Anthologies & Short Stories

Book Synopsis**Featuring Edgar Allan Poe's short story which inspired The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix**This collection of Poe's work contains some of the most exciting and haunting short stories ever written. They range from the poetic to the mysterious to the darkly comic, yet all possess the genius for the grotesque that defines Poe's writing. They are filled with social outcasts, obsessed with nameless terrors or preoccupied with seemingly unsolvable mysteries. 'The Tell-Tale Heart' and 'The Fall of the House of Usher' are frightening stories, while in the 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' and 'The Mystery of Marie Roget' we find the origins of modern detective fiction. Collectively, these tales represent the best of Edgar Allan Poe's prose work before his premature death in 1849.This beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition of Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination features an afterword by Jonty Claypole.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Daisy Johnson and Kirsty Logan, a gothic short story collection for winter nights from an emerging voice in British literary fiction'The short twisted tales . . . have a laconic elegance that's both chilling and pleasurable' Financial Times'Trust me: you want to read this. It's the queer horror book of your dreams' Kirsty LoganIrresistibly strange and inventive, Parallel Hells is a collection of dark and delightful stories that blends folklore and gothic horror with a contemporary twist. A golem discovers its powers far exceed its Creator's expectations. An ancient creature, who feasts on the shame of modern-day Londoners, struggles to fit in with friends they will long outlive. And an Oxford historian discovers an antique tome that may help her overcome her academic rivals. In this deliciously macabre debut collection, Leon Craig explores queer identity, power, love and the painful complexities of being human in startling new ways. 'A glorious collection of short stories that reads as if Edgar Allan Poe and Shirley Jackson had a little queer baby . . . It is such a fresh and playful approach to storytelling that you cannot help but be totally enamoured with Craig's abilities.' Big IssueTrade ReviewTrust me: you want to read this. It's the queer horror book of your dreams. -- Kirsty LoganThe short, twisted tales collected in Leon Craig's Parallel Hells have a laconic elegance that's both chilling and pleasurable... Angela Carter with a LGBTQI+ filter -- Suzi Feay * Financial Times *Craig's collection dances with horror - the monster is not always who you expect. A book for anyone who likes to play in the dark -- Rowan Hisayo BuchananA glorious collection of short stories that reads as if Edgar Allan Poe and Shirley Jackson had a little queer baby... It is such a fresh and playful approach to storytelling that you cannot help but be totally enamoured with Craig's abilities. * The Big Issue *Both vibrantly contemporary and decadently gothic, the stories in Parallel Hells shimmer with queer power and wicked humour. At times I was reminded of the darkly wondrous work of Ramona Ausubel, Kelly Link, Patrick McGrath or Patrick Suskind -- but Leon Craig has a distinctively Dionysian literary sensibility that is all her own, and I can't wait to read everything she writes! -- Sharlene TeoBy turns dark, sharp, witty and tender, I'm a huge fan of Leon Craig's writing, and the way she reveals the complex dance of beauty and brutality in our innermost, most vulnerable selves. -- Naomi IshiguroImpressive... Read Parallel Hells for a different take on vampires, demons and monsters you never knew existed... Craig's worlds appear effortless * Mslexia *By turns unsettling, funny and fiercely intelligent, Parallel Hells is a queer carnival of monsters and masks. These stories penetrate the surface of their characters' assumed identities to reveal the glittering realities beneath. -- Julia Armfield, author of Our Wives Under the SeaLeon Craig confidently navigates real places and imaginary spaces most of us shy away from and leaves us deliciously teased, unsettled and hungry for more... what really impresses are the virtuoso changes of tone and tempo, and the way narratives flicker between registers - gothic to comedy, folk horror to social embarrassment - with easy confidence and grace * Daily Mail *The most rewarding aspect of Craig's prose is its duality. Her reader never feels too full of one poison or too far from its antidote...Anyone searching for an adventure into the literary underworld need look no further than this queer and compelling collection.' -- Lily KuenzlerThis decadent and distorted collection of queer gothic short stories didn't disappoint. * Brixton Review of Books *Glorious and twisted * Tor.com *'Each of the thirteen stories, never overwritten, always sensuous and atmospheric, packs a brief, intense punch. As in the very best gothic literature, Craig's worlds are primarily not far removed from our own . . . Craig, a deft hand at this most difficult of forms, the short story, writes crisp prose redolent of Angela Carter's, particularly in its visceral, sometimes horrifying physicality. . . Parallel Hells will not disappoint any connoisseur of the gothic in its most fulsome and unapologetic sense. * Literary Review *Arresting and provocative, this strange and dark collection grabbed me by the throat. * Megan Bradbury *A thrilling, dark and sometimes strange collection * Jewish Chronicle *Craig manages to recall the decadence of Carter whilst ensuring their stories never feel like re-treading old ground . . . reworking known figures and tales through the lens of queer identity and desire . . . a staggering array of different atmospheres, settings, and tones. * Horrified Magazine *Craig explores queer identity through a selection of tightly knit gothic tales . . . [A] blend of folklore and legend, repurposed to capture modern anxieties * London Magazine *

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Book SynopsisJane Austen's Emma (1816) tells the story of the coming of age of Emma Woodhouse, "handsome, clever, and rich," who "had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her." Typical for the novel's time, Emma's transition to womanhood is accomplished through courtship—both of those around her and, ultimately, her own. As in other Austen works, education and courtship go hand in hand, and Emma's process of learning to relinquish the power of having her own way is also a process of falling in love. However, in Emma this classic plot is both complicated by and reflective of a collection of contemporary issues, assumptions, and anxieties that highlight just how "political" even the most conventional of courtship plots can be. This Broadview edition includes a critical introduction and an extensive collection of historical documents relating to the composition and reception of the novel, the social implications of England's shift from a rural agrarian to an urban industrial economy, the role of women in provincial society, and the contemporary preoccupation with health and the treatment of illness.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent package of well-edited text and thoughtful introduction, notes and sources. A handsome, clever and rich edition that sets Emma firmly in its social contexts and is ideal for introducing the historical aspects of Austen's classic courtship narrative." - Ashley Tauchert, University of Exeter"With its wide-ranging introduction and informative appendices documenting issues of social class, gypsies and illegitimacy, women's roles, illness, and Jane Austen as an author, Kristin Flieger Samuelian's edition will be highly valued by those who read Emma with an eye to social history. Broadview Austen editions are second to none." - Devoney Looser, University of Missouri, ColumbiaTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionJane Austen: A Brief ChronologyA Note on the TextEmmaAppendix A: The Composition and Reception of the Novel Austen’s Correspondence with John Murray and James Stanier Clarke Austen’s “Plan of a Novel, According to Hints from Various Quarters” Review of Emma by Sir Walter Scott, The Quarterly Review (1815–1816) Critical Notices of Emma (The British Critic, 1816; The Gentleman’s Magazine, 1816) Appendix B: Social Class and Landed Society [Figure] Offchurchbury, Warwickshire, seat of the Knightley family, c. 1818 From Jane Austen, “The History of England” From Edmund Burke, On Taste (1756) From Samuel Richardson, The History of Sir Charles Grandison (1754) Appendix C: The Landless: Gypsies and Bastards From William Cowper, The Task (1785) From “Notices Concerning the Scottish Gypsies,” Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (April 1817) From William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765) Appendix D: Women, Married and Unmarried From William. Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765) From Hannah More, Strictures on the Modern System of Female Education (1799) From the Journals and Letters of Agnes Porter (1791–1811) Appendix E: The Social Meaning of Illness From Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776) From The Gentleman’s Magazine (December 1815) From Thomas Trotter, A View of the Nervous Temperament (1807) Appendix F: The Sale of Human IntellectFrom The Times (4 January 1815)Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisMusic of the Night is a new anthology of original short stories contributed by Crime Writers' Association (CWA) members and edited by Martin Edwards, with music as the connecting theme. The aim, as always, is to produce a book which is representative both of the genre and the membership of the world’s premier crime writing association. The CWA has published anthologies of members’ stories in most years since 1956, with Martin Edwards as editor for over 25 years, during which time the anthologies have yielded many award-winning and nominated stories by writers such as Ian Rankin, Reginald Hill, Lawrence Block, and Edward D. Hoch. Stories by long-standing authors and stellar names sit alongside contributions from relative newcomers, authors from overseas, and members whose work haven’t appeared in a CWA anthology before. Contents List: Abi Silver – Be Prepared Alison Joseph – A Sharp Thorn Andrew Taylor – Wrong Notes Antony M. Brown – The Melody of Murder Art Taylor – Love Me or Leave Me Brian Price – The Scent of an Ending Cath Staincliffe – Mix Tape C. Aird – The Last Green Bottle Chris Simms – Taxi Christine Poulson – Some Other Dracula David Stuart Davies – Violin – CE Dea Parkin – The Sound and the Fury Jason Monaghan – A Vulture Sang in Berkeley Square Kate Ellis – Not a Note L.C. Tyler – His Greatest Hit Leo McNeir – Requiem Martin Edwards – The Crazy Cries of Love Maxim Jakubowski – Waiting for Cornelia Neil Daws – The Watch Room Paul Charles – The Ghosts of Peace Paul Gitsham – No More ‘I Love You’s’ Peter Lovesey – And the Band Played On Ragnar Jónasson – 4x3 Shawn Reilly Simmons – A Death in Four Parts Vaseem Khan – Bombay Blues FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress Trade Review'For more than sixty years, the CWA has done more for British crime writing than any other organisation.' -- Andrew Taylor, award-winning author of The American Boy and recipient of the 2009 CWA Diamond Dagger"A superb collection in a variety of styles which just shows how many different stories some of crime writing’s finest can produce from the simple theme of music and murder. Highly recommended." -- - PromotingCrime

