Reading Update 13/05/08

Since discovering the wonderful world of PS Publishing a couple of years back via their Postscripts quarterly short story magazine I’ve been catching up on some of the back catalogue that takes my eye, in particular the novellas (three of which are featured here). As PS tends to publish in limited quantities quite a few of their earlier titles can be difficult to find, and even then the more collectable hardback editions tend to fetch silly prices, but the more affordable paperback versions can occasionally be found in specialist genre second hand dealers.

Tim Lebbon’s Changing of Faces (2004) continues on from the earlier Naming of Parts (2000). As with the previous novella the story centres on 12-year-old Jack, who has had to grow up fast since waking up in a world that no longer bears any resemblance to what he knew before. Tim once again successfully tells the story from Jack’s perspective, as he tries to make sense of what is happening around him. According to Tim’s website there’s four novellas planned for this sequence; I wonder when we’re getting part 3.

I’d only previously read one Conrad Williams short story, which didn’t really click with me, but the whole premise of Nearly People (2001) sounded interesting. The setting of Howling Mile is a thoroughly hostile environment, inhabited by some very unpleasant characters. By no means a comfortable read, it is certainly a captivating one. I’ll admit I’m not sure I fully got what was going on towards the end, but this didn’t spoil my overall appreciation of the story.

Leningrad Nights (1999) by Graham Joyce is set in the city of the title during the 900-day siege of World War 2. Graham vividly brings the city to life, atmospherically portraying the hardships the populace face in their struggle to survive the ordeal they’re going through, and in which 13-year-old Leo has his adventures. It may be a short tale but there’s a lot packed in. This was my first experience reading Graham Joyce and I don’t intend it to be my last.