The State of the Art by Iain M. Banks

 I'm not a fan of short stories--I get involved in the story and characters, and then it ends abruptly, transitioning to an unrelated story. These were no different, but their saving grace was the stories related to the Culture series. There were stories unrelated to the series, but they were interesting.

Banks brings back characters from Use of Weapons in a story that not only expands on the characters, but also on our knowledge of the Culture. In the titular story, a ship visits Earth, and one of the characters wants to stay. The author does an excellent job of examining our history and cultures in a way that brings into focus both the positive and less positive aspects of humanity. This was my favorite story in the collection.

This book doesn't change my stance on short stories, but I did enjoy them. There is humor and moral reckoning in them. These stories are a good addition to the series. 

4/5 stars.

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You Like It Darker: Stories by Stephen King

This book should teach us that one should never anticipate a book based on its title. Because the title is YOU LIKE IT DARKER, I expected these stories to be vintage Stephen King, dark, and, perhaps, creepy. Nope. With a couple of exceptions, there wasn't even much paranormal. Not that anything by King is disappointing; it's just not what I was expecting. Another thing is that the title says "Stories"--not "short stories"--because at least one was more novella length. Live and learn.

I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection, some more than others. My favorites, "Two Talented Bastids" and "The Answer Man," were storytelling at its finest. All had interesting characters, and "Rattlesnakes" used characters from King's oldie but goodie CUJO.

I discovered Stephen King early in his career and have been a constant reader ever since. I'm not a fan of story collections—I prefer one long story—something I can get immersed in—but this is a good one as a collection goes. 

4/5 stars.

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The Man in Black: And Other Stories by Elly Griffiths

 

I'm not usually a fan of short stories - right when I get into them, they end - but I am a fan of Elly Griffiths, and I was delighted with this collection.

There is something for everyone in this collection - cozy mysteries, ghost stories, and, of course, murder mysteries. Being a fan of Griffiths's Ruth Galloway series, I was pleased to see her featured in some stories. The character Harbinder Kaur even makes an appearance! I also liked how the characters featured in one story appear in passing in another. Stories written from the vantage point of an animal do not appeal to me, but Griffiths won me over with a story told by Ruth's cat, Flint. Overall, I was very pleased with this collection. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mariner Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 15, 2024.

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Cut and Thirst by Margaret Atwood

 

I love Margaret Atwood's sense of humor. In this witty short story, she combines humor with fun characters to create a dark tale about how to serve revenge.

Over Gin and Tonics, three older women plot revenge for a literary attack on a friend that occurred years ago—and murder is not off the table. Leonine, Chrissy, and Myrna have not forgotten the eight—or was it nine—men who banded together when their friend Fern put together an anthology and omitted the men's ringleader in the book. Now, after all these years, with Fern's health declining, they plot to right this wrong without Fern's knowledge. But are they truly capable of murder? They think they are.

The characters in this story are friends I'd love to have. Never forgetting what happened to Fern, their loyalty knows no bounds. Watching the best-laid plans go astray in this wicked, funny tale is a delight from a master storyteller. 

4/5 stars.

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Normal Rules Don't Apply: Stories by Kate Atkinson

 I like almost everything Kate Atkinson has written, and I especially like her books featuring the Jackson Brodie character. These eleven short stories are classic Kate Atkinson: light-hearted, engaging stories that captured my imagination.

These stories are interconnected, with the main characters being a queen in a fable, a man who works on a soap opera, and a recently deceased secretary, among others. Although they don't sound like they could work together, trust me, they do. Atkinson skillfully intertwines these lives interestingly and imaginatively to produce a satisfying read.

4/5 stars.

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Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

I don't usually care for short stories, but a friend whose opinions I trust suggested this collection. I did like it, and although it didn't change my mind about short stories—they're too choppy; I like a continuous story—I was engaged with most of the stories.

These are stories previously published in magazines, mainly in the 90s, but they have held up well. All are character-driven and deal with various topics, including what it means to be human. Most stories have intriguing premises, are excellently written, and captured my imagination. The author delves heavily into math and physics in several stories that I found hard to comprehend. I admit to having to skim parts, but that didn't detract from the overall readability of the stories. All-in-all, this is an interesting read. 

3.5/5 stars.

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The Rise by Ian Rankin

I have been a fan of Ian Rankin for many years, so I leaped to get this short story by him that was free for Amazon Prime members in October.

DI Jack Milton and DS Gillian Gish are on call when a murder occurs at an exclusive residential high-rise in London, aptly named The Rise. The highly wealthy inhabitants find themselves suspects, and some aren't very cooperative. The detectives must tread lightly to solve the murder.

This is a solid police procedural with a twist. Typical of Rankin, the murderer isn't apparent, and although a few clues are meted out, there aren't enough to figure out the whodunit in this intricate story—that part I didn't like. I felt like the author held back too much information--a fine line for a murder mystery, I admit, and one that often frustrates me. Overall, this is a good, solid read, and the price couldn't be beaten.

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