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Book Synopsis'Too good... You should read her and not look away' Anne Enright, Guardian 'The stories are essays, the essays are stories. Even when they are not literally true, they contain the kind of truth that great fiction thrives on' The Times 'Literature's best kept secret' Independent Weaving a complex tapestry drawn from interviews, anecdotes, moments from Beard's own life, and sheer imagination, these extraordinary pieces embody the hospitality of spectacular writing: they are spaces you fall into and are reluctant to leave. From the intimate drama of everyday life - school crushes, dog clinics, divorce - to the terror and excitement of a fox lurking by a campsite or a murderer in your home, Beard flawlessly distils what it means to live deeply as we hurtle through wonder and grief, love and heartbreak. Bringing together pieces from Beard's first collection, The Boys of My Youth, and Festival Days, which was published two decades later, The Collected Works showcases Jo Ann Beard's impressive breadth, quiet brilliance, and timeless prose.Trade ReviewA writer always at the top of her game ... she brings to bear a poet's precision, a novelist's empathy and an essayist's concentrated thought -- Mia Levitin * Irish Times *Violence and death are balanced by hard-won, transcendent joy in Beard's remarkable stories * Spectator *The stories are essays, the essays are stories. Even when they are not literally true, they contain the kind of truth that great fiction thrives on ... the collected works here make me - as a reader - delirious with admiration and - as a writer - furious with envy -- John Self * The Times *Beard has a distinctive, arresting voice, whether she is evoking the frustrations of early childhood, describing desolately beautiful landscapes, or comparing notes with friends about breaking marriages * Sunday Times *As controlled and convincing as art * Times Literary Supplement *Jo Ann Beard's work impresses me no end. Funny without being sitcomish, self-aware without being self-absorbed, scrupulous without being fussy, emotional without being sentimental, pointed without being cruel - I could go on and on with these distinctions, all in Beard's favour, but instead I'll just say that she is a fantastic writer, an Athena born fully formed out of her own painstaking head -- Jeffrey Eugenides, author of The Virgin SuicidesBeard's curiosity and amazement are contagious * Financial Times *Jo Ann Beard is a remarkably modest writer, a kind of literary celebrity ... readers who become fans of her work view it with the kind of amazement associated with human and literal stars -- Mary GaitskillJo Ann Beard is a formidable talent. Her writing is darkly moving, full of audacious narrative surprises, and, at times, unexpectedly - almost unbearably - suspenseful -- Geoff DyerA towering talent ... Perhaps instead of an essayist we should think of her as a poet-naturalist, wedding intuition and observation, and forming from this union something unaccountably yet undeniably real * New York Times Book Review *Brilliant, like nobody else -- Elizabeth McCrackenReading Jo Ann Beard is like setting out on a walk with a curious and intelligent friend who is determined to show you how seemingly unrelated things share a secret kinship -- Adrienne BrodeurGenerous, beautifully observed, compassionate and, at times, genuinely funny -- A L KennedyBeard's power comes from phrasings and insights that aren't just screaming for likes. Few writers are so wise and self-effacing and emotionally honest all in one breath... she effects an intimacy that makes us want to sit on the rug and listen -- Sara Lippmann * Washington Post *[Beard's] books are worth the wait. A master of sensory details, she also writes with humor, melancholy and a love of animals that never borders on saccharine... In her work, even everyday moments gleam with significance -- Michele Filgate * Los Angeles Times *A master of creative nonfiction, Beard explores life's most salient moments through facts that she sometimes fractures -- Amy Sutherland * Boston Globe *Intimate, intelligent, intense - and ultimately comforting * People Magazine *Charged with fine detail... Beard is so good at what she does... In Beard's book, writing works like compound interest, each experience building on the last, which built on the one before -- Ellen Akins * Minneapolis Star-Tribune *This writer has blown my mind. The Boys of My Youth and Cheri feature some of the finest writing I've read in many a moon. Obsessed -- Adelle Stripe, author of Ten Thousand Apologies

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Book SynopsisA haunting collection of short fiction from the bestselling author of The Pallbearers Club, A Head Full of Ghosts, and The Cabin at the End of the World. Paul Tremblay has won widespread acclaim for illuminating the dark horrors of the mind in novels and stories that push the boundaries of storytelling itself. The fifteen pieces in this brilliant collection, The Beast You Are, are all monsters of a kind, ready to loudly (and lovingly) smash through your head and into your heart. In "The Dead Thing," a middle-schooler struggles to deal with the aftermath of her parents' substance addictions and split. One day, her little brother claims he found a shoebox with "the dead thing" inside. He won't show it to her and he won't let the box out of his sight. In "The Last Conversation," a person wakes in a sterile, white room and begins to receive instructions via intercom from a woman named Anne. When they are finally allowed to leave the room to complete a task, what they find is as shocking as it is heartbreaking. The title novella, "The Beast You Are," is a mini epic in which the destinies and secrets of a village, a dog, and a cat are intertwined with a giant monster that returns to wreak havoc every thirty years. A masterpiece of literary horror and psychological suspense, The Beast You Are is a fearlessly imagined collection from one of the most electrifying and innovative writers working today.

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Book SynopsisA collection of prize-winning stories that celebrate life's absurdities and contradictions. This amusing collection of short stories explores a range of complex characters navigating their way through life, including drag queen Roxanne, who is drafted in by the police to help prevent local sex workers from being assaulted; 'cleaning lady' Doreen, who uses company gossip to swindle money out of her bosses; pizza delivery driver Mark, aiming to benefit from the sexual appetites of his wealthier clients; newly qualified pharmacist Anne, trying to battle her way through the tedium of speed dating, and many more. With narratives ranging from the familiar to the downright bizarre, these stories aim to delight and intrigue, acting as a reminder that most seemingly mundane experiences are anything but.

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Book SynopsisWHAT REALLY HAPPENS AT LAST LIGHT? Last Light will give you just enough illumination to see into the wonders and horrors that dwell deep within the darkest shadows. These tales will both entrance and terrify. Scared of the dark? Let Last Light guide you safely through these stories of the paranormal and terror that surrounds us all.

