and talent of her co-writers in bringing her vision alive on the page’FANTASY HIVE

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Book SynopsisIn The Memory Librarian music, fashion, film and futurist icon Janelle Monáe returns to the Afrofuturistic world of her critically acclaimed album, Dirty Computer, to explore how different threads of liberation queerness, race, gender plurality, love become tangled in a totalitarian landscape and to discover costs of unravelling them.Whoever controls our memories controls the future.Janelle Monáe and an incredible array of talented collaborating creators have written a collection of tales comprising the bold vision and powerful themes that have made Monáe such a compelling and celebrated storyteller.Dirty Computer introduced a world in which thoughts as a means of self-conception could be controlled or erased by a select few. And whether human, A.I., or other, your life and sentience was dictated by those who'd convinced themselves they had the right to decide your fate.That was until Jane 57821 decided to remember and break free.Expanding from that mythos, these stories fully explTrade Review‘Each story in this collection is a searing but ultimately hopeful glimpse into how marginalized groups can hope and create in a world set against them’BUZZFEED ‘A reminder for those who’ve ever been told they don’t fit in that there’s a world beyond this harsh one’WASHINGTON POST “A poignant commentary on the power of technology, the preservation of queer identity, and the commodification of time’USA TODAY ‘THE MEMORY LIBRARIAN might not be the answer to the social and political upsets of our time, but it is an answer, and a fiercely inspiring one: a deepening of Afrofuturism’s potential to weaponize our dreams for a freer, more joyous world.”WIRED ‘Blistering, hopeful, and richly written. . . All readers will finish the book craving more’BOOKLIST (starred review) ‘A moving, triumphant collection…This is a knockout’PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) ‘Highly recommended for readers of conspiracy and thought-control sf or of Afrofuturist works by the likes of Octavia Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, N.K. Jemisin, and Nnedi Okorafor’LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review) ‘A celebration of queer and Afrofuturist science fiction saluting creativity in difference’KIRKUS ‘This one is sure to leave an impression’BUST MAGAZINE ‘A glorious representation and celebration of a spectrum of sexuality and gender, each written with pure empathy’TOR.COM ‘A vivid, visceral text with as much of a hook as the album the stories were inspired by’LOCUS ‘It confirms Monáe’s incredible power of imagination and creativity whatever medium she’s working in, and the ability and talent of her co-writers in bringing her vision alive on the page’FANTASY HIVE

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Book SynopsisClassic crime fiction''s ''Indiana Jones'' Tony Medawar unearths more unpublished and uncollected stories from the Golden Age of suspense, including John Bude, John Dickson Carr, Dorothy L. Sayers and Julian Symons.Five books in, and the selection here might well be the strongest yet. This series continues to delight with the high standard of forgotten gems that Medawar uncovers, and there's sufficient range to ensure that all fans of the genre will find something to enjoy. Book 6 can't come soon enough.'Jim Noy, author of The Red Death MurdersThe end of the First World War saw the rise of an insatiable public appetite for clever and thrilling mystery fiction and a new kind of hero the modern crime writer. As the genre soared in popularity, so did the inventiveness of its best authors, ushering in a Golden Age of detective fiction two decades of exemplary mystery writing: the era of the whodunit, the impossible crime and the locked-room mystery, with stories that have thrilled and baTrade Review‘An annual treat – almost like the summer version of a Christie for Christmas.’—Kate Jackson, author of The Pocket Detective and Cross Examining Crime ‘One of the best mixed anthologies I’ve come across … If you’re already a vintage crime fan, then this is one to grab; and if you’re new to the genre, then you’ll find this a very enjoyable way to introduce yourself to some of the greats. Highly recommended!’—FictionFanBlog ‘A veritable treasure trove of classic short stories’—Daily Mail ‘Tony Medawar triumphs again with this treasure trove of lost Golden Age gems.’—John Curran, author of The Hooded Gunman ‘In bringing to public awareness some of the forgotten, neglected, or simply unknown stories that the great and the good of the form produced, these collections have become a source of great excitement, and a must-read for even the most ardent student of the Golden Age.’—The Invisible Event

