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The BBC National Short Story Award 2018
Hung-over and grief-stricken, a man contemplated suicide at the edge of a cliff, until he is unexpectedly distracted by the sight of a woman emerging from the water below...
A group of art students protesting the demolition of a housing block decide to turn its destruction into a creative act...
Waiting in her car for the rain to pass after her mother's funeral, a woman nurses her child and reflects on a world outside that remains headless of her sorrow...
The stories shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University 2018 pivot around the theme of loss, and the different ways that individuals, and communities, respond to it. From the son caring for his estranged father, to the widow going out for her first meal alone, the characters in these stories are trying to find ways to repair themselves, looking ahead to a time when grief will eventually soften and sooth. Above all, these stories explore the importance of human connection, and salutary effect of companionship and friendship when all else seems lost.
A group of art students protesting the demolition of a housing block decide to turn its destruction into a creative act...
Waiting in her car for the rain to pass after her mother's funeral, a woman nurses her child and reflects on a world outside that remains headless of her sorrow...
The stories shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University 2018 pivot around the theme of loss, and the different ways that individuals, and communities, respond to it. From the son caring for his estranged father, to the widow going out for her first meal alone, the characters in these stories are trying to find ways to repair themselves, looking ahead to a time when grief will eventually soften and sooth. Above all, these stories explore the importance of human connection, and salutary effect of companionship and friendship when all else seems lost.
- GenresShort StoriesAnthologies
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2018
9 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Stig Abell
10 books176 followersStephen "Stig" Paul Abell is an English journalist, newspaper editor and radio presenter. He currently co-presents the Monday to Thursday breakfast show on Times Radio with Aasmah Mir.
Abell was from 2016 to 2020 editor of The Times Literary Supplement and from 2013 to 2016 managing editor of The Sun. He was formerly a fiction reviewer at The Spectator and reviewer at Telegraph Media Group as well as The Times Literary Supplement. He was also a presenter on LBC Radio.
Abell educated at Loughborough Grammar School, and went on to graduate with a double first in English from Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
In September 2001, Abell joined the Press Complaints Commission as a complaints officer; he completed other roles at the PCC including press officer, assistant director and deputy director before being appointed Director of the PCC on 19 December 2010. In August 2013, Abell joined The Sun as managing editor, his role until the end of April 2016.
In March 2014, Abell started co-presenting a show on LBC Radio alongside Sky News television presenter Kay Burley from 8am to 11am on Sundays. Burley was the main presenter while Abell reviewed the papers and added political comment.
From August 2014, the show was co-presented by Abell and LBC's Petrie Hosken. In January 2015, he was given his own show from 8 am to 10 am on Sundays. From April 2016, Abell moved to the afternoon slot on Sundays of 3 pm to 6 pm.
Abell has been heavily criticized for publishing an article in 2015 by Katie Hopkins. The article argued for "gunships sending these boats back to their own country", and described migrants as "like cockroaches". It concluded that Britain should "force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats".
In May 2016, Abell became the editor of The Times Literary Supplement, succeeding Sir Peter Stothard, who had edited the newspaper for the previous 14 years. He held the post until June 2020, when he was succeeded by Martin Ivens.
Abell was from 2016 to 2020 editor of The Times Literary Supplement and from 2013 to 2016 managing editor of The Sun. He was formerly a fiction reviewer at The Spectator and reviewer at Telegraph Media Group as well as The Times Literary Supplement. He was also a presenter on LBC Radio.
Abell educated at Loughborough Grammar School, and went on to graduate with a double first in English from Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
In September 2001, Abell joined the Press Complaints Commission as a complaints officer; he completed other roles at the PCC including press officer, assistant director and deputy director before being appointed Director of the PCC on 19 December 2010. In August 2013, Abell joined The Sun as managing editor, his role until the end of April 2016.
In March 2014, Abell started co-presenting a show on LBC Radio alongside Sky News television presenter Kay Burley from 8am to 11am on Sundays. Burley was the main presenter while Abell reviewed the papers and added political comment.
From August 2014, the show was co-presented by Abell and LBC's Petrie Hosken. In January 2015, he was given his own show from 8 am to 10 am on Sundays. From April 2016, Abell moved to the afternoon slot on Sundays of 3 pm to 6 pm.
Abell has been heavily criticized for publishing an article in 2015 by Katie Hopkins. The article argued for "gunships sending these boats back to their own country", and described migrants as "like cockroaches". It concluded that Britain should "force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats".
In May 2016, Abell became the editor of The Times Literary Supplement, succeeding Sir Peter Stothard, who had edited the newspaper for the previous 14 years. He held the post until June 2020, when he was succeeded by Martin Ivens.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 26, 2019
Out of the five short stories I only enjoyed three so this was somewhat successful but the first two I thought were trying too hard to be pretentious, whereas the latter three seemed to flow well and the stories were interesting.
September 17, 2019
Nice little eclectic collection of short stories on the theme of loss.
November 27, 2022
RA
It's maybe pedantic, but I'm giving this collection four stars because I found one of the stories tedious, despite its emotional theme. Although I never eat chocolate, I found the chocolate story a tasty morsel. The non-sympathy card story was excellent and wry. But my favourite was the towering short story to close the volume with a tense but thought inflated bang!
It's maybe pedantic, but I'm giving this collection four stars because I found one of the stories tedious, despite its emotional theme. Although I never eat chocolate, I found the chocolate story a tasty morsel. The non-sympathy card story was excellent and wry. But my favourite was the towering short story to close the volume with a tense but thought inflated bang!
October 17, 2019
Strong collection. Every story resonated with me. My personal favourite was Sudden Traveler. That story was packed full of powerful imagery and well realised characters. The second person narrative technique/form complimented some of the themes the story addressed and didn’t feel shallow.
October 13, 2018
As always and enjoyable and worthwhile combination of some of the best short story prizes. For me, Kerry Andrew's story, set on a remote Scottish island, was the clear winner. Moved me to tears.
December 25, 2025
“I took his hand and looked him straight in the eye.
'Eat some chocolate nah.'
He didn't move.
'Daddy, is what you asked for?'
His eyes opened wide wide and I felt his hand squeeze mine.
'Thank you, son.”
.
I like the excitement of diving into a collection of short stories, even more so by writers who are largely unknown. To craft a short story is a fine skill indeed. The ability to lead the reader through a universe in only a few pages is a skill I'll never really stop appreciating. It is not all roses and rainbows, and my interest occasionally does not match my enjoyment of the stories.
.
The five stories in this collection all deal with various levels of loss, from a dying father, a daughter on another continent and a suicide attempt on a remote Scottish island. Sadness lingers in between the lines, but with them being short it is not weighed down too much with melancholy, but largely hits that melancholic sweet spot.
.
I truly enjoyed two of the five stories, the other offerings less so. It is difficult when a short story collection starts with two stories that I disliked. Both stories felt a touch pretentious, cold and boring. The remaining stories were largely pretty good. Two being very good, and one dwelling firmly in the 'ok' range, although I appreciated the gently humorous tone of it.
'Eat some chocolate nah.'
He didn't move.
'Daddy, is what you asked for?'
His eyes opened wide wide and I felt his hand squeeze mine.
'Thank you, son.”
.
I like the excitement of diving into a collection of short stories, even more so by writers who are largely unknown. To craft a short story is a fine skill indeed. The ability to lead the reader through a universe in only a few pages is a skill I'll never really stop appreciating. It is not all roses and rainbows, and my interest occasionally does not match my enjoyment of the stories.
.
The five stories in this collection all deal with various levels of loss, from a dying father, a daughter on another continent and a suicide attempt on a remote Scottish island. Sadness lingers in between the lines, but with them being short it is not weighed down too much with melancholy, but largely hits that melancholic sweet spot.
.
I truly enjoyed two of the five stories, the other offerings less so. It is difficult when a short story collection starts with two stories that I disliked. Both stories felt a touch pretentious, cold and boring. The remaining stories were largely pretty good. Two being very good, and one dwelling firmly in the 'ok' range, although I appreciated the gently humorous tone of it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews