This astonishing collection of all-new tales by some of the most acclaimed writers at work today is called, simply, Stories. Edited by Neil Gaiman (Sandman, The Graveyard Book, Anansi Boys, Coraline) and Al Sarrantonio (award-winning author of forty books and editor of numerous collections), Stories presents never before published short works from a veritable Who’s Who of contemporary literature—breathtaking inventions from the likes of Lawrence Block, Roddy Doyle, Joanne Harris, Joe Hill, Walter Mosley, Joyce Carol Oates, Stewart O’Nan, Chuck Palahniuk, Carolyn Parkhurst, Jodi Picoult, Peter Straub…and, of course, the inimitable Neil Gaiman himself.
Download and start listening now!
"5 Stars, but hey, a collection of short stories. I think I've mentioned how much I love short fiction. Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio have pulled together some of the best authors of our time to write for this eclectic collection of short stories, ranging from Jodi Picoult to Roddy Doyle, Chuck Palahniuk to Walter Mosley. Brilliant, perfect for dipping into and just reading one or two will one the loo, on the bus or when you're bored by late night infomercials. Favourites of mine in this collection include Blood by Roddy Doyle, The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman, The Cult of the Nose by Al Sarrantonio and The Devil on the Staircase by Joe Hill."
— ChrisWhiteWrites (5 out of 5 stars)
“A sometimes creepy, dark and dreamlike two thumbs up.”
— Time Out New York“An ambitious anthology with a pleasing mix of modes and moods. Stories has a little something for everyone who appreciates the possibilities of short fiction.”
— San Francisco Chronicle“Stories is the perfect dark counterbalance to the smells of suntan lotion and barbecue smoke waiting for you this summer.”
— Los Angeles Times“If you can’t find something to like from [Stories] roster, you really need a vacation.”
— St. Petersburg Times" I read this book of short stories to take part in a genre challenge for "fantasy" novels. In truth it is not just fantasy but a mixed bag of "tales of the imagination".....some fantasy but also dystopia, sci-fi, magic realism, soft horror, mystery plus a sprinkling of some just very strange tales. As fantasy is not really my thing, it was always going to be a hard sell and so it proved. I really enjoyed about 3 of the 20 odd stories; those by Neil Gaiman, Joe Lansdale & Elizabeth Hand but abandoned another 3 and found the rest just OK, hence my rating. The author list is pretty stellar and I'm sure that fans of imagination genres will enjoy the collection much more than me. "
— Ian, 2/3/2014" My teacher borrowed this and then promptly stole it. They were that good. "
— Demi, 1/31/2014" Go Jodi Picoult for raising the creepy bar. I think she's a great writer but the CNN-tagline plots are kinda blah. This is a great collection so far, I like to read a random when I have a smoke on the doorstep. "
— Tamar, 1/29/2014" There is some AWESOME stuff in here! Another reminder of how much I enjoy a good book of short stories. The Gaiman, obviously, is tremendous. As is the Joe Hill. Co-editor Al Sarrantonio's tale is also RIVETING, and Diana Wynne Jones rattles off a whimsical tale of Christmas annoyance that is sure to draw a chuckle. "
— Bill, 1/24/2014" good collection of short stories "
— Helen, 1/8/2014" An incredible group of writers, and while none of the stories are bad . . . not that many are as great as I had expected. "
— Mark, 12/27/2013" Spotty anthology, but some good fantasy finds, often not from authors you'd expect. Jodi Picoult, for instance, delivers a great magical realism tale. "
— John, 12/17/2013" Some interesting stories, but some questionable endings. "
— David, 11/20/2013" The short stories were perfect for my commute on the train to school and work. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. Not all if the stories were strong, and the endings of some seemed rushed, but as a whole I found the collection enjoyable. "
— Shayna, 11/3/2013" must read : 'Catch and Release'- Lawrence Block, 'Devil on the staircase' - Joe Hill, 'Wildfire in Manhattan' - Joanne Harris , 'The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains' - of course Neil Gaiman... :) "
— Gina, 8/30/2013" A very mixed bag. Some really great stories, some that are quite weak. "
— Patrick, 8/25/2013" I loved the variety of stories in this collection. I never knew what I might get next as I turned the pages. Highly recommend that you pick up a copy of this because you'll want to reread many of these tales again. "
— Jill, 8/11/2013" I was very impressed with this collection. It was a great selection of different writing styles and ideas. There was the occassional flop (the Wynne Jones story is worth skipping), but overall an outstanding grouping of authors and stories. "
— Kayla, 5/18/2013" The order of the stories heightened how repetetive some themes or topics were. I wasn't blown away. "
— Thorn, 2/10/2013" It's like a box of assorted chocolates. Some pieces you really enjoy, others...well, you kinda get through it. "
— Darlene, 6/3/2012" Pretty damn good collection of new short stories! "
— Robert, 12/27/2011" All the stories are gems, but for the penultimate one, which slowed down the pace & plodded along in the most insomnia-curing yawnsome manner! Otherwise, I would have given it 5 stars! "
— Daniel, 12/13/2011" Tried and tried - these stories are technically well-written and there's only one misspelled word (guess you have to read them to find it) but, in the end, none of them really thrilled me. I only skimmed the last three so I consider this disappointing set to one I left before the miracle happened. "
— Ellen, 5/22/2011" Not what I expected. A couple duds, but a good collection overall. "
— Jana, 5/19/2011" This is full of short stories selected by author Neil Gaiman. The stories are strange and dark making it a great read and something that will spark the imagination. "
— Jennie, 4/29/2011" A simply fantastic collection of short stories! "
— Colin, 4/19/2011" Wonderful short stories! I especially liked Gaiman's work of course and his intro, awesome! Good read for everyone. "
— Tiff, 4/13/2011" So far, I've loved stories by Roddy Doyle, Neil Gaiman, Joyce Carol Oates, Diana Wynn Jones, and Joe Lansdale. <br/> <br/>Did not like the stories "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (didn't get it) and "Loser" (ridiculous.) "
— Danielle, 3/24/2011" I really, really, really loved this. A bit of horror, a bit of the twilight zone ... takes me back to middle school and reading The Lottery by Shirley Jackson for the first time.<br/><br/>I think I may wait a month or so and then try the audio book version. "
— Jennie, 3/14/2011Neil Gaiman is the author of several #1 New York Times bestsellers, including Norse Mythogy, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and Anansi Boys, and others, as well as the Sandman series of graphic novels. His fiction has received Newbery, Carnegie, Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner awards. His novel American Gods aired as a TV series in 2017. Originally from England, he lives in the United States, where he is a professor at Bard College.
Al Sarrantonio is the author more than forty-five books. He is a winner of the Bram Stoker Award and has been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award, the British Fantasy Award, the International Horror Guild Award, the Locus Award, and the Private Eye Writers of America Shamus Award. Hailed as “a master anthologist” by Booklist, he has edited numerous collections, including the highly acclaimed 999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense, among others. His work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and has appeared in comic book form.
Anne Bobby has worked extensively in television and audiobook narration. Her acting credits include appearances on such television shows as Law & Order, As the World Turns, Mad About You, and Cop Rock. Among her narrations are the Katie Kazoo series by Nancy Krulik and the Harriet the Spy series by Louis Fitzhugh.
Jonathan Davis has been inducted into the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. A three-time recipient and fourteen-time nominee of the Audie Award, he has earned accolades for his narration from the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, the American Library Association, Booklist, the Audio Publishers Association, AudioFile magazine, and USA Today. He has narrated a variety of bestsellers and award-winners for top publishing houses. He also narrated over forty titles of the Star Wars franchise for Lucasfilm Ltd./PRH Audio, including several iconic movie tie-ins, has participated with Star Wars Celebration, and has built a significant fan base. His work as a narrator includes films and programming for National Geographic Television, NOVA, PBS, VH1, and Francis Ford Coppola. He grew up in Puerto Rico and speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew.
Peter Francis James is an accomplished actor on both the stage and the screen. His theater credits include roles in On Golden Pond, Much Ado about Nothing, and August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. His many film and television credits include Jahfree Neema in Oz, Raymond Parks in The Rosa Parks Story, Joe Gould’s Secret, The Guiding Light, Law & Order: SVU, and Third Watch. James’ audiobook narration has won him nine AudioFile Earphones Awards.
Katherine Kellgren (1969–2018), narrator and actress, appeared onstage in London, New York, and Frankfurt, including in the role of Laura in a regional production of The Glass Menagerie and appearances on Comedy Central. In recognition of her mastery of audiobook narration, she received many honors, including the prestigious Audie Awards, with four for best female narrator; the Odyssey Award; Publishers Weekly Listen Up Award; dozens of AudioFile magazine Earphones Awards; an AudioFile Golden Voice Award; Booklist Voice of Choice award; and acclaim from press and listener reviews.
Euan Morton is an Earphones Award–winning narrator. As an actor and singer, he is best known for his role as Boy George in the musical Taboo, which earned him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. He reprised the role on Broadway, earning him the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut, as well as nominations for the ony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League awards. His other stage performances include Leaves of Glass, Sondheim on Sondheim, and Cyrano De Bergerac.