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Book SynopsisMoving and vital' i NEWSA beautiful book' EVENING STANDARDDeserves to be read by as wide an audience as possible' DAILY MIRRORHow do we give a voice to those who so often remain unheard? Will You Read This, Please? is a frank and impactful collection of twelve stories written in conjunction with our best British writers, including Tracy Chevalier and Clare Mackintosh, based on the lived experience of people who have faced mental illness in the UK.Edited by Sunday Times bestselling author Joanna Cannon, the stories told here are powerful, resonant and heart-breaking. This is a ground-breaking and unforgettable collection, shining a light on the stigma and isolation of living with mental illness, while also showing the strength and resilience of the human spirit.Trade Review‘Moving and vital’ i NEWS ‘A beautiful book’ EVENING STANDARD ‘Cannon’s varied selection vividly portrays how our minds can become locked-in worlds of anguish, terror and distress […] We learn how hard, and how long, the road to recovery can be’ TLS ‘Cannon’s book is a labour of love and deserves to be read by as wide an audience as possible’ DAILY MIRROR ‘Powerful and important. I recommend it to everyone’ ALICE HOPKINS, BBC RADIO OXFORD ‘I’ve been recommending it to everyone’ RAY D’ARCY ‘Amazing and powerful… I hope this book will inspire more people with lived experience of mental distress to write their own stories; and inspire professionals to listen better’ DR GWEN ADSHEAD READER REVIEWS ARE IN ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Enlightening and heartbreaking’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Powerful and insightful’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A bold idea, sensitively executed… [this is] an important book that I hope can play a part in shifting assumptions and, hopefully, encouraging empathy’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Heartbreaking, horrific and eye-opening… Please read this book, it may help you to understand a little about one other person you know’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I am in awe of the open and honest accounts given by the people in this book… Thank you’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Heart-breaking and hopeful, written with such kindness and beauty. A must read for anyone wanting to better understand mental illness’

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Book SynopsisBodies from the Library brings into the daylight the forgotten, the lost and the unknown, and the 2023 volume is another indispensable collection for any bookshelf.The sixth volume of Bodies from the Library includes the usual eclectic mix of pre- and post-war stories by classic crime and thriller writers. Unearthed from ephemeral publications, newspapers and magazines, some of these lost' stories are by authors who have appeared in previous volumes, with others who are new to the series:We welcome back to the Library familiar Golden Age detective writers in the form of stories by Christianna Brand, Alice Campbell, Joseph Commings and Cyril Hare, a previously unknown novella by Anthony Gilbert, a short novel by Margery Allingham, and a hitherto unpublished Detection Club radio play by John Rhode.We also welcome for the first time George Bellairs, Victor Whitechurch and Andrew Garve, with E. C. Bentley's Greedy Night' providing a humorous parody of Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey, before five thriller writers including Geoffrey Household and Dennis Wheatley round off the collection with an unusual and exciting round-robin novella.And, whether this is your first encounter with Bodies or a return to the Library, we welcome you, the reader. Complete with revealing biographies of all 16 featured authors by Tony Medawar, we hope you will find this to be an indispensable collection for your bookshelf.Trade Review‘The tales are chosen with care, and the series has become essential to anyone interested in Golden Age crime.’ Christopher Fowler ‘An annual treat – almost like the summer version of a Christie for Christmas.’—Kate Jackson, author of The Pocket Detective and Cross Examining Crime ‘One of the best mixed anthologies I’ve come across … If you’re already a vintage crime fan, then this is one to grab; and if you’re new to the genre, then you’ll find this a very enjoyable way to introduce yourself to some of the greats. Highly recommended!’—FictionFanBlog ‘A veritable treasure trove of classic short stories’—Daily Mail ‘Tony Medawar triumphs again with this treasure trove of lost Golden Age gems.’—John Curran, author of The Hooded Gunman ‘In bringing to public awareness some of the forgotten, neglected, or simply unknown stories that the great and the good of the form produced, these collections have become a source of great excitement, and a must-read for even the most ardent student of the Golden Age.’—The Invisible Event

