Release Date: February 3/2015
Acquired: Print copy sent by publisher
Goodreads: ADD
Purchase: Amazon/Indigo/Book Depository
Multiple award winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman returns to dazzle, captivate, haunt, and entertain with this third collection of short fiction following Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things--which includes a never-before published American Gods story, "Black Dog," written exclusively for this volume.
In this new anthology, Neil Gaiman pierces the veil of reality to reveal the enigmatic, shadowy world that lies beneath. Trigger Warning includes previously published pieces of short fiction--stories, verse, and a very special Doctor Who story that was written for the fiftieth anniversary of the beloved series in 2013--as well "Black Dog," a new tale that revisits the world of American Gods, exclusive to this collection.
Trigger Warning explores the masks we all wear and the people we are beneath them to reveal our vulnerabilities and our truest selves. Here is a rich cornucopia of horror and ghosts stories, science fiction and fairy tales, fabulism and poetry that explore the realm of experience and emotion. In "Adventure Story"--a thematic companion to The Ocean at the End of the Lane--Gaiman ponders death and the way people take their stories with them when they die. His social media experience "A Calendar of Tales" are short takes inspired by replies to fan tweets about the months of the year--stories of pirates and the March winds, an igloo made of books, and a Mother's Day card that portends disturbances in the universe. Gaiman offers his own ingenious spin on Sherlock Holmes in his award-nominated mystery tale "The Case of Death and Honey". And "Click-Clack the Rattlebag" explains the creaks and clatter we hear when we're all alone in the darkness.
A sophisticated writer whose creative genius is unparalleled, Gaiman entrances with his literary alchemy, transporting us deep into the realm of imagination, where the fantastical becomes real and the everyday incandescent. Full of wonder and terror, surprises and amusements, Trigger Warning is a treasury of delights that engage the mind, stir the heart, and shake the soul from one of the most unique and popular literary artists of our day.
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I didn't love this collection.
I didn't, and I'm so ashamed.
Neil Gaiman is my whole, whole literary-loving heart, and the fact that I didn't love his last major publication either (The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Review), has this heart breaking. I won't be reviewing each story on it's own, because, to be honest, I tended to skip the ones I wasn't enjoying.
Trigger Warning began with the most fantastic intro, and the anticipation of such wonderful things to come. I was promised disturbing tales, and cautioned to read at my own risk. What I went on to read were interesting stories, at best, but definitely not anything that gave me serious shivers, or pangs of an uncomfortable nature. My favourites were: Lunar Labyrinth, The Thing About Cassandra, The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains, A Calendar of Tales, and Click-Clack the Rattlebug. For me, those were the types of storylines that I had anticipated: odd, quirky, creepy, and memorable. The others, I could have done without-they were drawn out, and way too convoluted for my taste.
The silver lining of this collection, however, is that if you go into it thinking you're only getting the typical Gaiman-esque wonder and fantastical notions, you're going to be pleasantly surprised at the other genres he tries his hand at. There is homage paid to the likes of a one Mr. Sherlock Holmes, as well as everyone's favourite Doctor.
Sadly, I am a forever fan of Mr. Gaiman's fantasy/paranormal work, so this one just didn't work for me as a whole.
Recommended for Fans of: Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Science Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Terry Prachett, Douglas Adams, Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes.
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Neil Gaiman's work has been honoured with many awards internationally, including the Newbery and Carnegie Medals. His books and stories have also been honoured with 4 Hugos, 2 Nebulas, 1 World Fantasy Award, 4 Bram Stoker Awards, 6 Locus Awards, 2 British SF Awards, 1 British Fantasy Award, 3 Geffens, 1 International Horror Guild Award and 2 Mythopoeic Awards.
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Thank-you to Trish from TLC Book Tours for hosting this tour, and to William Morrow for sending me a print copy to review!
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It is perfectly fine to not love everything an author writes. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the tour!