Stories - Neil Gaiman & Al Sarantonio

Really good stories, mostly. It's nice to get a collection by established, successful writers because when you want to read something more by one of them they are easy to find, unlike the writers who appear in compilations of promising newcomers. I will definitely be on the lookout for Joyce Carol Oates and Michael Moorcock now (previously just names I had heard). One or two of the stories here were kind of lame, but the majority have that solid, rich, fulfilling feeling a short story should have. Inspired me just in time for Bridport.

21 Stories - Graham Greene

Reminded me very much of Ian McEwan's short stories. All very focused on an event and most set over a very short time, and most very short. The prose itself seemed a bit lacking in places - slightly clumsy or sort of thoughtless. But overall quite inspirational. I also like the way one or other world war is the backdrop to almost every story, and the way you slowly or suddenly are reminded of this in each one.

All Hail the New Puritans - Various

Picked it up because of the very intriguing "manifesto" really. I thought the stories were not as groundbreaking and the manifesto and review quotes ("controversial" - really?) suggested, but they are very good, most of them. Immediate, plot-driven, straight-forward and totally unpretentious. Alex Garland's one especially, about a journalist at a Grand Prix race track, is so vivid and photographic (in more ways than one) that it has lodged in my head firmly. The world needs more short stories.