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Book SynopsisThe complete collection of published short stories of Edmund Crispin, together in one volume for the first time.Trade Review‘A terrific book. If you haven't read Crispin before, and in particular if you're a fan of short stories, you're in for a treat.’ MARTIN EDWARDS ‘The ideal bedside book: read for ten minutes, go to sleep with a smile and a shiver—thanks to the immense wit and effortless storytelling knack of Edmund Crispin.’ Kirkus Reviews ‘The neatest dirty tricks since Poirot packed it in … The least of these fables are expert; the best gleam with an effortless wit and cheeriness.’ Philadelphia Inquirer ‘His books are full of high spirits and excellent jokes, with constant literary allusions and an atmosphere of bibulous good humour. But at times the mood turns darker, and Crispin is capable of passages of both genuine suspense and ingenious deduction.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Crispin is noted for an ability to embellish clever story lines with Marx Brothers touches.’ New York Times ‘Rightly elevated to classic status.’ New York Sun

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Book SynopsisThe wonderful story collection from the author of Standard DeviationHeiny''s work does something magical: gives women''s interior lives the gravity they so richly deserve and makes you laugh along the way' Lena DunhamLike Cheever mixed with Ephron' New York TimesSimply wonderful, I savoured every page' GuardianMaya's dog is dying, and she is planning to leave her boyfriend. On the whole she feels worse about the dog.Nina thought it might be difficult to summon the moral fortitude to have an extramarital affair with a Presbyterian minister living above the garbage, but she discovers that almost anything is possible.A teenager finds an affair with her history teacher too sealed off from the rest of her life, like the last slice of cake under a glass dome.These women are best friends, roommates and mistresses. They tipple and titillate, fantasize and fumble, worry and wander. They make poor choices in men and children's magicians and wise choices in what to wear to meet their lovers' wiveTrade Review‘Adulterers, platonic roommates, and suburban neurotics have never been more relatable’ US Vogue ‘A wry, bittersweet debut … like Cheever mixed with Ephron’ New York Times Book Review ‘Lorrie Moore’s influence is palpable … these enjoyable stories mark the arrival of an accomplished voice.’ Independent ‘No matter how good you imagine it is, it's better’ Glamour US ‘The stories, which read like Woody Allen meets Candace Bushnell, can be fascinatingly sleazy. But they are always funny’ Daily Mail ‘The buzziest book of 2015 … This whip-smart collection about women wrapped up in all kinds of love affairs will have you laughing out loud’ Entertainment Weekly ‘A book about heartache, adultery, love, and loss that somehow manages to be both laugh-out-loud funny and wise, sometimes in the very same sentence … This book is amazing, brilliant, and nothing short of wonderful’ Jennifer Close, author of Girls in White Dresses and The Smart One ‘Heiny’s smart and stylishly-written stories are a delight. The women who populate this book are wonderfully human and relatable, both hapless and full of heart’ Adelle Waldman, author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P ‘Exquisitely-composed stories (all featuring women in various states of love), Heiny’s book takes a disarming and wry look at the inherent nature of betrayal and secrets within relationships’ Elle UK ‘Heiny explores sex, relationships and the internal lives of young women in this charmingly candid collection … Following their stories is like sitting at a dive bar tossing back deceptively pretty, surprisingly strong drinks with a pal who may not always make the best decisions but always comes away with the most colourful tales’ Kirkus ‘Writerly seduction … heart-rending’ Janet Maslin, New York Times ‘Fizzingly funny short stories’ Lucy Hughes-Hallett, Observer

