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Nightside #All short stories
Tales from the Nightside: A Nightside Book
New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green returns to the “bizarre and gleefully dangerous backdrop” (Jim Butcher, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Dresden Files) of the Nightside with this landmark collection of short fiction.
Welcome to the Nightside. It’s the secret heart of London, beating to its own rhythm, pumping lifeblood through the veins of its streets and alleys hidden in eternal darkness, where creatures of the night congregate and where the sun is afraid to shine. It’s the place to go if you’re looking to indulge the darker side of your nature—and to hell with the consequences.
Tales from the Nightside presents ten macabre mysteries that shine a dim beam into the neighborhood’s darkest corners to reveal things that should never come to light. Take a walk with such deadly and dangerous denizens of the Nightside as Razor Eddie, Dead Boy, and Larry Oblivion as they encounter things even more inhuman and inhumane than they are. And join John Taylor, the PI with a knack for finding lost things, as he confronts Sir Francis Varney, King of the Vampires, in a never-before-published novella-length adventure.
There may be nothing to be afraid of in the dark, but there’s plenty to be afraid of in the Nightside…
Includes “The Big Game,” a Never-Before-Published Nightside Novella and Nine Other Favorite Nightside Stories
Welcome to the Nightside. It’s the secret heart of London, beating to its own rhythm, pumping lifeblood through the veins of its streets and alleys hidden in eternal darkness, where creatures of the night congregate and where the sun is afraid to shine. It’s the place to go if you’re looking to indulge the darker side of your nature—and to hell with the consequences.
Tales from the Nightside presents ten macabre mysteries that shine a dim beam into the neighborhood’s darkest corners to reveal things that should never come to light. Take a walk with such deadly and dangerous denizens of the Nightside as Razor Eddie, Dead Boy, and Larry Oblivion as they encounter things even more inhuman and inhumane than they are. And join John Taylor, the PI with a knack for finding lost things, as he confronts Sir Francis Varney, King of the Vampires, in a never-before-published novella-length adventure.
There may be nothing to be afraid of in the dark, but there’s plenty to be afraid of in the Nightside…
Includes “The Big Game,” a Never-Before-Published Nightside Novella and Nine Other Favorite Nightside Stories
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2015
42 people are currently reading
930 people want to read
About the author
Simon R. Green
312 books3,215 followersSimon Richard Green is a British science fiction and fantasy-author. He holds a degree in Modern English and American Literature from the University of Leicester. His first publication was in 1979.
His Deathstalker series is partly a parody of the usual space-opera of the 1950s, told with sovereign disregard of the rules of probability, while being at the same time extremely bloodthirsty.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
His Deathstalker series is partly a parody of the usual space-opera of the 1950s, told with sovereign disregard of the rules of probability, while being at the same time extremely bloodthirsty.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
June 12, 2016
First off I will admit I have not completed reading the Nightside book series however when I saw this title I could not resist it - and yes I will admit I am easily distracted - hence why this book was read and not the rest of the series.
That said the majority of the stories in this book have only fleeting references (if any) to their location in the time line presented in the book series. So its safe to say you could read this book and not really suffer from lack of knowledge (or have the story spoilt by knowing future events)
The stories contained also have a twist. They are not all about John Taylor which for me was great. The whole world of Nightside has some amazing possibilities and to focus on just one character or at least perspective I feel does miss out on some of the fun. The stories in this book does a lot to address that.
And finally I think I only recognised one of the stories presented in this book which means there was a lot of new material to explore. SO I think my distraction was partially allowed - least that is my story and I am sticking to it.
That said the majority of the stories in this book have only fleeting references (if any) to their location in the time line presented in the book series. So its safe to say you could read this book and not really suffer from lack of knowledge (or have the story spoilt by knowing future events)
The stories contained also have a twist. They are not all about John Taylor which for me was great. The whole world of Nightside has some amazing possibilities and to focus on just one character or at least perspective I feel does miss out on some of the fun. The stories in this book does a lot to address that.
And finally I think I only recognised one of the stories presented in this book which means there was a lot of new material to explore. SO I think my distraction was partially allowed - least that is my story and I am sticking to it.
January 27, 2015
A brilliant return to the Nightside. If you miss John Taylor and company this is the book fir you that also gives a look into the origins of a few characters. I hope this might mean more journeys into the Nightside for us.
December 20, 2021
Solid entertainment exploring some of the side characters in the Nightside series.
Short stories aren’t my preferred story style, but the Nightside series does seem more suited to it than most due to the sheer diversity of characters and settings. The story about Dead Boy was probably my favorite, but the final, longer story was another fun one.
Green is a gifted storyteller and writes with an undeniable style that keeps the pages moving quickly.
Short stories aren’t my preferred story style, but the Nightside series does seem more suited to it than most due to the sheer diversity of characters and settings. The story about Dead Boy was probably my favorite, but the final, longer story was another fun one.
Green is a gifted storyteller and writes with an undeniable style that keeps the pages moving quickly.
February 1, 2015
Review of Tales from the Nightside
The books about the Nightside are fun. I realize that these stories are filled with events that, by themselves, are pretty horrible. People die horribly, and in mass quantities, in the Nightside. That being said, where else would the hero of a book wield condiment weapons. The adventures of John Taylor, Suzie Shooter, Dead Boy, Razor Eddie, Walker and all the other denizens of the Nightside are some of my favorite reading.
I was unhappy when Simon Green said that he would no longer write books about the Nightside and I am very glad that he allowed himself to and publish these short stories. If you liked the original Nightside books or even if you are new to them but like a mix of humor and strange but deadly characters, read this book. The Big Game novella in it is the most challenging situation for John Taylor since battling his mother. Sorry, no spoilers here.
If you like urban fantasy mixed in with demons, angels and a host of even stranger characters I do not know how to classify, this is a good read for you.
I don't know if Simon Green has decided to give us a peek into the Nightside every so often but if so...thank you. It was great to be back for a bit
The books about the Nightside are fun. I realize that these stories are filled with events that, by themselves, are pretty horrible. People die horribly, and in mass quantities, in the Nightside. That being said, where else would the hero of a book wield condiment weapons. The adventures of John Taylor, Suzie Shooter, Dead Boy, Razor Eddie, Walker and all the other denizens of the Nightside are some of my favorite reading.
I was unhappy when Simon Green said that he would no longer write books about the Nightside and I am very glad that he allowed himself to and publish these short stories. If you liked the original Nightside books or even if you are new to them but like a mix of humor and strange but deadly characters, read this book. The Big Game novella in it is the most challenging situation for John Taylor since battling his mother. Sorry, no spoilers here.
If you like urban fantasy mixed in with demons, angels and a host of even stranger characters I do not know how to classify, this is a good read for you.
I don't know if Simon Green has decided to give us a peek into the Nightside every so often but if so...thank you. It was great to be back for a bit
February 4, 2015
A collection of previously unpublished tales of the Nightside with an all new, brand spankingly fresh story from the mind of Green. Here we return to the world of PI John Taylor, a world I never thought I would have the chance to return to after Green ended the series. This collection feels like reminiscing with a childhood friend. For me the world of the Nightside feels like home.
Here we have origin stories of Dead Boy, Larry Oblivion and many other classic Nightside characters. But it's the novella length brand new story at the end that makes this collection worth buying. Amazing, dark and morose, just how I like my Nightside stories.
Knowledge of the previous novels and Greens's writing helps to understand the characterizations showcased here better but isn't necessary as Green's writing style is a bit repetitive so he summarizes quiet a few things for new readers.
If you like urban fantasy where gods, monsters and everything in between tempts and tries to destroy everyone around them, then the Nightside is for you. Here the sun never shines and it's always 3 in the morning. A place where you can find anything you could ever imagine, unless it finds you first.
Here we have origin stories of Dead Boy, Larry Oblivion and many other classic Nightside characters. But it's the novella length brand new story at the end that makes this collection worth buying. Amazing, dark and morose, just how I like my Nightside stories.
Knowledge of the previous novels and Greens's writing helps to understand the characterizations showcased here better but isn't necessary as Green's writing style is a bit repetitive so he summarizes quiet a few things for new readers.
If you like urban fantasy where gods, monsters and everything in between tempts and tries to destroy everyone around them, then the Nightside is for you. Here the sun never shines and it's always 3 in the morning. A place where you can find anything you could ever imagine, unless it finds you first.
January 13, 2026
Three years after the main Nightside series concluded, author Simon R. Green released this anthology of shorter stories set in the same supernatural corner of London. All but the concluding novella The Big Game had been previously published elsewhere, while four of the ten titles including that one feature John Taylor, the returning protagonist from the novels.
The setting remains a fun slice of urban fantasy dipped in atmospheric noir, but like the core books, this one can be both uneven and repetitive. (It was clever when Taylor first responded to an occult threat by throwing black pepper in his assailant's face to make them sneeze. After enough times, however, you would think that that would just be a standard move his enemies would learn to expect and defend against from him.) The finest entries in the volume are the last two: the longer piece, in which our hero has to repel a vampire invasion, and "How Do You Feel?" starring his zombie friend Dead Boy, in which we finally discover the secret behind his origins and see more of his heavily-weaponized car from the future.
These adventures span across the history of the Nightside, and are presumably best for readers already familiar with it, although there aren't any serious spoilers for anyone picking this up as an introduction to the place. Some are better than others, and I'd probably rate the long final story as four-out-of-five stars if I'd read it independently. But considering the collection as a whole, I'm afraid it belongs in a lower bracket overall.
[Content warning for transphobia, suicide, gun violence, and gore.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
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The setting remains a fun slice of urban fantasy dipped in atmospheric noir, but like the core books, this one can be both uneven and repetitive. (It was clever when Taylor first responded to an occult threat by throwing black pepper in his assailant's face to make them sneeze. After enough times, however, you would think that that would just be a standard move his enemies would learn to expect and defend against from him.) The finest entries in the volume are the last two: the longer piece, in which our hero has to repel a vampire invasion, and "How Do You Feel?" starring his zombie friend Dead Boy, in which we finally discover the secret behind his origins and see more of his heavily-weaponized car from the future.
These adventures span across the history of the Nightside, and are presumably best for readers already familiar with it, although there aren't any serious spoilers for anyone picking this up as an introduction to the place. Some are better than others, and I'd probably rate the long final story as four-out-of-five stars if I'd read it independently. But considering the collection as a whole, I'm afraid it belongs in a lower bracket overall.
[Content warning for transphobia, suicide, gun violence, and gore.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
--https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--https://letterboxd.com/lesserjoke
--https://lesserjoke.home.blog
Or check out these ways to support me, if you'd like:
--https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
June 17, 2015
This book is a group of short stories and one novella. It is great because it does not just center around John Taylor, as the Nightside series does. These are stories that involve action solely by Dead Boy, Razor Eddie, and some that are only mentioned in passing in the series. In the novella "The Big Game" the Doorman at the Adventurer's Club has some surprises. The members of the Adventurer's Club (those in town at the time) disappear. They are just gone. The Doorman calls in John Taylor to help. For money of course, but he is curious and he also likes some of these people. He gets word that all the vampires have disappeared too. What is going on?
Of course those who cannot stand graphic gore should steer clear, but I like the stories so much, and the characters Simon Green invents, that I can sort of get past it to concentrate on the action and the outcome.
I am a fan of the Nightside as the Secret Histories series. The author must possess an imagination that is absolutely out there. And in particular the Nightside is somewhere that I think, sometimes, that I would like to visit. But most times I would probably not. But then again......
In the Introduction, Mr. Green notes that the general basis for the Nightside is Soho before it changed and became gentrified. Now there is somewhere I would have liked to visit!!
Of course those who cannot stand graphic gore should steer clear, but I like the stories so much, and the characters Simon Green invents, that I can sort of get past it to concentrate on the action and the outcome.
I am a fan of the Nightside as the Secret Histories series. The author must possess an imagination that is absolutely out there. And in particular the Nightside is somewhere that I think, sometimes, that I would like to visit. But most times I would probably not. But then again......
In the Introduction, Mr. Green notes that the general basis for the Nightside is Soho before it changed and became gentrified. Now there is somewhere I would have liked to visit!!
April 28, 2015
I miss John Taylor and the characters of the Nightside. It was nice to go back, read about them in this collection of short stories. I'd read one or two of them before, in various collections, but most felt new.
Only real problem is that having the stories collected like this, I now realize how often Green repeats the same phrases. I knew he always used the same introduction when describing the Nightside to the reader, but the it's also the same descriptions of characters, cars, and various baddies.
Oh well. Still fun to read.
Only real problem is that having the stories collected like this, I now realize how often Green repeats the same phrases. I knew he always used the same introduction when describing the Nightside to the reader, but the it's also the same descriptions of characters, cars, and various baddies.
Oh well. Still fun to read.
August 20, 2018
First time reading a Simon R. Green book. This was a book of short stories, I'm assuming based from his previous books. I loved it because it is different, not your typical horror stories. Can not wait to find his other books, by the end you feel as if you know each main character familiarly. Great author in my opinion.
September 5, 2024
A decent collection of Nightside tales.
3.5/5
3.5/5
July 14, 2018
Tales from the Nightside: A Nightside Book is a collection of ten short stories from Nightside series and written by Simon R. Green, which was collected and published well after the final installment, The Bride Wore Black Leather, but takes place during various points in the time line of the original novels. To avoid spoilers, it is best to read this anthology after reading the series – just in case.
This anthology collects ten short stories that Green has written, which spans between the third and fourth books (Nightingale's Lament and Hex and the City) in "The Nightside, Needless to Say" to a story which takes place after the final book (The Bride Wore Black Leather) in "How Do You Feel?" and the newly written short story, just for this anthology, "The Big Game", which happens after The Bride Wore Black Leather and told from the perspective of John Taylor as he investigates the disappearance of the Adventures Club and features Shotgun Suzie, Razor Eddie, Dead Boy, and surprisingly the Doorman of the Adventures Club.
Most of these short stories were written and taken from other anthologies that Simon R. Green have participated in, which features either John Taylor or a character from the universe. "The Nightsdie, Needles to Say" is told from the perspective of Larry Oblivion, while "Razor Eddie's Big Night Out" is narrated by – well Razor Eddie (hence the title), likewise Death Boy stars and co-stars in "How Do You Feel?" and "The Difference A Day Makes" with John Taylor respectively.
Minor characters also get a story written in their perspective: Sam Warren ("Appetite for Murder"), Harry Fabulous ("Some of the Con Go Way Back"), and the Doorman of the Adventures Club and an unnamed man in "The Big Game" and "Lucy, at Christmas Time" respectively.
For the most part, I really like these short stories, although you don't really need to read this book to continue with the series –it's highly worth it if you do, because it broadens and strengthens the universe. Like most anthologies there are weaker contributions, but, and this may be written through rose-colored glasses, I don't think I really hate any of them.
All in all, Tales from the Nightside: A Nightside Book is a wonderful collection of short stories that expands and strengthens the fictional universe. It places more emphasis on the minor characters and gives insights to their psyches that wasn't explained or explored in the main series.
This anthology collects ten short stories that Green has written, which spans between the third and fourth books (Nightingale's Lament and Hex and the City) in "The Nightside, Needless to Say" to a story which takes place after the final book (The Bride Wore Black Leather) in "How Do You Feel?" and the newly written short story, just for this anthology, "The Big Game", which happens after The Bride Wore Black Leather and told from the perspective of John Taylor as he investigates the disappearance of the Adventures Club and features Shotgun Suzie, Razor Eddie, Dead Boy, and surprisingly the Doorman of the Adventures Club.
Most of these short stories were written and taken from other anthologies that Simon R. Green have participated in, which features either John Taylor or a character from the universe. "The Nightsdie, Needles to Say" is told from the perspective of Larry Oblivion, while "Razor Eddie's Big Night Out" is narrated by – well Razor Eddie (hence the title), likewise Death Boy stars and co-stars in "How Do You Feel?" and "The Difference A Day Makes" with John Taylor respectively.
Minor characters also get a story written in their perspective: Sam Warren ("Appetite for Murder"), Harry Fabulous ("Some of the Con Go Way Back"), and the Doorman of the Adventures Club and an unnamed man in "The Big Game" and "Lucy, at Christmas Time" respectively.
For the most part, I really like these short stories, although you don't really need to read this book to continue with the series –it's highly worth it if you do, because it broadens and strengthens the universe. Like most anthologies there are weaker contributions, but, and this may be written through rose-colored glasses, I don't think I really hate any of them.
All in all, Tales from the Nightside: A Nightside Book is a wonderful collection of short stories that expands and strengthens the fictional universe. It places more emphasis on the minor characters and gives insights to their psyches that wasn't explained or explored in the main series.
February 5, 2015
I missed Nightside and wondered if I would ever again be allowed to walk its streets. This book accorded me that privilege again and I was able to reconnect with John Taylor, Dead Boy, Razor Eddie and Shotgun Suzie, just to name a few. I thoroughly enjoyed my short return to the city where it is always 3 AM and can only hope that Mr. Green will allow us to return there again from time to time.
March 18, 2016
I was in heaven! New stories from the Nightside are like water to someone dying from thirst. One of my most favorite alternate realities. John Taylor, Walker, Dead Boy, Razor Eddie, and others are re-visited. great book!
January 11, 2015
The new story is quite nice. Already knew the other ones.
June 20, 2015
Nightside Tales
Thoroughly enjoyed this collection of tales from the Nightside , and I hope Simon R. Greene will add to these tales in the future.
Thoroughly enjoyed this collection of tales from the Nightside , and I hope Simon R. Greene will add to these tales in the future.
February 1, 2015
An excellent collection on all the characters in the Nightside. Do be warned some tales you might have come across in other urban fantasy anthologies.
April 18, 2015
Predictably excellent horror fantasy: including several short stories about recurring characters and a well-executed novella.
January 28, 2015
This level of fucked up can only be found in the nightside.
June 3, 2024
Big fan of the Nightside, John Taylor, and by default Simon R. Green’s writing. Highly recommend the entire Nightside series, didn’t “feel” the first Ghost Finders story, romped along with the first of twelve Secret Histories stories, just finished and highly liked the first couple of Forest Kingdom books and have several Deathstalker (8 books) and Hawk & Fisher (8 more) books on the TBR shelves.
This pickup was a fortunate find even though I was content with where the series went, and I left on a good note. The stories are not all John Taylor, but a goodly mix of the Nightside Cast, including Strangefellows, the bar, and a welcome return to the city within a city, where the night never ends, and is always 3 a.m.
My thoughts on the offerings in sequence: (NOTE: "BOOK #" means where in the Night Side series it falls)
3*-BOOK 3.5 - THE NIGHTSIDE, NEEDLESS TO , found originally in Powers of Detection: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy by Dana Stabenow. Interesting mystery of the dead still being prescient and aware, but ultimately greed is the motive. And is this supposed to be Larry Oblivion or Tommy Oblivion? For those long-term fans and series readers.
4*-RAZOR EDDIE’S BIG NIGHT OUT Enjoyed accompanying Razor while he does his thing in the Night Side. Nice ending, wink.
2*- BOOK 8.4 - LUCY AT CHRISTMASTIME , found originally in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris. This one felt “eh” to me, while it is a werewolf story, it was on the downer side albeit brief.
3*- BOOK 8.5 - APPETITE FOR MURDER, found originally in Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy by Dana Stabenow. Engaging mystery that gives itself away too early but leaves the reader satisfied. No illusions for fans to know Ms. Fate’s “secret” but holds up in this collection.
2*- BOOK 9.5 - THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES, found originally in Mean Streets by Jim Butcher. Longer entry that felt lacking for plot while trying to shock for shock’s sake as a punchline. Quite a hard trick for today’s writers working in “the age of the internet”. Tried to build out the Night Side geography with something worse but failed in my opinion.
3*- SOME OF THESE CONS GO WAY BACK didn’t show in any other anthology but easily could. In this one we get Harry Fabulous, mentioned in a previous story as a con man, a fixer, a hard man to dislike, but worth the effort. Out on the town for a test run so to speak. Opens a locked door and finds something interesting. Brief but impactful, gotcha!
3*- BOOK 12.6 - SPIRIT OF THE THING, found originally in Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives by Justin Gustainis. This one felt akin to the normal John Taylor fare, with a pinch of revenge to round it out.
4*- BOOK 12.7 - HUNGRY HEARTS , found originally in Down These Strange Streets by George R.R. Martin. Another John Taylor romp, given good back story, more details in the telling and prompts for what’s to come. And ends with a nice ‘gotcha’ moment.
4*- BOOK 12.5 - HOW DO YOU FEEL , found originally in Hex Appeal by P.N. Elrod
Interesting title for a non-feeling aka dead, character. Dead Boy gets handed some startling information which prompts direct action. The Nightside gets fleshed out a bit more, Green tries to shock with sci-fi elements, but the transition is seamless, and works better as a love story, yes , a love story.
3*- THE BIG GAME a new entry just for this collection, starring John Taylor himself. Could almost be another Nightside book, all things considered.
Definitely recommended for Nightsiders.
Thanks for reading.
This pickup was a fortunate find even though I was content with where the series went, and I left on a good note. The stories are not all John Taylor, but a goodly mix of the Nightside Cast, including Strangefellows, the bar, and a welcome return to the city within a city, where the night never ends, and is always 3 a.m.
My thoughts on the offerings in sequence: (NOTE: "BOOK #" means where in the Night Side series it falls)
3*-BOOK 3.5 - THE NIGHTSIDE, NEEDLESS TO , found originally in Powers of Detection: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy by Dana Stabenow. Interesting mystery of the dead still being prescient and aware, but ultimately greed is the motive. And is this supposed to be Larry Oblivion or Tommy Oblivion? For those long-term fans and series readers.
4*-RAZOR EDDIE’S BIG NIGHT OUT Enjoyed accompanying Razor while he does his thing in the Night Side. Nice ending, wink.
2*- BOOK 8.4 - LUCY AT CHRISTMASTIME , found originally in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris. This one felt “eh” to me, while it is a werewolf story, it was on the downer side albeit brief.
3*- BOOK 8.5 - APPETITE FOR MURDER, found originally in Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy by Dana Stabenow. Engaging mystery that gives itself away too early but leaves the reader satisfied. No illusions for fans to know Ms. Fate’s “secret” but holds up in this collection.
2*- BOOK 9.5 - THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES, found originally in Mean Streets by Jim Butcher. Longer entry that felt lacking for plot while trying to shock for shock’s sake as a punchline. Quite a hard trick for today’s writers working in “the age of the internet”. Tried to build out the Night Side geography with something worse but failed in my opinion.
3*- SOME OF THESE CONS GO WAY BACK didn’t show in any other anthology but easily could. In this one we get Harry Fabulous, mentioned in a previous story as a con man, a fixer, a hard man to dislike, but worth the effort. Out on the town for a test run so to speak. Opens a locked door and finds something interesting. Brief but impactful, gotcha!
3*- BOOK 12.6 - SPIRIT OF THE THING, found originally in Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives by Justin Gustainis. This one felt akin to the normal John Taylor fare, with a pinch of revenge to round it out.
4*- BOOK 12.7 - HUNGRY HEARTS , found originally in Down These Strange Streets by George R.R. Martin. Another John Taylor romp, given good back story, more details in the telling and prompts for what’s to come. And ends with a nice ‘gotcha’ moment.
4*- BOOK 12.5 - HOW DO YOU FEEL , found originally in Hex Appeal by P.N. Elrod
Interesting title for a non-feeling aka dead, character. Dead Boy gets handed some startling information which prompts direct action. The Nightside gets fleshed out a bit more, Green tries to shock with sci-fi elements, but the transition is seamless, and works better as a love story, yes , a love story.
3*- THE BIG GAME a new entry just for this collection, starring John Taylor himself. Could almost be another Nightside book, all things considered.
Definitely recommended for Nightsiders.
Thanks for reading.
February 15, 2017
Ok. I have to give this at least 4 stars because it's the Nightside, and I've been following this series since high school (turning 30 this year ... ) and have enjoyed every minute of it. Sure, there are some books that are better than others, and I won't say that it's necessarily the best writing, but the world of the Nightside and all of the characters and possibilities that come with it, has always made for a fun read.
Same goes for this book. I enjoyed some stories a lot, and others not so much. It was fun to learn more about some of the recurring side characters in the series, and I can't help but love any story with John Taylor. He's just my kind of people. My biggest qualm (maybe my only in retrospect) was that most of the stories about other characters read as if it was John Taylor doing the talking. I found it really took away from the stories themselves, especially the ones that involved characters we already knew such as Razor Eddie.
Nevertheless, I would definitely recommend this collection to anyone who has experienced and enjoyed the Nightside in one way or another. Luckily for me I had only seen one of the stories before (The Nightside, Needless To Say) so the rest of the collection was new for me.
Same goes for this book. I enjoyed some stories a lot, and others not so much. It was fun to learn more about some of the recurring side characters in the series, and I can't help but love any story with John Taylor. He's just my kind of people. My biggest qualm (maybe my only in retrospect) was that most of the stories about other characters read as if it was John Taylor doing the talking. I found it really took away from the stories themselves, especially the ones that involved characters we already knew such as Razor Eddie.
Nevertheless, I would definitely recommend this collection to anyone who has experienced and enjoyed the Nightside in one way or another. Luckily for me I had only seen one of the stories before (The Nightside, Needless To Say) so the rest of the collection was new for me.
April 24, 2018
Simon R. Green's Nightside series is definitely a niche that has been told and filled. His noir style is great for his longer works, but with his short story collections, it can get a little tedious. Most of the book can be skimmed, the repetitive description of the Nightside itself, the repetitive description of the man characters of the stories definitely stunt the action. Had these stories not been read in one go, they all definitely work. There is much more fleshing out of minor characters from the series in this tome, but none of them are totally complete. Why does a conman operate his cons when there is no hope remaining? What does a futuristic car find so attractive in a battered, mangled walking corpse of a teenage boy? Is spiting a society worth the risk of a recently almost proven death sentence? There is believably of motivation, there is human error, but there is also risk assessment that goes beyond even the credibility of an urban fantasy novel. Still, I could not put this book down without finishing it.
December 31, 2017
I miss John Taylor and the Nightside! I jumped on this book because, well, it's the Nightside! If you are a fan of Gaiman and Neverwhere, you'll love the Nightside. A bit bizarre and totally clever, it's the underworld of the dark, under London.
The series is over (you must read the Nightside series if you have not), and these stories were previously released but I didn't read theme that way and so I was excited to get them all in one volume.
We get to revisit old friends like Razor Eddie, Shotgun Suzie and Dead Boy! And don't forget the Adventurer's Club and the Doorman who gets his own tale, too.
Fun, wacky, creepy, deliciously wicked -- you must if you like gothic fantasy and legends.
The series is over (you must read the Nightside series if you have not), and these stories were previously released but I didn't read theme that way and so I was excited to get them all in one volume.
We get to revisit old friends like Razor Eddie, Shotgun Suzie and Dead Boy! And don't forget the Adventurer's Club and the Doorman who gets his own tale, too.
Fun, wacky, creepy, deliciously wicked -- you must if you like gothic fantasy and legends.
August 25, 2024
I really like the Nightside books and in general liked this but there is a problem. Great and odd characters and he can turn a phrase like nobody else. I don't know if these were originally published separately in magazines or anthologies and then collected here. The problem is that he re-explains what the Nightside is in almost every story. Every story Deadboy shows up in - you get his whole backstory, etc. It is tediously repetitive. I had the audio version and wasn't thrilled with the narrator. A little nasal and sounded like he was in a rush all the time. Would have preferred the text version so I could skim the repetitive parts and hear it in my head the way I wanted.
But none of that takes away from the fact I liked the stories themselves.
But none of that takes away from the fact I liked the stories themselves.
February 16, 2015
Originally published at The Book Pushers
I love Simon R. Green’s The Nightside. I’ve even read some of the short stories in this collection before, which does not mean I didn’t love them again.
I’m also kind of glad now that I’ve been saving the last book in the series, The Bride Wore Black Leather, for a special reading occasion. Because Bride really is the last book in the Nightside. The author says that he has stopped, at least for the time being.
And while there’s a part of me that thinks John Taylor’s story may have reached a conclusion, I’m going to miss him and the rest of the gang. His line of snark and self-deprecation was always good for a laugh and a groan, often simultaneously.
Especially when he takes down his enemies with a handful of pepper. Not pepper spray, actual pepper. The condiment. He always has a handful in his pocket because, well, “condiments are our friends”, especially when they make our enemies sneeze themselves into oblivion, or at least into a good, solid punch from a knuckleduster in one’s other hand.
Of the ten stories in this collection, nine have been published before in various anthologies. The tenth story, The Big Game, is new.
Because these stories were originally intended for publication in places other than a Nightside collection, the author has included one of his usual snarky intros to the nature of the Nightside in each of the stories. This may possibly be too much of a good thing, but is understandable under the circumstances.
For those not familiar, the Nightside is the dark heart of London, where it’s always 3 o’clock in the morning, the dawn never comes, but something that will consume you, either simply because it can or with malice aforethought specially for you, is always hunting the unwary. If someone absolutely must have a sin or degradation that cannot be found elsewhere, it is certainly for sale (or rent) in the Nightside.
If you’ve ever read Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, the Nightside is kind of like that, but more predatory and with even more teeth.
Like most collections, some stories work better than others. If you’ve never visited the Nightside before, the earlier stories in the collection make a great introduction. If you’ve managed to find your way to the Nightside on some previous occasion, this collection provides origin stories for a few of the Nightside’s more colorful characters.
It’s also interesting to view the Nightside from a point of view other than John Taylor’s.
The stories that worked best for me in this collection were Razor Eddie’s Big Night Out, Lucy at Christmastime, The Spirit of the Thing, and How Do You Feel.
Razor Eddie’s Big Night Out is a story about the Street of the Gods. The author often uses a Street of the Gods in his fiction, it’s always a skewering of organized religion – all of them, all at once, and with extreme prejudice of the snarktastic kind. In the Nightside, any god with enough worshippers can set up a booth or a temple, depending on how much power they can muster. When the Authorities try to step in and clean up the place, one of the oldest gods on the street teams up with one of the most feared gods in the Nightside to get things back where they belong. We don’t often see the Nightside from Razor Eddie’s perspective, and this story gives us a tiny peek into the mind of the Punk God of the Straight-Razor.
How Do You Feel is Dead Boy’s story. It not just his origin story, it’s the origin story behind the origin story. Dead Boy is really dead, he’s just not gone. His consciousness is inhabiting his corpse, and has been for 30 years. In this story, he finally discovers not just how he became Dead Boy, but why it happened. And someone is going to pay. