Fragile Things

Published by Hachette UK Audio

A dazzling book of short stories from one of modern fiction's greatest and most imaginative writers Neil Gaiman.

The distinctive genius of Neil Gaiman has been championed by writers as diverse as Norman Mailer and Stephen King. With THE SANDMAN Neil Gaiman created one of the most sophisticated, intelligent and influential graphic novel series of our time. Now Gaiman has produced FRAGILE THINGS, his second collection of short fiction. These stories will dazzle your senses, haunt your imagination and move you to the very depths of your soul. This extraordinary book reveals one of the world's most gifted storytellers at the height of his powers.

(P)2006 Headline Digital

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette UK Audio
• Release date: Apr 2, 2007
• ISBN: 9780755342006

Reviews for Fragile Things

[steve02476 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not my kind of stuff, but he does it really well,with a fine sense of humor. Listened to the audiobook and Gaiman’s voice is wonderful.

[kittycunningh-815148 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Shadow story was my favorite part of this collection.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't think I have read anything by this author that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. If you've never read Neil Gaiman and you want to meet this talented story teller...then these short stories are a perfect way to go. You'll find these little jewels dark and magnificently creepy...but easy and quick reads. There are a few pieces that are on the weak side...but that's okay, as there is plenty to pick and choose from here.

[melrailey-412132 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In short, this is another great installment from Neil Gaiman. Some of the stories blew me over (A Study In Emerald) and others were forgettable. But the entire time, I was lost in the world of Neil Gaiman's imagination (which has no competition). This story collection is worth picking up just for the American Gods story featuring Shadow.

[linyarai · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Overall I enjoyed it, but some stories were too short and others were really creepy. The story of Shadow at the end was really good.

[theelliemo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A bit of a mixed bag; some of the stories didn’t really do it for me - mostly these are because this isn’t my usual genre and I therefore didn’t get some of the references; the stories linked to Tori Amos’ albums or tours missed the mark for me too, because hers isn’t my kind of music. But on balance, the good stories are superb. I loved The Monarch of The Glen, the American Gods novella that rounds off this collections, and while I’m not in general a huge fan of poetry, the poems in this collection are delightful.

[angelajmaher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

These stories are wonderful flights of fancy but what gets me is how very 'complete' they are. There is a meat, a complexity, that usually only comes from a skillful telling of a true story. There's no excess backstory but the structure of the telling shows so much more than the words themselves express. Wonderful.

[danielstj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A thematic set of short stories that focuses on intimate and revealing moments. The collection is full of so many conflicting feelings, expectations, results, disturbing details, and effluence. It's Gaiman attempting to reach for something literary-- and that is always to be commended.

3.5

[charlotteburt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't normally like short stories, but this is the exception. Each is exquisitely crafted and most are disquieting. He is a master of his craft.

[csdaley-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some excellent shorts. My favorites was shadows.

[kmajort · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another pick-up-put-down-pick-up-again collection of short stories.....

[writertomg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A splendid collection from one of my authors. Will give mini-synopses/reviews of the stories.

A Study in Emerald - Wow! I don't know if I've ever read a better short story in my life. Written for an anthology of stories where the world of Sherlock Holmes meets the world of H.P. Lovecraft, Gaiman's take gives The Ancient Ones the sanity-crumbling horror I'm used to and gives Holmes the brilliant see-everything-at-once deductive skills that we expect. A best-of-both-worlds story that's scary, thrilling, and surprising.

The Fairy Reel -

October in the Chair

The Hidden Chamber

Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire

The Flints of Memory Lane

Closing Time

Going Wodwo

Bitter Grounds

Other People

Keepsakes and Treasures

Good Boys Deserve Favors

The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch

Strange Little Girls

Harlequin Valentine

Locks

The Problem of Susan

Instructions

How Do You Think It Feels?