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Book SynopsisOates's imagination is as unique, dystopian and vivid as Lewis Carroll's' ROSE TREMAIN''A master storyteller'' THE TIMES''Electric'' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWZero-sum games are played for lethal stakes in these arresting stories by one of America's most acclaimed writers.A brilliant young philosophy student bent on seducing her famous philosopher-mentor finds herself outmaneuvered; diabolically clever high school girls wreak a particularly apt sort of vengeance on sexual predators in their community; a woman stalked by a would-be killer may be confiding in the wrong former lover; a young woman is morbidly obsessed by her unfamiliar new role as mother. In the collection's longest story, a much-praised cutting-edge writer cruelly experiments with drafts of his own suicide.In these powerfully wrought stories that hold a mirror up to our time, Joyce Carol Oates has created a world of erotic obsession, thwarted idealism, and ever-shifting identities. Provocative and stunning, Zero-Sum reinTrade Review‘Zero-Sum is brilliant – bloodied, breathless, weird’ A. K. Blakemore, author of The Manningtree Witches ‘A genuine, sharp chronicler of our times, with a remarkable ability to sway from keen modernity to complete Gothic’ Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl ‘A writer of extraordinary strengths’ Guardian ‘American’s pre-eminent fiction writer’ New Yorker

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Book SynopsisA charming new paperback edition of one of J.R.R. Tolkien's major pieces of short fiction, and his only finished work dating from after the publication of The Lord of the Rings.

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Book SynopsisEvery day, children the world over sing, shout, and celebrate Mother Goose rhymes. And now there''s a new reason to cheer: Nina Crews has added her own remarkable, jazzy style of illustration to a collection of forty-one favorite verses. Whether it''s Jack jumping over a candlestick (atop a cupcake), Georgie Porgie kissing the girls (at the playground), or a fine lady riding a white horse (on the carousel), this exuberant treasury is sure to be read and enjoyed over and over again.

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Book Synopsis“A breath of fresh air . . . the vision is deeply imagined, very complete and controlled . . . Gibson is truly brilliant.”—Washington Times magazine From a true master of science fiction comes a collection of short stories that show how, no matter the length, Gibson is one of the greatest writers working today.Known for his seminal science fiction novel Neuromancer, and for the acclaimed books Pattern Recognition, The Peripheral, and Agency, William Gibson is actually best when writing short fiction. Tautly written and suspenseful, Burning Chrome collects 10 short stories, including some written with Bruce Sterling, John Shirley, and Michael Swanwick, and with a preface from Bruce Sterling, now available for the first time in trade paperback. These brilliant, high-resolution stories show Gibson’s characters and intensely realized worlds at their absolute be

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Book Synopsis“Breathtaking. . .chillingly beautiful, like postcards from Eden. . .Van Booy’s stories are somehow like paintings the characters walk out of, and keep walking.” — Los Angeles TimesA newly packaged re-issue of Simon Van Booy’s critically acclaimed debut collection, THE SECRET LIVES OF PEOPLE IN LOVE.In The Secret Lives of People in Love, Simon Van Booy explores the sway of fate and power of memory on the lives of lonely and vulnerable people. With the same spare, economical prose that he brought to his subsequent collection, Love Begins in Winter, winner of the 2009 Frank O’Connor Short Story Award, Van Booy creates a profoundly humane and somber resonance with the assured hand of “a first-rate storyteller” (Newsday). The Secret Lives of People in Love announces the arrival of a major voice in fiction.

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Book SynopsisWhile T.C. Boyle is known as one of our greatest American novelists, he is also an acknowledged master of the short story and is perhaps at his funniest, his most moving, and his most surprising in the short form. In The Relive Box, Boyle''s sharp wit and rich imagination combine with a penetrating social consciousness to produce raucous, poignant, and expansive short stories defined by an inimitable voice. From the collection''s title story, featuring a Halcom X1520 Relive Box that allows users to experience anew almost any moment from their past to The Five-Pound Burrito, the tale of a man aiming to build the biggest burrito in town, the twelve stories in this collection speak to the humor, the pathos, and the struggle that is part of being human while relishing the whimsy of wordplay and the power of a story well told. In stories that span a variety of styles and genres, Boyle addresses the enduring concerns of the human mind and heart while taking on timely social concerns. The Relive Box is an exuberant, linguistically dazzling effort from a vibrant sensibility fully engaged with American society. (The New York Times)

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