A re-read of a book I’ve owned in paper for many years (it’s falling apart…)

An anthology of short stories by an author it’s a pleasure to read; decent writing and well-crafted plot all contribute to an enjoyable reading experience. 2 of the stories are favourites of mine - Chinese Puzzle and Confidence Trick.

They do read very much of their time - the book was originally published in 1954, so the stories would have been written before then, but this does not detract. I am reminded of the writing style of Neville Shute and the story craft of Jane Aiken. In many ways, the stories come across as magical realism rather than science fiction.

Recommended.

Short stories from the author of The Day of the Triffids. Good stuff. ( )

A great collection of short stories from John Wyndham. Very much of their time (this was first published in 1954) but still very readable. A touch of horror, a touch of humour - some of the endings had me smiling (or laughing) - I don't think there was a disappointing story in this book. A definite keeper. ( )

Indeholder "Jizzle", "Technical Slip", "A Present from Brunswick", "Chinese Puzzle", "Esmeralda", "How Do I Do?", "Una", "Affair of the Heart", "Confidence Trick", "The Wheel", "Look Natural, Please!", "Perforce to Dream", "Reservation Deferred", "Heaven Scent", "More Spinned Against".

"Jizzle" handler om en sælger af mirakelmedicin der køber en abe med et lidt ondskabsfuldt talent for at tegne, hvilket han fortryder bitterligt.
"Technical Slip" handler om Robert Finnerson får lov at leve sit liv om igen men der sker en teknisk fejl så han ikke får slettet hukommelsen helt.
"A Present from Brunswick" handler om en fløjte fra Hamlen. Fløjten havner i den lille amerikanske by Pleasantgrove lige efter anden verdenskrig.
"Chinese Puzzle" handler om en kejserlig drage i Wales der møder en anden drage og sød musik opstår.
"Esmeralda" handler om kærlighed og jalousi i et loppecirkus.
"How Do I Do?" handler om et besøg hos en spåkone med et uventet resultat.
"Una" handler om en dyrevelfærdsforkæmper der møder kunstigt liv med for mange hormoner i.
"Affair of the Heart" handler om to rivaler der slås - den ene dør og den anden mødes med pigen hvert år på samme tid.
"Confidence Trick" handler om en tur i helvede med en skeptiker.
"The Wheel" handler om at det efter Sammenbrudet er upopulært at opfinde hjulet igen.
"Look Natural, Please!" handler om en fotograf og ironien ved modeluner der gentager sig.
"Perforce to Dream" handler om en massesuggestation med alt for stor succes.
"Reservation Deferred" handler om at et spøgelse fortæller en døende om himlen og hun beslutter sig for at blive rask.
"Heaven Scent" handler om at opfinderen af den perfekte parfume selv bliver snøret af sin sekretær vha den.
"More Spinned Against" handler om Arachne og en edderkoppesamlers hustru der bytter plads for en dag og den stakkels edderkoppesamler får svært ved at samle sig bagefter.

Udmærkede små noveller ( )

stories: Jizzle / Technical Slip / A Present from Brunswick / Chinese Puzzle / Esmeralda / How Do I Do? / Una / Affair of the Heart / Confidence Trick / The Wheel / Look Natural, Please! / Perforce to Dream / Reservation Deferred / Heaven Scent / More Spinned Against

This is a great collection of genre-crossing stories, each of which has at least a whiff of science fiction, fantasy, comedy, and/or horror, but still enough realism to satisfy readers who don't generally opt for whimsy in their fiction. Among Wyndham's subjects are: a mischievous monkey with a penchant for portraiture and homewrecking; the humorous introduction of a Chinese dragon to the home of a salt-of-the-earth Welsh couple; the effect of an encounter with a Frankensteinian horror on an animal-rights activist; the problem with creating the world's most potent perfume; and the consequences of switching places -- even for a day -- with the mythical Arachne.

Great stuff. And, as it happens, my introduction to the writing of John Wyndham. ( )