Poll

I'm not voting in this match because I have not read "The Inner Room" and am reading other stories for today's set of matchups, but I wanted to stop by to say a word on behalf of "The Boat". Almost exactly one year ago (March 9, 2017, to be precise), was the world premiere of the stage adaptation of "The Boat". I was lucky enough to see it later that same month and it was really wonderful. After seeing the play, I read the story for the first time and found it equally strong. In fact, much of the play dialogue is taken verbatim from the story. MacLeod has a powerful ability to tell stories of Cape Breton that remind me of some of the best storytelling of Ireland. Anyone who liked this story would certainly want to read his novel "No Great Mischief", which was voted the best Atlantic Canadian book of all time in 2009, the same year it, too, was adapted for the stage. And if you want to vote for "The Boat" here, well, that would be ok too.

I will have a look for the novel you mention, David.

However, I'm voting for The Inner Room. I look forward to hearing what you think of it if it gets through.

My nod goes to "The Boat." I loved "The Inner Room," but Macleod does something interesting that I don't see often. Instead of placing the emphasis of the story on the narrator's choice, MacLeod focuses on the difficulty of the decision the narrator had to make. That elevates this story in my opinion.

yea, I'm wavering...

I was very touched by The Boat; I hadn’t read this author before. I will look up the novel.. Thanks for the recommendation.

This is the toughest one for me today. MacLeod wrote only a few stories, yet they are so strong he's actually pretty well known as a short story writer. I do love his novel too, but not nearly as much as I love his stories.

Aickman, on the other hand, has been with me much longer. You can see a trend--when we get to a lot of the horror-ish tales I usually have a bit of nostalgia for them because I read them young and have enjoyed revisiting them. This one is one of my favorites.

At the same time, "The Boat" is tremendous. And I don't think MacLeod is nearly as well known as he should be. If having him advance means more people will read him in the next round, then I'm all for that.

David wrote: "MacLeod has a powerful ability to tell stories of Cape Breton."
When I glanced at this title on the list I was thinking of The Open Boat and wasn't excited, but, David, you have prejudiced me before I begin reading.

I spent several summers during the latter 90s and early 00s in the paradise of Nova Scotia. The natural glories and resourceful people of Cape Breton can make me cry with missing them. Inverness Beach, Dingwall, Four Mile Beach, pilot whales, the wilds of Bay St Lawrence, every cabin, B&B, and country farmhouse I let... I'll stop before I am blubbering. Oh, and crossing the causeway to Cape Breton. Those piles of white gypsum were like gates into the promised land.

Where are people reading The Inner Room? Can't find it anywhere.

Happily voting for The Boat.

The Inner Room was the last story I read - I was resisting buying the book as I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but relented as I wanted to complete the list. It is in this collection: The Wine-Dark Sea

Ang wrote: "The Inner Room was the last story I read - I was resisting buying the book as I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but relented as I wanted to complete the list. It is in this collection: [book:The Wine-Dark ..."
Thanks. My library system actually has one copy. Google has only random pages.

Commenting just for the record; changing my vote to "The Inner Room" because I liked it fine, and it looks like "The Boat" is going to win anyway. Actually, I didn't like "The Boat" that much, but I look forward to rereading it and probably learning to appreciate what makes it so legendary.