I’ve been a fan of Neil Gaiman’s work for years. I’ve read his previous short story collections and enjoyed them. One of the features I enjoy the most is Gaiman’s introductions to his stories. He tells you when, where, why, and how the story came about. Gaiman credits Harlan Ellison for inspiring him to write his clever introductions. Like Neil Gaiman, I remember reading Harlan Ellison’s short story collections and marveling at the scintillating introductions. No one wrote story introductions like Harlan Ellison! And now, no one writes introductions to stories like Neil Gaiman. Carl Anderson wrote a wonderful review of Trigger Warning here. Check it out. GRADE: A-
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
01. Making a Chair
02. A Lunar Labyrinth
03. The Thing about Cassandra
04. Down to the Sunless Sea
05. “The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains . . . “
06. My Last Landlady
07. Adventure Story
08. ORANGE
09. A Calender of Tales
10. The Case of Death and Honey
11. The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury
12. Jerusalem
13. Click-Clack the Rattlebag
14. An Invocation of Incuriousity
15. “And Weep, Like Alexander”
16. Nothing O’Clock
17. Pearls: A Fairy Tale
18. Kether to Malkuth
19. Feminine Endings
20. Observing the Formalities
21. The Sleeper and the Spindle
22. Witch Work
23. In Relig Odhrain
24. Black Dog
Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh. He was raised in the cult and doesn’t know better. Nevertheless, I don’t support Scientologists in any endeavor.
Bob, I don’t know much about Gaiman’s background. A cult?
He was raised in a Scientologist family but does not consider himself a Scientologist. He contributes nothing to it.
Steve, thanks for that clarification.
George, I have never read anything by Neil Gaiman yet, though I have been wanting to for a while. This collection looks very interesting.
Prashant, TRIGGER WARNING would be a good place to start reading Neil Gaiman’s work. Then, you can go back and read his novels.
Bob, I had no idea!
I love Neil Gaiman. And I too enjoy his introductions.
“Provenance” was one of the things I enjoyed in lots of DAPA reviews back in the day – how people came to/chose to read the books they did. Sometimes those stories were more interesting than the books they reviewed.
Beth, you are so right! Sometimes the introductions to stories are better than the stories themselves.
Gainman’s not an author I much enjoy. Bob believes in guilt by association.
Rick, different strokes for different folks.
I like Gaiman a lot, especially NEVERWHERE. I have this on reserve at the library.
The other person whose introductions I enjoy is Robert Silverberg.
Jeff, you’re right about Robert Silverberg writing great introductions. He’s a terrific book reviewer, too!
I love Silverberg’s columns in Asimov’s Science Fiction.
Carl, me too! Silverberg’s insights on the SF field are knowledgeable and profound.
On their Coode Street Podcast recently, Jonathan Strahan and Gary Wolfe talked a lot about introductions in short story collections and I found myself feeling very sympathetic to Strahan’s opinions about how collections that don’t have some kind of related author notes/story introductions feel as if the author felt they didn’t need to bother. They feel less special. Neil Gaiman is truly a master of this,and in this same podcast they talked a lot about how with Neil and with Harlan, you are getting the whole package. For good or bad, depending on your opinions, you are getting more than just story with them, you are getting a package deal. That is especially true with Gaiman who often narrates his own work, loves writing detailed introductions, gets out and talks in detail about his inspirations, often adapts his work to different formats…
They also interviewed Harlan recently which was fascinating. I’ve not read Ellison (though I plan to remedy that soon) and have mostly heard bad things about him and watched interviews where he is a jerk about his opinions. But I enjoyed this interview and am curious to give him a try.
At any rate, I adored this collection. It was well worth the long wait for these stories to be collected. I ordered the audio version and my wife and I are going to listen to it on our little in-Missouri vacation we are taking late next month for her birthday. Can’t wait to hear Neil read these stories, and his introductory notes.
Carl, you did a great job in reviewing TRIGGER WARNING! One of my favorite stories in this collection is “The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains . . . “ I agree with Strahan and Wolfe. Introductions just make the stories more interesting for me. Harlan Ellison is a terrific writer. He can be cranky at times, but I think his heart is in the Right Place. He’s just passionate about his craft and sometimes that passion leads Harlan into excess.
Thanks. I can understand the passion. I look forward to reading the Top of the Volcano collection, which I picked up as part of Subterranean Press’ Humble Bundle.
Carl, I was very tempted by that Humble Bundle offer.
Thanks for the clarification, Steve. I retract my statement and apologize for mischaracterizing Gainman. For a good look at someone who was raised in the cult I suggest BEYOND BELIEF, by Jenna Miscavige Hill. She’s the niece of the cult’s current dictator and has some remarkable insights on how things are run there.
Bob-HBO is running a documentary in the near future called Going Clear about Scientology. I believe it was also the name of a book about Scientology that was out a couple of years back. I hate it when I find out someone I like is a Scientologist such as Jeffrey Tambor, Beck, Elizabeth Moss.
I read the book but don’t get HBO. I’m sure I’ll be able to see it eventually. Like you, Steve, I am disappointed to learn certain people are Scientologists.
Rick, It’s not guilt by association. I just refuse to support someone who in turn supports a phony religion that lies, steals, cheats, and enslaves people. I’m always glad to learn that someone, celebrity or not, walks away from that group.
George. I tried to delete my original comment right after I made it last night but couldn’t find a way to do it. What’s the secret?
Bob, all you have to do is ask.
Okay, but the little garbage can icons are better.
Bob, I deleted your “Scientology scum” comment.