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Book SynopsisSeven modern fairytales from Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link, featuring illustrations by award-winning artist Shaun Tan. Leaving behind the enchanted castles, deep, dark woods and gingerbread cottages of fairytales for airport waiting rooms, alien planets and a cannabis farm run by a team of hospitable cats, White Cat, Black Dog offers a fresh take on the stories that you thought you knew. Here you’ll find stoner students, failing actors and stranded professors questing for love, revenge or even just a sense of purpose. Poised on the edges between magic, modernity and mundanity, this collection will remind you once again of why Kelly Link is incomparable in the realm of short fiction. Don’t stray from the path! Not without Kelly Link as your guide. 'Uncanny brilliance' Sunday Times 'An expert illusionist' New Yorker 'Link is a genius' LA Times 'Thrilling... glittering' Spectator 'A short story sorceress' Washington Post 'Joyful... awe-inspiring' Jessamine Chan 'Contains all the good stuff' Bustle 'Magically transporting' Salon 'Wonderfully told' BuzzFeed 'Liable to linger in your mind' Today 'Enchanting' Publishers Weekly 'Wondrous' Stephen Graham Jones 'This book is sublime' Emma Straub 'Enchanting... unsettling' Kiersten White 'Glorious and bewitching' Clare Beams Tales you live inside' Victor Lavalle 'Luminous... surreal' Kate MascarenhasTrade ReviewA billionaire is a king, a housesitting gig is a portal, and fans of 'Station Eleven,' speculative fiction or simply anyone who needs a brief escape from the hard, cold world will find the prose here magically transporting. Under Link's hand, the stories promise to be wild, wicked and utterly unforgettable. -- Alison Stine * Salon *Kelly Link is the master of the modern fairytale. This collection of short stories is deceptively easy to read – you'll be turning the pages of strange events quickly, but the stories and their strange events are liable to linger in your mind. * Today *Link’s most direct engagement with the fairytales and folk legends that have always inspired her work... as intense, absorbing and weird as the best dreams * The Guardian *Like Angela Carter, Link understands the psychological (and narratological) powers of her raw material, and makes thrilling shapes while also dissecting modern society . . . White Cat, Black Dog marks a glittering new height in the literature of the weird * The Spectator *'MacArthur Genius Grant fellow Kelly Link’s latest collection reworks seven fairy tales... in fantastic modern contexts. Hansel and Gretel must escape a very different sort of hunger on a planet of vampires; a house-sitting gig is the setting for a portal fantasy; and the white cat of the title turns out to run a weed dispensary. There are layovers in airports (familiar) and wealthy fathers sending sons on absurd quests – also familiar, but in a much more bone-deep way in the retellings of such symbolic stories' * LitHub *The maestro fantasist of short fiction brings us more mystical stories – of animals, human and not, and the unattainable desires that make up all our lives. Each story reworks a folk tale, sourced from the Brothers Grimm, Scottish ballads, and beyond, then sprints off in surprising new directions. The collection contains all the good stuff: doppelgängers right and left, puppies that might be foxes, foxes that might be embroidery, and divine swimming sessions in a dinky hotel pool.' * Bustle *Link refashions classic fairy tales, myths, and adventure sagas for contemporary settings in her wondrous collection.... [she] delivers the kind of off-the-cuff oddness her readers expect, and her reworkings take the clockwork of familiar stories and give them bloody, beating hearts... This is enchanting. * Publishers Weekly *Reading Kelly Link makes my heart burst with gladness. Perfect for longtime fans as well as new readers, these seven mischievous, nimble, joyful, wise, awe-inspiring, soul-enriching, positively Linkian fairy tales will make you feel like you’re discovering the power of stories for the very first time and will expand your capacity for enchantment in our jaded world. White Cat, Black Dog is a book I will read, reread, and treasure all my life. -- Jessamine ChanLink has produced a body of work that is formally original and emotionally rich... in her hands, the Grimms’ enchanted animals are still enchanted animals, but straight princes and princesses are fabulous gay men and lesbian professionals, the ominous woods are airports with endless delays or post-apocalyptic landscapes... This is fiction that pulls you swiftly into its world and then holds you completely, lingering like an especially intense dream * Kirkus *Reading Kelly Link is stepping onto a slide that spirals you down into the heart of the kaleidoscope, splashes you into a technicolor fairy tale, and either makes you smile wide enough that you cry, or the other way around. Her storytelling is wondrous and fanciful, full of longing and terror. -- Stephen Graham JonesKelly Link’s stories are spooky and funny, grounded and floating, and, as always, completely her own. There is no mistaking a story by Kelly Link. This book is sublime. -- Emma StraubLink is one of America’s most respected – and original – short story writers... Her latest book contains her updated takes on seven fairy tales, featuring a cast of characters who are all searching for something elusive. * The OC Register *If I could find a way to use every superlative in a never-ending Borges-ian Carter-esque sentence, I would. Kelly Link’s stories are generous with their intellect, wit, humanity, and the hope and dread of what was, of what might be, of what is. White Cat, Black Dog is a marvel -- Paul TremblayKelly Link’s stories wriggle under your skin and take up a permanent home there, and somehow you’re grateful to be infested. An enchanting collection from one of the most astonishingly funny, unsettling, insightful, and brilliant writers of our time -- Kiersten WhiteWith White Cat, Black Dog, Kelly Link puts her sui generis magic to work on the older magic of fairy tales, forging something revelatory. These stories delight and terrify and seem to ask us, Yes, this is the way the world works — haven’t you been paying attention? I am now. What a glorious and bewitching gift this book is. -- Clare BeamsIf Kelly Link writes a book, I am reading that book. White Cat, Black Dog is a glorious book, full of grand journeys across times, lives and realities. These are big stories, tales you dive into, live inside, and come out the other end changed. Kelly Link is the Alice Munro of the fantastic. And we readers are so lucky to have more of her writing in our lives. -- Victor LaValleA luminous and unsettling collection of fables, with flashes of surreal humour -- Kate MascarenhasThe Brothers Grimm meet Black Mirror meets Alice in Wonderland in White Cat, Black Dog. Kelly Link, a MacArthur Grant recipient and Pulitzer Prize finalist, is an expert in the art of darker, sci-fi-infused magical realism and shows off her skills in her new short story collection. In seven remixed fairy tales, Link delivers wit and dreamlike intrigue. One story follows a cat who runs a weed dispensary and enchants the three sons of an aging billionaire. In another, a reimagined version of “Hansel and Gretel,” a brother and sister wait for their parents to return to an alien planet where vampires and handmaidens run amok. And even “Snow-White and Rose-Red” gets an update in which a grad student housesits a cabin — and is visited by beguiling guests. * TIME *Link displays her usual uncanny brilliance...in these generous reimaginations that reflect our own world, darkly * The Sunday Times *Link is a genius, and not just according to the MacArthur Foundation. A small-press publisher, bookstore owner and producer of a zine, she consistently publishes stories that upend expectations. In her new collection, the author both reinvents and reclaims fairy tales, and the results are pure modern folklore — eccentric, taut and tapped into the collective subconscious. Dive in to meet Hansel and Gretel on a planet of vampires, as well as a cat who runs a weed dispensary. * LA Times *There's a distinct pleasure in discovering what kind of monster is waiting to be encountered next * SFX *Right up there with the very best stories she has ever written * Book Munch *'Link has already proven herself the fairy godmother of fairy-tale retellings in her previous four short story collections, expertly updating and humanizing them into enchanting, perfectly contained vignettes. Her latest collection so seamlessly entwines the real with the surreal that the stories threaten to slip into reality, resonating long after reading... Thought-provoking and wonderfully told' * BuzzFeed *'In the stories of Kelly Link, strange things happen in otherwise ordinary settings. Her stories do not abide by the rules of conflict and resolution — they make sense in the way that dreams make sense.' * New York Times *Link is a genius, and not just according to the MacArthur Foundation. A small-press publisher, bookstore owner and producer of a zine, she consistently publishes stories that upend expectations. In her new collection, the author both reinvents and reclaims fairy tales, and the results are pure modern folklore — eccentric, taut and tapped into the collective subconscious. Dive in to meet Hansel and Gretel on a planet of vampires, as well as a cat who runs a weed dispensary. * LA Times *'Kelly Link is a writer whose work is easy to revere and difficult to explain. She began her career by publishing stories in sci-fi and fantasy magazines in the mid-nineteen-nineties, just when the boundary between genre fiction and the literary mainstream was beginning to erode, and, in the years since, her work has served to speed that erosion along….Through it all, the essential qualities of her work have remained unchanged. To those familiar with her writing, ‘ Linkian' is as distinct an adjective as 'Lynchian,' signifying a stylistic blend of ingenuousness and sophistication, bright flashes of humor alongside dark currents of unease, and a deep engagement with genre tropes that comes off as both sincere and subversive . . . To read Link is to place oneself in the hands of an expert illusionist, entering a world where nothing is ever quite what it seems.' -- Kristen Roupenian, The New Yorker'Kelly Link is something of a short story sorceress. The 2018 MacArthur fellow refuses rules, subverts conventions, and in so doing, delivers unpredictable adventure. “White Cat, Black Dog,” her fifth collection, is a set of seven slipstream short stories that edge, in length, toward novelettes. Where her earlier collections were anchored by a zany, wondrous youthfulness (as well as vampires, faeries, and other fantastical genre staples), this one seems to convey: Never fear, aging has entertaining horrors all its own.' * Washington Post *Classic fable retold with a modern twist, breathing new life into old favourites with Kelly’s signature imagination and wit * Damian Barr's Literary Salon *Gives Black Mirror, Alice in Wonderland and the Brothers Grimm a run for their money * ES Magazine *Overflowing with beauty and stinging ferocity...White Cat, Black Dog contains the most wonderful storytelling, of the deepest dark kind * LoveReading, Star Book *Shows just how much life there is left in fairy tale retellings if the writer is bold and inventive enough. The stories delight, frighten and disrupt in equal measure, and serve as an ample reminder of Link’s remarkable talents * The Fantasy Hive *A selection of fairytales for the modern world... Link's signature weird and uncanny style results in a delightful collection * The Sunday Times *Link has carved out a unique niche, somewhere where the strands of fantasy, weird fiction, and the speculative combine and become inextricably entangled. These are stories in which the fairy tale and the mundane world we live in overlap and mix together, rendering both of them freshly uncanny * Tor.com *Drawing inspiration from fairy tales… Link contemporises them and shapes them in the unexpected forms that only she knows how * Esquire Singapore *By turns unsettling and delightful, White Cat, Black Dog captures the essential poetry at the heart of fables * Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post Best SFF of 2023 *Eerie, confounding retellings of Scottish ballads, Grimm fairy tales, and cottagecore horror full of stumbles into the otherworldly, the uncanny swirling around the mundane... a leap in Link’s creative muscles and an excellent taste of her forthcoming, eagerly-awaited debut novel The Book of Love * Den of Geek, Books of the Year 2023 *

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Book SynopsisThe Highlands of Scotland are rich in traditional stories. Even today, in the modern world of internet and supermarkets, old legends dating as far back as the times of the Gaels, Picts and Vikings are still told at night around the fireside. They are tales of the sidh the fairy people and their homes in the green hills; of great and gory battles, and of encounters with the last wolves in Britain; of solitary ghosts, and of supernatural creatures like the sinister waterhorse, the mermaid, and the Fuath , Scotland's own Bigfoot. In a vivid journey through the Highland landscape, from the towns and villages to the remotest places, by mountains, cliffs, peatland and glen, storyteller and folklorist Bob Pegg takes the reader along old and new roads to places where legend and landscape are inseparably linked.

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Book SynopsisDuring his most productive decade, the 1880s, Maupassant wrote more than 300 stories, including 'Boule de Suif', 'The Necklace', 'The House of Madame Tellier', 'The Hand', 'The Horla' and 'Mademoiselle Fifi'. Marked by the psychological realism that he famously pioneered, the tales in this selection lead us on a tour of the human experience-lust and love, revenge and ridicule, terror and madness. Many take place in the author's native Normandy, but the settings range farther abroad as well, from Brittany and Paris to Corsica and the Mediterranean coast, and even to North Africa and India. Maupassant's remarkable range and ability to evoke an entire world in a few pages have ensured that his fiction has retained its power to entertain through generations of readers. Marjorie Laurie's accomplished translations from the 1920s have similarly stood the test of time.

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Book SynopsisSaki's dazzling tales manage the remarkable feat of being anarchic and urbane at the same time. Studded with Wildean epigrams and featuring well-contrived plots and surprise endings, his stories gleefully skewer the pompous hypocrisies of upper-class Edwardian society. But they go beyond mere satire, raising dark humour to extremes of entertaining outrageousness that have rarely since been matched. Saki's elegantly mischievous young heroes sow chaos in their wake without breaking a sweat, occasionally assisted by werewolves, tigers, eavesdropping house pets and casually murderous children. This selection of over fifty stories includes such favourites as 'Tobermory', 'The Open Window', 'Sredni Vashtar', 'Mrs Packletide's Tiger', 'The Schartz-Metterklume Method', and many more.

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Book SynopsisPresenting a diverse and dazzling collection from all over the continent, from Morocco to Zimbabwe, Uganda to Kenya. Helon Habila focuses on younger, newer writers - contrasted with some of their older, more established peers - to give a fascinating picture of a new and more liberated Africa. These writers are characterized by their engagement with the wider world and the opportunities offered by the end of apartheid, the end of civil wars and dictatorships, and the possibilities of free movement. Their work is inspired by travel and exile. They are liberated, global and expansive. As Dambudzo Marechera wrote: 'If you're a writer for a specific nation or specific race, then f*** you." These are the stories of a new Africa, punchy, self-confident and defiant. Includes stories by: 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature Winner Abdulrazak Gurnah; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; Fatou Diome; Aminatta Forna; Manuel Rui; Patrice Nganang; Leila Aboulela; Zoë Wicomb; Alaa Al Aswany; Doreen Baingana; E.C. Osondu.

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Book SynopsisAs Mabel Waring takes off her cloak and steps into the drawing room of Clarissa Dalloway, she immediately realizes that something is not right: her pale-yellow silk dress, which she has had specially made for the occasion, is clearly old-fashioned, dowdy and out of place. Everyone seems to be looking at her in dismay or mocking her appearance. Crushed at once by her insecurity, Mabel is pervaded by a sense of selfloathing, and feels utter revulsion for the social world she has tried so hard to impress. Written in 1924 and perhaps intended for inclusion in Mrs Dalloway, a book Woolf was working on at the time, The New Dress is here accompanied by most of the short stories she published in her lifetime, as well as six posthumously published pieces that share the milieu and some of the characters of her celebrated novel. Together, they reveal their author as one of the finest practitioners in the field of short fiction.

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Book SynopsisThe only complete collection of shorter fiction by the undisputed master of detective literature, assembled here for the first time in one volume, includes stories unavailable for decades. When Raymond Chandler turned to writing at the age of forty-five, he began by publishing in pulp magazines such as Black Mask before later writing his famous novels. In these stories Chandler honed his art and developed his uniquely vivid underworld, peopled with good cops and bad cops, informers and extortionists, lethally predatory blondes and redheads, and crime, sex, gambling and alcohol in abundance. In addition to his classic detective fiction – in which his signature atmosphere of depravity and violence swirls around cool, intuitive loners such as Philip Marlowe – Chandler turned his hand to fantasy and even a Gothic romance. This rich treasury of twenty-five stories shows him developing the laconic, understated style that would serve him so well in his later masterpieces, immersing readers in the richly realized fictional universe that has become a part of our literary landscape.

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Book SynopsisSpanning centuries and continents, the stories in this collection amount to a tour de force of literary worldbuilding. From deeply insecure time travellers to medieval mystics and futuristic body modification cults, Norminton’s characters find themselves torn between conflicting impulses – temptation and fortitude, hubris and shame, longing and regret. By turns sad, strange and darkly comic, The Ghost Who Bled reveals a master storyteller of incredible range.Trade Review'Good fiction encourages us to look at the world from another’s perspective, and in his new short story collection, Norminton explores this idea in extremis... Norminton’s host of vivid characters and minutely realised situations transfix; we can’t help but share the “bitter-almond taste of fear” of the various snares of these lives.' - The Guardian; 'This is a sublime collection of short stories by a writer whose breath-taking flexibility of style gives life to an array of different voices... Unfailingly beautiful, deceptively simple and lyrically powerful.' - The Irish Times

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Book SynopsisThe twelve stories in Letting Go take us on a journey through landscape, language and turbulent times, from the mid-19th century to the present day, and into the future. Stevenson’s array of characters from many walks of life and nationalities – including a traveller, a wood carver, chicken farm workers, a nurse, an architect and a magician – meet and part, some becoming reacquainted. Themes exploring identity, creativity and the environment, echo and connect throughout the different narratives, sometimes carried in snatches of song. The author leads us outward from her native Scottish Borders to Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Gàidhealtachd, south to England, across the Atlantic to Apartheid South Africa and, finally, to the melting Arctic.

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Book SynopsisVariations is the debut short story collection from one of Britain's most compelling voices, Juliet Jacques. Using fiction inspired by found material and real-life events, Variations explores the history of transgender Britain with lyrical, acerbic wit. Variations travels from Oscar Wilde's London to austerity-era Belfast via inter-war Cardiff, a drag bar in Liverpool just after the decriminalisation of homosexuality, Manchester's protests against Clause 28, and Brighton in the 2000s. Through diary entries of an illicit love affair, an oral history of a contemporary political collective; a 1920s academic paper to a 1990s film script; a 1950s memoir to a series of 2014 blog posts, Jacques rewrites and reinvigorates a history so often relegated to stale police records and sensationalist news headlines. Innovative and fresh, Variations is a bold and beautiful book of stories unheard; until now.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2022 OCM Bocas Prize for Fiction.Shortlisted for the Society of Authors' McKitterick Prize 2022.Finalist of the 2022 Firecracker Award in Fiction.Coconut trees. Carnival. Rum and coke. To many outsiders, these and other sunny images are all they know about life in the Caribbean. However, if you want to learn how the locals truly live and experience the dark and often harrowing truths that lurk behind the idyllic imagery of Caribbean culture, then come visit the town of Pleasantview.Come during election season, and see how one candidate sets out to slaughter endangered turtles - just for fun. Or come on the day the other candidate beats his "outside-woman," so badly she ends up losing their baby. Then come on the night of the political rally, where this grieving woman exacts a very public revenge. Stay a while, and see how this single event has a trajectory far beyond the lives of the immediate actors, with often tragic and heartbreaking consequences.Written in a remarkable combination of Standard English and Trinidad Creole, Pleasantview showcases the entrenched political, racial, and class dichotomies of life in Trinidad: the generosity (yet cruelty) of the average Trini; the sense of optimism (and yet, despair) which permeates everyday interaction; and the musicality of Caribbean creole (kriol) expression that masks an ingrained and frequently violent patriarchy.Merging the vibrancy and darkness of recent Caribbean writers such as Ingrid Persaud and Claire Adam with the linguistic experimentation of Marlon James's A Brief History of Seven Killings, Pleasantview is a landmark work in international fiction.Trade ReviewCeleste Mohammed forces you to travel with her characters. You see their lives and their world as they do, on foot. You walk in her characters' shoes. Mohammed is a skillful storyteller, so the journey educates and exhilarates you, Mohammed invents a clear, crackling town/district, Pleasantview, a bustling, hustling side of Trinidad, where few of us have ever been, or will ever go. Pleasantview forces us to look at how we behave when uncontained, when unconstrained, when our lack of morality unmoors us. * A.J. Verdelle, author of The Good Negress *These stories are full of unexpected twists and connections and infused with humor. They herald the arrival of an intriguing new voice. * Ingrid Persaud *Pungent and searing, this is a refreshing portrait of island life told in stories that are crafted with candor and movement. Bursting with wisdom and humanity, it's hard to believe that this book is Mohammed's debut. * Candice Iloh *The residents of the fictional Trinidadian town of Pleasantview are divided by mistrust and racial and ethnic tension, but they are forever bound to each other by their shared histories and secrets. From Omar who is forced to confront his boss's corruption, to Miss Ivy in her employer's hand-me-down fur coat outside the police station, Mohammed's characters demand to be acknowledged. In this beautifully written debut, Mohammed gives voice to the silenced and the overlooked. Pleasantview sizzles with originality and heart and introduces a fearless new writer. * Hester Kaplan, author of Unravished *Pleasantview offers the reader a sharp and fearless view of the dark underbelly of life in Trinidad, filled with unforgettable characters that we meet in do-or-die situations. Marked by male violence, political underhandedness, and economic desperation, Pleasantview also demonstrates Mohammed's remarkable range as a writer as she moves seamlessly from callousness to tenderness, humor to sorrow, lyricism to minimalism in a work that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page. This is a thrilling debut. * Laurie Foos, author of Ex Utero and The Blue Girl *As James Joyce did for Dublin, Celeste Mohammed holds up a polished mirror to the inhabitants of the fictitious Trinidadian town of Pleasantview and dares the reader to take an unflinching look at a multi-ethnic society that is vibrant and joyous but riddled with corruption and the exploitation of women, the young, and the vulnerable. Mohammed's writing is smart, funny, and enlivened by everyday Trinidadian vernacular, creating rich and lively portraits of a range of Trini characters. A formidable debut, Pleasantview's razor-sharp observations of misogyny and the abuse of power are leavened by humor and a pitch-perfect ear for the language of human foibles. * Tony Eprile, author of The Persistence of Memory *In one of Chekhov's stories, a character says that every happy man should have someone who taps at his door with a little hammer, reminding him that there are unhappy people in the world. Reading Celeste Mohammed's novel-in-stories makes me think of that magical little tap-except that the door opens not to a vision of unhappiness, but to a world crammed with life that you never knew existed. * Claire Adam, author of The Golden Child *The residents of Pleasantview come to vivid light in this extraordinary debut from Celeste Mohammed. Each slice of life in this Trinidadian village cuts clean to the bone, revealing how people are both complicated and complicit in the way we break each other's hearts and bodies. From the riveting opening to the aching end, Mohammed's gift for giving voice to each character is glorious. * Tracey Baptiste *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 2024 Chloe enters the local talent show, seeking fame, fortune and a ticket out of town. Meanwhile, her mother, Angie, wakes up hungover on the morning of her fourth wedding day. William ponders his impending autism diagnosis through the lenses of Descartes and Hollywood heartthrob Clive Owen. Jimmy, the hot-headed proprietor of a firework shop, rages at the emergence of a rival store, as his ex-wife considers the existential ramifications of her uncanny resemblance to TV cleaning personality Kim Woodburn. Local Fires sees debut writer Joshua Jones turn his acute focus to his birthplace of Llanelli, South Wales. Sardonic and melancholic, joyful and grieving, these multifaceted stories may be set in a small town, but they have reach far beyond their locality. From the inertia of living in an ex-industrial working-class area, to gender, sexuality, toxic masculinity and neurodivergence, Jones has crafted a collection versatile in theme and observation, as the misadventures of the town's inhabitants threaten to spill over into an incendiary finale. In this stunning series of interconnected tales, fires both literal and metaphorical, local and all-encompassing, blaze together to herald the emergence of a singular new Welsh literary voice.

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Book Synopsis'Charlie Peach's Pumpkins and other stories' is Jenny Sanders' second collection of six humorous tales. Once again, she treats her readers to quirky characters and another abundance of welcome nonsense. This time, you'll be taken from a disastrous garden experiment which finds success from an unlikely source, to the new ambassador's attempts to solve an international crisis in Carletia, and to a crumbling castle which threatens to wipe out the fortunes of the former residents. An enterprising skateboarder tries to save his grand-father's reputation with an impromptu wine-tasting session; the monarchy in Sloping-Sideways explore solutions to their secret boredom; and an inventor looks to her famous heritage to help her godson escape his school bullies.Table of ContentsCharlie Peach's Pumpkins 1 Wooing Carletia 51 The Beasley-Babbingtons 93 The Viticulture Venture 137 Sovereign Secrets 185 The Surprising Power of Cake 237

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Book SynopsisA collection of short stories

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Book SynopsisSouth Sea Tales is an assortment of eight interesting stories of imagination and experience in the South Seas. In light of Jack London's own experiences cruising in the South Pacific, South Sea Tales incorporates the accompanying short sotries: The House of Mapuhi, The Whale Tooth, Mauki, Yah! Yah! Yah!, The Heathen, The Terrible Solomons, The Inevitable White Man, and The Seed of McCoy. Perusers, everything being equal, will thoroughly enjoy these stories of nautical experience.

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Book SynopsisCharts the unconventional lives and love affairs of a group of Nigerian migrants, making their way in Belgium. The collection is centred around Prosperous and her husband Agu, and the various visitors who gather at their apartment each week. These interconnected stories explore their struggles and triumphs, from unhappy marriages (of convenience or otherwise), to the pain of homesickness, and the tragic paradox in longing to leave Nigeria so that you may one day return to it.Trade Review"This collection ... is so wry and so generous, so astute about human deeds and misdeeds. Under Unigwe's masterful hands, relationship - between Nigerians and Belgians, Naijas and Oyibo, priests and parish, bosses and workers, men and women, parents and children, friends and rivals - are struck, ignite, flicker to life like flames in a candelabra. The circle of light that Better Never Than Late casts is delicate and lucid, warm as a spot of sun or a hearth--which is to say, warm as a home." - Namwali Serpell, author of The Old Drift; "Chika Unigwe writes radiant fiction about Nigerian characters and their encounters with Europe and its ideologies. This essential book shines a light on personal experiences of migration in ways that illuminate and surprise."- Bernardine Evaristo, author of Girl, Woman, Other; "These stories are so vital, funny and finely made, they make it a little easier to live in a world where love is so important, and yet so unpredictable." - John Freeman, writer and editor of Freeman's; "I loved this book, a universal story of people on the move, a marvellous patchwork of the lives of different people from Nigeria." - Rachida Lamrabet, author of Vrouwland; "These are perfect stories about imperfect people- strangers in strange lands. When a book this awesome gets into your hands- evangelize it, hand copies to friends, foes and even strangers." - E.C. Osondu, writer and winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing; "Chika Unigwe is a master artist of character. She can bring a person to life with a single gesture, a quicksilver thought. Better Never Than Late is a stunning collection by one of our most vital contemporary writers." - Laura van den Berg, award-winning author of The Third Hotel;

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Saltire Society Fiction Book of the Year 2018; Longlisted for The People's Book Prize 2018; From one of our finest contemporary writers whose work has been praised by J.M. Coetzee, Ali Smith and Aminatta Forna, Leila Aboulela's Elsewhere, Home offers us a rich tableau of life as an immigrant abroad, attempting to navigate the conflicts of assimilation and difference in an unfamiliar world. A young woman's encounter with a former classmate elicits painful reminders of her former life in Khartoum. A wealthy Sudanese student in Aberdeen begins an unlikely friendship with a Scottish man. A woman experiences an evolving relationship to her favourite writer, whose portrait of their shared culture both reflects and conflicts with her own sense of identity. Shuttling between the dusty, sun-baked streets of Khartoum and the university halls and cramped apartments of Aberdeen and London, Elsewhere, Home explores, with subtlety and restraint, the profound feelings of yearning, loss and alienation that come with leaving one's homeland in pursuit of a different life.Trade Review`Elsewhere, Home is a rich and poignant reflection of a Britain built - as ever - from multiple perspectives and starting points. Fragile, curious, human voices blend, lose themselves, redefine themselves. The emigrant and immigrant experiences have always been part of our storytelling; these beautifully focused tales of Khartoum, Edinburgh, London, Cairo and beyond are a delight.' A.L. Kennedy;`Exquisite fiction. There are gems here, elegantly cut, polished and framed. Luminous.' Fadia Faqir;`Full of elegance, tenderness and the small vulnerabilities that make up our lives' Roma Tearne;`This is the modern female voice ... fresh, diverse, challenging and uninhibited' Rachel Cusk;`Aboulela is the kind of writer from whom British people need to hear' Telegraph;`Thoughtful, wry, funny ... The deceptively quiet tales in Elsewhere, Home are barbed with tension and conflict. There is the desperate homesickness of immigrants; the complications of love between believers and non-believers ... [Aboulela's] interest is with ordinary people, with everyday ambitions and desires.' The Herald; `A beautiful and desolate collection ... [Aboulela's stories] distil many of her recurring concerns - immigrant loneliness, complicated romance and a portrayal of the Islamic faith that goes far beyond the cliched narrative - but without ever becoming trite. ... An intimacy is created that immediately pulls the reader into the [characters'] lives. ... There is so much quiet brilliance that it is a surprise for those who have only followed Aboulela's long-form fiction to discover she has just as much mastery of the short form.' The Observer; `A lovely collection of short stories about love, loneliness and spirituality' Nadiya Hussain, Good Housekeeping; `Spanning Cairo, Khartoum, Abu Dhabi, London and Aberdeen, Elsewhere, Home by Leila Aboulela looks in on the lives of contemporary British Muslims with ties to more than one place. ... With empathy and tenderness, Aboulela navigates classic intergenerational conflict in shifting cultural and religious sands. Elsewhere, Home is a sophisticated and modern narrative of global citizenship.' Laura Waddell, TLS; `Leila Aboulela is one of the world's best short story writers ... This selection beautifully conjures the vertigo of homesickness. These are everyday stories observed with unusual sensitivity to the fine grains of hope that live in throwaway gestures.' Lithub, Most Anticipated Books of 2019; `These intricacies of bi-cultural families and friendships carry a delicate strength that doesn't just resemble life, it is life ... this quiet collection transcends theme, setting, subject ... the first collection I've read since James Joyce's Dubliners that reminded me of the life-changing power of furiously-honest realism.' The New York Times Book ReviewTable of Contents1. Summer Maze; 2. Something Old, Something New; 3. Farida's Eyes; 4. Souvenirs; 5. The Ostrich; 6. Majed; 7. The Boy from the Kebab Shop; 8. Expecting to Give; 9. The Aromatherapist's Husband; 10. Coloured Lights; 11. The Museum; 12. The Circle Line; 13. Pages of Fruit

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Book SynopsisTrade 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 SynopsisA rock pool with a deadly secret. A bank holiday heatwave dominated by the murder of an unknown man. A sun-drenched picnic that ends in a sinister locked-room mystery. And an Adriatic holiday interrupted by a beautiful couple ... who aren't quite who they seem to be. All these, and many more, can be found in these classic stories of summertime murder and mayhem, featuring masters of the genre from Dorothy L. Sayers to Arthur Conan Doyle. From St Mark's Square in Venice to the English seaside, their tales will puzzle, entertain and prove that - no matter how far you travel - there's no rest for the wicked. Selected by Cecily Gayford

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Book SynopsisFrom the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of ‘The Shipping News’ comes a collection of short stories inspired by the harsh and unforgiving landscape of Wyoming. Throughout the collection, Annie Proulx invests these stories with an intelligence and black humour that transforms them into something new and surprising. In one story, a slight young man defies his mother’s insults to become a rodeo star, while in another, an octogenarian finds himself drawn back to the ranch that he quit decades before – against his better judgement. Elsewhere, Proulx demonstrates her taste for the macabre in a grisly tale of bad weather, gambling and amputation set a hundred years ago. Inventive, compassionate and wildly funny, these marvellous stories explore the unbreakable bond between a people and their land.Trade Review‘A stunning collection of eleven tales about the hard lives of the ranchers, cowpokes and country wives who struggle to survive in an unforgiving environment. Written in a wonderfully flexible style that can be both spare and extravagant, her book has been hailed by American critics as a masterpiece.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Like a mystic seeing the transfigured universe, she recreates the beauty of ordinary things.’ Independent on Sunday ‘The detail is meticulous, the prose poetic and Proulx's fiction teems with life. Above all, her stories engage the heart. Magical.’ Tatler ‘Proulx's style, compressed, elastic, hard-hitting, is inimitable: close to poetry but never self-indulgent. This is writing to be savoured.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘These are tales we can almost feel in our bones.’ Sunday Times ‘Individually, these 11 tales have a tautness and an urgency that are never less than exhilarating. Collectively, they encapsulate an entire, unremittingly bleak world. To find the pulse of humanity in such desperate lives betokens a writer of genius.’ Saturday Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe moon has fascinated humankind since the dawn of language, reflected here in ancient myths and folklore, joined by new tales from open submissions.With tales from myth, folklore and modern writers, Moon Falling Short Stories brings a potent mix of superstition and belief that reaches back to the gods of Babylon, Ancient Egypt and Greece. Khonsu, Innana, Artemis and Thoth are just a few of the deities who brought a mix of love, sensuality and war to the ancient perceptions of the world. In one tradition regarding the Ancient Japanese Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, the moon, he was the estranged husband of the sun goddess Amaterasu, ever to chase her across the sky. From the Cherokee there are tales of the Moon being held captive, with Coyote hurling the moon each night out of reach of rescue, and for the Celts of Ireland the Moon Goddess Rhiannon was a symbol of rest and wisdom, the Queen of the Fairies. And of course the moon brings to mind curses, howling wolves, the wolf moon and the harvest moon, while offering a guiding light at night for the weary traveller. There are so many inspirations for the modern storyteller, many of whom submitted wonderful tales to this intimate portrait of the seductive, powerful moon.New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Colleen Anderson, V.M. Ayala, Hannah Birss, Elou Carroll, Alex Dartnell, Lauren D. Fulter, Lora Gray, Sydney Paige Guerrero, Brandon Ketchum, Annika Barranti Klein, Amanda Cecelia Lang, A.Y. Lu, Sean MacKendrick, Tara Macpherson, R. Jean Mathieu, Soumya Sundar Mukherjee, Lee Murray, Nartana Premachandra, Corrine Pridmore, R.J. Ren, Zach Shephard, Ginger Strivelli, Kate Wilmot, Cassondra Windwalker, and Nemma Wollenfang. These appear alongside classic work by Hans Christian Andersen, Algernon Blackwood, the Brothers Grimm, H.G. Wells and more, as well as folklore, myths and indigenous tales from around the world.The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

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Book SynopsisAt the centre of Music for Chameleons is Handcarved Coffins, a nonfiction novel' based on the brutal crimes of a real-life murderer.Taking place in a small Midwestern town in America, it offers chilling insights into the mind of a killer and the obsession of the man bringing him to justice. Also in this volume are six short stories and seven conversational portraits' including a touching one of Marilyn Monroe, the beautiful child' and a hilarious one of a dope-smoking cleaning lady doing her rounds in New York.

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Book SynopsisRussian Stories rounds up marvellous short stories by all the Russian heavyweights, including Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Turgenev, Chekhov, Bulgakov, Babel and Nabokov, and continuing up to contemporary writers such as Tatyana Tolstaya and the recent Nobel Prize winner, Svetlana Alexievich. There is no similar one-volume collection of the best of the Russian greats in English. Women writers are particularly well represented and predominate in the last fifty years; also included is a story by the recently rediscovered Teffi, who was widely hailed a century ago in Russia as 'the female Chekhov'.

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Book SynopsisAs complex as they are gripping, Pushkin's stories are some of the greatest and most influential ever written. Foundational to the development of Russian prose, they retain stunning freshness and clarity, more than ever in Anthony Briggs's finely nuanced translations. These are stories that upend expectations at every turn: in The Captain's Daughter, Pushkin's masterful novella of love and rebellion set during the reign of Catherine the Great, a mysterious encounter proves fatally significant during a brutal uprising, while in 'The Queen of Spades' a man obsessively pursues an elderly woman's secret for success at cards, with bizarre results.Trade Review'In any language, The Captain's Daughter would be a miniature masterpiece' - Daily Telegraph'The Captain's Daughter is one of the stories in which Pushkin created Russian prose... It is true poet's prose, absolutely clear, objective, unpretentious and penetrating' - Spectator

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Book SynopsisThe Stoker Award-winning chilling anthology of 18 short stories in tribute to the genius of Shirley Jackson, collecting today’s best horror writers. Featuring Joyce Carol Oates, Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Richard Kadrey, Stephen Graham Jones, Elizabeth Hand and more. A collection of new and exclusive short stories inspired by, and in tribute to, Shirley Jackson. Shirley Jackson is a seminal writer of horror and mystery fiction, whose legacy resonates globally today. Chilling, human, poignant and strange, her stories have inspired a generation of writers and readers. This anthology, edited by legendary horror editor Ellen Datlow, will bring together today’s leading horror writers to offer their own personal tribute to the work of Shirley Jackson. Featuring: Joyce Carol Oates Josh Malerman Carmen Maria Machado Paul Tremblay Richard Kadrey Stephen Graham Jones Elizabeth Hand Kelly Link Cassandra Khaw Karen Heuler Benjamin Percy John Langan Laird Barron Jeffrey Ford M. Rickert Seanan McGuire Gemma Files Genevieve Valentine.Trade Review"18 outstanding, atmospheric horror shorts from some of the biggest names in the genre ... Any fan of Jackson's oeuvre will delight in this anthology." - Publishers Weekly starred review "Other stories are equally memorable, but for me, the outstanding one is Skinder's Veil, a breathtaking blend of fairytale, dream and reality by the incomparable Kelly Link." - The Guardian "This compilation of stories that make the mundane seem terrifying is chilling and uncanny, offering tropes that will be familiar to readers of Jackson's work (witchy women, eerie suburbia) but with unique touches that could come only from these individuals authors." - New York Public Library Best Books "A joy for Jackson fans, but no Jackson knowledge is needed to enjoy this anthology. A gem in its own right." - SFX "If you're a fan of Shirley Jackson, you're bound to find something here that moves you the way her stories did." - LitReactor best of 2021 "Perfect to dip in and out of as the nights draw in" - Culturefly "In short, another great anthology assembled by Ellen Datlow." - Horror Tree "No one consistently delivers like Datlow does." - Horror DNA "This anthology is classic horror in its appearance, but in the inside has modern sensitivities with standout prose. Shirley Jackson would've been proud" - Last Sentence "Compiling a short story anthology that caters to a wide audience's taste is no small feat. Ellen Datlow has done a brilliant job of curating a selection of stories which are not only varied in style and topic, but of high quality. Whether you prefer your creepiness level at one or eleven, with a good dose of blood and gore or just with a hint of psychological suspense, you will find a favourite which appeals to your taste in this collection." - Crime Fiction Lover "Unsettling, disquieting, even disorienting... This collection is special. Somewhere, Shirley Jackson is peering over those glasses of hers, one eyebrow raised, a sly smile on her lips" - Dave Writes and Draws "Even the most voracious of readers is sure to be swept away by the sheer magnitude of talent on display in When Things Get Dark." - Phantastiqa "Datlow did it again... every piece was entertaining" - Happy Horror Writer "If you are looking for an overview of what the current literary horror world looks like, this is a fantastic example" - California Reading "[A] successful endeavour that shows just how much of an influence Shirley Jackson had with her writing" - Zachary Houle "A thrilling encounter with the uncanny courtesy of the some of the best contemporary horror writers." - End of the Words "From haunting to eerie to downright terrifying, there is something for every reader" - Mandy McHugh "I thoroughly enjoyed reading this anthology [..] so I have no hesitation in recommending it." - Stephen Bacon "These stories really linger in the back of my mind - like they're creating a space of their own in my memory" - Girl Who Reads "Hands-down, my favorite anthology I've ever read." - Quaint and Curious Volumes

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Book SynopsisFrom the cruel irony of 'A member of the Family' to the fateful echoes of 'The Go-Away Bird' and the unexpectedly sinister 'The Girl I Left Behind Me', in settings that range from South Africa to the Portobello Road, Muriel Spark probes the idiosyncrasies that lurk beneath the veneer of human respectability, displaying the acerbic wit and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her unique talent. The Complete Short Stories is a collection to be loved and cherished, from one of the finest short story writers of the twentieth century.Trade ReviewIt is perhaps her short stories that demonstrate her gifts best: wit, perception, acute characterisation, elegance and precision. They mark her out as one of the finest writers of her generation * * Observer * *Glittering, concise, funny and beautifully written * * Telegraph * *Completely, searingly original. There is nobody remotely like her * * Independent * *None could equal the cool perception with which she chronicles the darker mysteries of the human conidtion -- John Mortimer * * Evening Standard * *One of the most decisive and unmistakable voices in contemporary fiction - youthful, witty, sly, maternal, intimate, and alive with opinion -- Stephen Schiff * * New Yorker * *My admiration for Spark's contribution to world literature knows no bounds. She was peerless, sparkling, inventive and intelligent - the crème de la crème -- Ian RankinA wholly original presence in modern literature -- Andrew MotionMuriel Spark's novels linger in the mind as brilliant shards, decisive as a smashed glass is decisive -- John Updike * * New Yorker * *Dullness is as alien to her as inelegance * * New Statesman and Society * *You've got to hand it to Canongate. When it comes to repackaging their back catalogue, they're in a class of their own . . . What have [the Canons] in common? Nothing - except for a subtle yet powerful branding . . . the way they are marketed has a touch of genius * * Scotsman * *

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Book SynopsisIn her second volume of short stories, which follows the hugely successful ''Encounters'', Barbara Erskine has created a compelling world of love, betrayal, suspense and grief.A biographer investigating a tragic death hears voices from the past drawing her towards the truthA nineteenth century parson's daughter is caught up in the excitement and romance of a smuggling intrigueA young boy from a deprived background finds his own haven in the wastelands of the inner cityContemporary, historical, spooky, and humorous there are over thirty delightful stories, each one guaranteed to capture the reader's imagination, and all demonstrating Barbara Erskine's unique powers as a storyteller.Readers LOVE Barbara Erskine:Atmospheric' ?????Enthralling' ?????Spellbinding' ?????Another fabulous read from the mistress of the genre' ?????Immensely and deeply immersive fiction' ?????I loved every minute' ?????An exceptional writer of great books' ?????You can rely on this author to keep you wanting morTrade ReviewPraise for Barbara Erskine: ‘Her forte is mood, atmosphere and the toe-curling frisson’, Sunday Times ‘Barbara Erskine’s storytelling talent is undeniable’ The Times ‘Marvellous, escapist stuff’ Woman and Home

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Book SynopsisThe multi-award-winning China Miéville has been called 'the equal of David Mitchell or Zadie Smith' (Scotland on Sunday), a writer whose 'inventiveness and precision is awesome' (Independent), and who writes with 'an imagination of immense power' (Guardian).In these twenty-eight short stories, glistening icebergs float above urban horizons; a burning stag runs wild through the city; the ruins of industry emerge unsteadily from the sea; and the abandoned generations in a decayed space-elevator look not up at the stars but down at the Earth. Ranging from portraits of childhood to chilling ghost stories, from dystopian visions to poignant evocations of uncanny love, with beautiful prose and melancholy wit, Three Moments of an Explosion is a breath-taking collection that poses searching questions of what it is to be human in an unquiet world. It is a humane and unsentimental investigation of our society, our world, and ourselves.Trade ReviewYou can't talk about Miéville without using the word "brilliant" . . . The writing, never less than excellent, takes many tones throughout the 28 stories, some showy, some not. Pastiche, when present, is so skilful that it can go unnoticed. Subjects of real weight are handled with unobtrusive ease but never glibly nor diminished by facetiousness . . . Fascinating, full of suggestion and implication, and beautiful. -- Ursula K. Le Guin * Guardian *If anyone doubted whether China Miéville had imagination to burn, proof of his indefatigable creative restlessness is to be found in this collection of short stories . . . This is a bumper collection overflowing with new visions of our beautiful, terrible world. -- Claire Allfree * Metro *Miéville . . . is gifted with an incomparable visionary imagination. In tale after tale in Three Moments of an Explosion you'll find a conceit so unusual, so disturbing, so arresting, that it takes your breath away. -- James Lovegrove * Financial Times *A gathering of dark nuggets of genius . . . Miéville is one of our most important writers, and this collection demonstrates his versatility and powerful imagination to stunning effect. -- David Barnett * Independent on Sunday *[A] fearsomely intelligent collection. * Daily Telegraph *The master of the New Weird. * Guardian *Award winner Miéville (Embassytown) moves effortlessly among realism, fantasy, and surrealism . . . His characters, whether ordinary witnesses to extraordinary events or lunatics operating out of inexplicable compulsions, are invariably well drawn and compelling. Above all, what the stories have in common is a sense that the world is not just strange, but stranger than we can ever really comprehend * Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review) *This collection fizzes with energy and experiment . . . When you put the book down, the world seems a richer, deeper and more frightening place. -- Tim Martin * New Statesman *Horror, noir, fantasy, politics, and poetry swirl into combinations as satisfying intellectually as they are emotionally. Miéville (Railsea, 2012, etc.) has a habit of building his narratives by taking a metaphor, often about a political or social issue, and asking what would happen if it were literally true . . . In less-capable hands, this method might result in mere gags or dead horses endlessly beaten. (Good thing this isn't a Miéville story, or you'd be wiping off bits of rotten horseflesh.) In Miéville's hands it ranges from clever to profound . . . Bradbury meets Borges, with Lovecraft gibbering tumultuously just out of hearing * Kirkus (Starred Review) *The 28 stories in China Mìéville's Three Moments of on Explosion . . . are familiarly strange, full of eloquent monstrosity. A burning stag runs through a city, icebergs float over towns. Miéville's vision has a fragmentary force, and this mosaic text does it proud. * New Scientist *Miéville - twice winner of the British Fantasy Award and three times winner of the Arthur C Clarke Award - is head and shoulders above other writers in this genre. * The Times *There is a baroque extravagance to China Miéville's imagination that is uniquely suited to a collection of short fiction . . . The rigour of his sentences, his thinking, his politics and humanity transform these set-ups from the merely eerie to the profoundly unsettling. -- Stuart Kelly * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde. Originally published as novellas, this paperback contains all fours parts of the story from irresistible beginning to heart-warming conclusion.  Eve has always lived on Ennisfarne, an idyllic island just off the coast of Northumberland and only accessible when tides are low. There she runs a bar overlooking Darling Cove, a heavenly horseshoe-shaped beach named after her seafaring ancestors, whose links to the Farne Islands stretch back centuries. Logan is a famous photographer desperate to evade the limelight after a difficult break-up. Renting a cottage from Eve, he chooses Ennisfarne in the hope of anonymity but is immediately spellbound by its natural beauty. The pair don’t get off to the best start, butting heads over Eve’s adorable but boisterous Chocolate Labrador. But when Logan's true identity is revealed, Eve realises her new tenant isn’t quite the man she Trade Review‘A tender heart-warming read’ Woman’s Own

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Book SynopsisFrom one of the greatest living literary imaginations and the celebrated author of FAHRENHEIT 451 comes a collection of never-before-published effortlessly beautiful tales.Recently described in The Times as ''the uncrowned poet laureate of science fiction'' Ray Bradbury has won numerous awards including a Pulitzer Prize special citation in 2007 and an Emmy.In this new volume of never-before-published stories, follow a space shuttle crew as they voyage sixty million miles from home, discover what happens when a writer ''with the future''s eye'' believes his friend to be writing stories aboard a UFO, and listen in on a couple talking themselves backwards through time to the moment when they first held hands.This entertaining and gripping collection is a treasure trove of Bradbury gems eerie and strange, nostalgic and bittersweet, searching and speculative to delight readers of all ages.Trade Review'Let us now praise Ray Bradbury, the uncrowned poet laureate of science fiction.' The Times 'It is impossible not to admire the vigour of his prose, similes and metaphors constantly cascading from his imagination' Spectator ‘Bradbury is an authentic original’ Time Magazine ‘No other writer uses language with greater originality and zest. he seems to be a American Dylan Thomas – with discipline’ Sunday Telegraph PRAISE FOR NOW AND FOREVER:‘A meditation on writing, inspiration, ageing and change, all deep themes lightly handled, both elegiac and suspenseful… There are echos in it not only of Melville, but of Shakespeare, Whitman and Poe … The language sings.’ The Times

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Book SynopsisThis new selection of 12 of the best Sherlock Holmes stories is designed to give a full sense of their world, taking Holmes's career from its early days to its close. It includes the book-length The Sign of the Four and an introduction and notes by Barry McCrea that give a sense of the different currents running beneath the stories' surface.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Note on the Text ; Select Bibliography ; A Chronology of Arthur Conan Doyle ; The Sign of the Four ; A Scandal in Bohemia ; The Red-Headed League ; A Case of Identity ; The Man with the Twisted Lip ; The Blue Carbuncle ; The Speckled Band ; The Musgrave Ritual ; The Greek Interpreter ; The Dancing Men ; The Six Napoleons ; His Last Bow ; Explanatory Notes

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