Analyzing the complexity, absurdity, and blessedness of seemingly ordinary people, this debut collection examines the metaphysical assumptions surr...
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Dec 31, 2008
Charles
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What a powerful and wonderful book this is. In deliberately toned-down and undemonstrative prose, Shearman takes the lives of average people, suburbanites, office-workers, the patiently married, the mildly disappointed, and, with one single fundamental shift of perspective (for want of a better word), creates a reality that surprises, informs and moves, often deeply. I found most of these stories compelling, touching, occasionally gut-wrenching, often funny, with a capacity to tell truths about
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Nov 28, 2008
Elizabeth
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What's remarkable about this story collection, I think, is an anarchic imagination - a woman gives birth to furniture, the powers that be decide to take our knowledge of our mortality to its logical conclusion, a woman dies several times over, once for each of her children - combined most unusually with a touching humanity. Every crazy thing that happens here is believable, every character touches you in some way, because they come to you through Robert Shearman's affectionate understanding and
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Aug 08, 2011
Gareth
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An impressive collection of short stories, most of which have a fantasy element and quite a few have ingenious plots. On the back cover Martin Jarvis compares Robert Shearman to Douglas Adams. Where the two writers come closest is that their stories are funny on the surface but ultimately melancholic in spirit. In past he wrote an audio Doctor Who story for Big Finish called "Deadline", about an elderly writer flitting between reality and a SF world of his imagination. A prose version
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Oct 24, 2009
Wendy
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This is one of the best single-author story collections I've read in a long time. It's certainly one of the most consistently good - a lot of single-author collections have one or two really fantastic stories, some good ones, and one or two that seem like they're there to make up the word count. Every story in Tiny Deaths feels like it belongs there, and while I like some stories better than others, there are no real clunkers.
Most of the stories in Tiny Deaths are fantasy, generally More...
Most of the stories in Tiny Deaths are fantasy, generally More...
Sep 26, 2010
Shawn
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A solid collection of tales, mainly modern genre pieces, or dryly British comic takes on modern genre pieces (sometimes, the difference is imperceptible).
Would that that were true of the opening tale, "Mortal Coil", in which people are informed, by mail, of their death dates. It's a shame its the opener because its pretty all-over-the-place tone wise, wanting to have its little dry comic cake and eat it it to. Only this and "Ashes To Ashes", in which a woman is More...
Would that that were true of the opening tale, "Mortal Coil", in which people are informed, by mail, of their death dates. It's a shame its the opener because its pretty all-over-the-place tone wise, wanting to have its little dry comic cake and eat it it to. Only this and "Ashes To Ashes", in which a woman is More...
Aug 17, 2010
S.
rated it: 
This is an entertaining collection of stories, which above all deal with mortality. Most of them I'd classify as fantasy since they bend reality a good bit. The first story in the book, "Mortal Coil," which was one of my favorites, was published in an anthology of horror stories.
The beginnings were invariably great hooks. The story "Extra Ordinary" begins, for example, "I met a girl in college who said she didn't sweat." Another, "Static," starts " More...
The beginnings were invariably great hooks. The story "Extra Ordinary" begins, for example, "I met a girl in college who said she didn't sweat." Another, "Static," starts " More...
Feb 09, 2012
Jennifer
rated it:
80/100
One of the best books I've read this year. These stories are written very well, they're clever, engaging and thought-provoking. I think I prefer his Love Songs... collection, but it's like comparing fine wines: it's hard to really say one is better than the other, just different.
One of the best books I've read this year. These stories are written very well, they're clever, engaging and thought-provoking. I think I prefer his Love Songs... collection, but it's like comparing fine wines: it's hard to really say one is better than the other, just different.
Jul 02, 2011
Cate
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A fekking brilliant short story collection. Or to put it eloquently - bloody marvellous.
Highly, highly, highly recommend. Favourite stories were Mortal Coil, Perfect, Ashes to Ash, Stuff We Leave Behind, Favourite and Tiny Deaths.
Highly, highly, highly recommend. Favourite stories were Mortal Coil, Perfect, Ashes to Ash, Stuff We Leave Behind, Favourite and Tiny Deaths.
Feb 24, 2010
Simon
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Wonderful collection of short stories here - the highlight being the one with Hitler's dog. I won't give the twist away but it is fabulous! Can't wait for Love Songs For The Shy and Cynical.
Apr 04, 2009
Andrew
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Good collection of stories: if a little samey and predictable in places it was also surprising and unpredictable in others. Recommended.
Apr 01, 2009
Katie
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The deaths are of things that can end: lives, relationships, illusions, societies. Very good, and surprisingly positive. I liked it.
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