My Life

Fifteen Painted Cards from a Vampire Tarot

Feeders and Eaters

Diseasemaker's Croup

In the End

Goliath

Pages from a Journal Found in a Shoebox Left in a Greyhound Bus Somewhere Between Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Louisville, Kentucky

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

The Day the Saucers Came

Sunbird

Inventing Aladdin

The Monarch of the Glen

[shaunesay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really just love listening to Neil Gaiman read, whether I'm actually paying attention to the story or not. Short stories have never been my favorite medium, but there were several interesting ones in here, and combined with Neil's performance, I enjoyed this. My biggest problem in looking back at the list of stories is not really being able to say which ones were my favorites, because I'm not entirely sure which ones they were! lol! I'm pretty sure that Bitter Grounds was one with an Anthropology/Voodoo/Missing Person spin. Also there was another that had a Matrix-esque premise of the world you feel is real actually being a simulation that I liked quite a bit.

I think at some point I would like to read this physically, since I retain them better when I'm reading visually than when I'm listening, but I will always listen to Neil reading, always. :)

I'm counting this in for Award Winning Challenge as a couple of the stories in this collection are award winners or mentions.

Study in Emerald
short story : 2004 Hugo W
novelette : 2004 Locus W

The Monarch of the Glen
novelette : 2004 Locus/2

[ahs7wolfy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A bunch of short stories and poems which concludes with a novella. I don't tend to read a lot of short fiction but have been picking at this one for quite a while. For me it was quite a mixed bag so far as quality goes but you can't argue with the quantity as there are nearly 30 entries included in this collection.. There are also introductions to each piece located in a separate section at the beginning of the book. My favourites were Monarch of the Glen (the novella which features Shadow from American Gods), Sunbird (a club set on sampling all the world's gastronomic delights), Bitter Grounds (Ghost story with voodoo element), Keepsakes and Treasures (Introduces a couple of villains who also appear in the novella) and The Hidden Chamber (possibly the creepiest poem I've ever read). Most of the rest were at least enjoyable to a certain extent even if some were instantly forgettable.

[nonesuch42 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another Gaiman. I am slowly working my way through them all. I was over halfway through this book of short stories when I got the audio book and started over. There's something about the author reading his own words that makes them more meaningful. Plus, I'm a sucker for British male narrators.

Anyways, this collection is very diverse, with poems and funny ones and mystery ones and ones I'd never read before, and everything with that little (or huge) twist I've come to expect. There are some, like "The Problem of Susan" that I'm not very happy about, but I know they will stick with me as only the best sci-fi short stories can. You know that creepy way Bradbury or Twilight Zone stories come back to haunt you every time you hear about virtual reality or fly on an airplane? Only this one is about children's books. There are some, like the novella featuring Shadow, the main character from American Gods, that are just plain good stories. They hit all the right buttons and leave you with a feeling that something amazing just happened but you missed how the magic trick happened. If I ever have a long road trip, I'm putting this back in the queue for sure.

[andsoitgoes_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Didn't like too many of these short stories or poems which surprised me since I do enjoy Neil Gaimen's books.

[bethanymoore · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ahhh, Gaiman... you just can't go wrong there!

[mamashepp · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm a little up in the air on this collection of short stories. Some I really enjoyed; some were just odd; some I did not even understand. Maybe the last was because I was listening to it on audio and not always completely focused on it. It left me wondering if I would want to read more Gaiman.

[altheaann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I feel like Neil Gaiman is one of those authors where most people either love him or hate him... but I only like him very, very much.
Does that make any sense? Probably not.

Anyway, there are some amazing stories here. There are also some that I could do without, like the short bits written for a Tori Amos album's liner notes. I could do without Tori Amos, too, but that's just me. I just don't agree with Neil on everything. I feel like there are a lot of people out there who do, though.

I have to say, though, I got the warmest, fuzziest feeling when I read his introduction to "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" and he mentioned how much he enjoyed reading it for the first time at CBGB. I was like, "Oh, how nice! He appreciated my club, and I was there!" (He really is an excellent reader, and very personable.)

I'd already read a few of these in other collections, but they were good enough that I didn't mind re-reading them at all.

[quibee · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very enjoyable read, except for two of the stories which I found rather distasteful. An Audible book which was read very capably by the author.

[slpwhitehead · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fragile Things is a collection of short works of fiction and poems by Neil Gaiman, most of which have been previously published elsewhere. This is the fourth work by Gaiman that I have read; previously, I have read Coraline, Odd and the Frost Giants, and The Graveyard Book, all of which I was enchanted with. So, I must admit that as I was reading Fragile Things, I found myself a bit disappointed because I was having the most difficult time getting into the text.

However, it wasn't really Gaiman's writing that the problem. I think the problem solely lies with the fact that I'm not a huge fan of short story collections. I do like short stories as a genre of writing, but I think when you collect them into a single text, they seem to lose some of their charm for me. Perhaps this is because I was trying to read the collection like you would a novel and simply could not get into a reading rhythm. I also found myself searching for a clear connection between one story to the next story of poem, and wasn't really finding any, which I think is part of what made getting into a reading rhythm more difficult. I found that when I picked up another book to read and would take longer breaks between the stories in Fragile Things that I actually enjoyed the book more.

Some of the short stories were just okay for me, while some of them I absolutely loved, especially "October in the Chair", a story in which the months of the year are personified, "Bitter Grounds", "Strange Little Girls", and "Pages of a Journal Found in a Shoebox...". Overall, I enjoyed the poetry more than I did the stories as a whole. "The Fairy Reel" was, I think, my favorite poem. I say "I think" because it's difficult to choose which poem I actually liked the most. What I found with all of the writing is that Gaiman is a master of word play, and that there are little bits and snippets of every story or poem that are little jewel-like treasures that keep singing through my head at the most mundane moments of my day (i.e. washing dishes or loading the washing machine.) I think I'll have to go back and reread this collection again soon.

Two of the parts of the book that I also enjoyed were the introduction to the text and the "Conversation with Neil Gaiman" that came at the end of my edition. Introductions are tricky little elements, I think. Often, I read an introduction to a text and wonder "Why did I bother?". But that wasn't the case with the introduction to Fragile Things. I found myself really interested in Gaiman's explanations of how each piece came to be or why it was written. "Strange Little Girls", for instance, was originally written to accompany Tori Amos' CD Strange Little Girls. So, this collection of 12 very short stories appeared as lines scattered throughout the CD booklet. "Harlequin Valentine" was a story inspired by the ticket-seller in a piece, a Ferris wheel, by Lisa Snellings-Clark and sculptor and artist.

The "Conversation with Neil Gaiman" included at the end of my edition was also equally interesting as Gaiman addressed questions such as which of the pieces in this collection was his favorite and further explored how some of the pieces were written in addition to answering some questions about his writing and writing process in general.

[andibook-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A collection of short stories and poetry featuring Gaiman’s unique mixture of spooky, creepy, morbid, snarky, dark humor. Also includes lots a little tidbits of poetry interspersed between the chapters, and introductions/context in the foreword. The audiobook is read by Gaiman as well -- he’s brilliant. Some of my favorites:A Study in Emerald This is a retelling of the Sherlock Holmes story A Study in Scarlet within the Cthulhu universe, where the ruling class consists of Lovecraftian monsters. That’s right: Gaiman wrote crossover fanfiction, and it is fantastic. Sent me into mental cascade failure by the end. Love it.Harlequin ValentineI like Harlequin type characters so I enjoyed this quasi-mythical take on the character/archetype of Italian theater. The story is sad if you empathize with the male main character, but delightful and fun if you consider Harlequin the main character -- exactly the kind of dark humor you want from a Harlequin. And his seamless transition into real life was so cool.Sunbird The gastronomical adventures of the Epicurean Society, an ages-long society dedicated to eating everything you could possibly eat. They’ve run out of new things to try, when one of the older members suggests the mysterious sunbird in Egypt. As fanciful as it was, this one felt weirdly reassuring.

[sile_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it!Proper review to follow.Why did I read it? Well, I had listened to two other books by Neil Gaiman: one being a collaboration with Terry Pratchett, "Good Omens"; and the other being the 10th anniversary edition of "American Gods", which I truly enjoyed. Given this was a selection of short stories, and prose, I thought it would be entertaining for my commute. And, so it was!What's it about? Bizarre tales, short stories, the odd poem, and, finally, a little epilogue to "American Gods". A rather odd collection, though nicely set out, which I imagine can be dipped in an out of at random (if you have the hard copy, and aren't listening to Neil Gaiman narrate them himself). Tales of mythical creatures, legends, and some snatched from fragments of folklore. Included are stories from Neil Gaiman's early writings revised, edited and included here; one is a birthday gift to his daughter; and each is a wonder tale.What did I like? Every, single story, and poem. Really, I did! This collection kept me engaged, wanting to listen to every word, and not miss a moment. Neil Gaiman is a writer of the odd, the unusual, the supernatural, the otherworlds and so his tales have twists not found in other stories, but once found in the myths of old.There is a sense of humour to be found in the works, as well. Sometimes authors forget to include this in darker tales, but life, or indeed fantasy, is not just one dimensional - or shouldn't be. Neil Gaiman incorporates the whole of life, death, and everything in between in these tales.Neil Gaiman is also rather good at narrating his own work. This author knows how to bring a story to life, and doesn't seem to falter in his delivery. It's kind of refreshing to hear an author read his own words, even if you will never hear him do so live.The audio version, provided by Audible, was clear, and without fault.What didn't I like? Nope. Can't think of anything.Would I recommend it? Oh yes! To anyone who has read Neil Gaiman's other works, or even those of Terry Pratchett. If you want to read something a little different, this is it. I'll definitely be listening again.

[ailinel-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A collection of short stories, poems, and a novella, Fragile Things ranges from science fiction to urban fantasy, poetry to prose, first person to third. The book began with a line Gaiman thought up in a dream – “I think…that I would rather recollect a life misspent on fragile things than spent avoiding moral debt.” Each work has an introduction giving some of its history and Gaiman’s thought, such as the “Susan problem” in the Chronicles of Narnia that has bothered him since he was a child, or a piece that was written for his daughter who asked for a gift only he could give for her eighteenth birthday-- a story just for her. The final tale, The Monarch of the Glen, finds Shadow wandering in Scotland years after the events in American Gods. Still connected to the world of gods, heroes, and myths, Shadow finds himself drawn into a mystery involving the rich and the powerful, rituals and folktales, myths and monsters.

[tayitude-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oshit! I didn't even know this existed 'til I was wikisurfing and came across a reference to The Monarch of the Glen! Sealed the deal rather quickly.

[carsonkicklighter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Felt wistful and unnerved due to the storytelling and the character eating ginger on his sushi, because who does that

[cheriedooryard · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't, in general, enjoy short story collections and despite Gaiman being one of my favorite authors, I picked away this one for a long time in-between other reads.I found the collection to be really uneven, and many of the stories felt like they'd been included simply as filler. Nothing was bad, but a few were pretty half-hearted. I think Gaiman is good at launching into a story and at creating mood, but his short story pacing feels weak. However, the American Gods novella at the end really highlights what he can do in a slightly longer form--and it's just great.

[valerieandbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not only is this the first time I've read Neil Gaiman, it has also been a long time since I've read anything like what he wrote that is included in this short story collection. So, there were a lot of times when I'd read something to the end, and think "What the h--- was that?!" and backtrack and re-read it. A lot of these stories really stuck with me. This collection has a bit of everything: there's horror, paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy -- in some stories, there's more than one of these elements present. There's also some poems, mainly light verse, which didn't do much for me. The final piece in this collection is billed as a novella, but really is more like a long short story. The novella was quite good.I definitely am going to seek out his other writings although I think some would work better for me than others."...--I had to go to the store, I had decided, to bring back some apples--and I went past the store that sold apples and I kept driving, and driving. I was going south, and west, because if I went north or east I would run out of world too soon." (p. 85, from the short story "Bitter Grounds")

[aryadeschain-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While this book is not so bad, I think it is not by far Gaiman's best book. I thought that the short stories were not as remarkable as the ones in Smoke and Mirrors, save for one or two that were a bit more entertaining. It really felt like Neil Gaiman, unlike in Smoke and Mirrors and The Dream Hunters, didn't really put his heart and soul into this book. It felt... unattached, for the lack of a better word. Some of the stories were even a tad boring, as if the magic of the "parallel universes" that seem so present in his other books simply wasn't here. It wasn't a bad book, it just felt like there wasn't a soul in it.

[ashleyk44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first Gaiman that I've read, and I have to say, I was impressed. All of the stories were more than decent, and quite a few were fantastic. "Other People" sticks out in my head - it had me lying awake thinking about it for nights afterwards, creepy and disturbing as it was. Overall great writing, and a nice collection of stories. I plan on reading more of his work soon.