Time Out London Short Stories v.2 (Time Out Book Of...) [Paperback]

Time Out (Author), Nicholas Royle (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Time Out Book Of... | Publication Date: October 31, 2000

This second edition is packed with literary stars and exciting new voices, including Maureen Freely, lain Sinclair, Kim Newman, Michael Moorcock, Esther Freud, Michele Roberts and Geoff Nicholson.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Time Out; 2nd edition (October 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140296239
• ISBN-13: 978-0140296235
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,906,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Mix of Stories, July 26, 2003

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Time Out London Short Stories v.2 (Time Out Book Of...) (Paperback)

Seven years after the first collection of London tales under the Time Out magazine aegis, we have 29 new selections set amidst the sprawling metropolis that is London. In his brief introduction, editor Royle notes that "Cities are breeding grounds for... above all, narrative" and that the stories that can be written about London are "endless". This is certainly true, and while many of the stories here are good, few of them have much to say specifically about London. No one can argue that London is a distinctive place with it's own vibe, but trying to capture that in a short story is rather difficult. Many of the stories here could just as easily be set in New York or any other large Western city.

This is not to say there aren't plenty of good stories. 'cause there are. My own favorites included Geoff Nicholson's hilarious "Wittgenstein's Mattress", Paul McAuley's ghost story "Bone Orchards", Stewart Home's brilliant two and half-pager "Didn't I Blow Your Mind", Robert Elms' enigmatic "My Thing", Elizabeth Young giving Bridget Jones the two fingers in "Jonesing: The End" and John O'Connell's bizarre "Gone To Earth".

It also must be said that the book does contain an excellent mix of styles, from bleak kitchen-sinkers (Leone Ross' "Mudman", Michael Moorcock's "London Blood") to predictable shocker/thrillers (Courttia Newland's "Suicide Note", Michele Roberts' "The Cookery Lesson"), to bizarre otherworld visions of the city (Christopher Kenworthy's "Waste Ground", Conrad Williams' "Known"), to relationship tales (Toby Litt's "Unhaunted", Jacqueline Lucas' nicely done "Touching Base") to out and out pretentious (Gareth Evans' "Ultima Thule", Tamara Smith's "The Watcher"), to drug addict monologues (Steve Grant's "Portions" and the aforementioned "Jonesing") and one story that seemed very oddly out of place, having little to do with London whatsoever, Maureen Freely's "Rapprochement". So, whatever the anthology's shortcomings as a window into London, it does provide a nice mix and a good way to check out a wide range of authors.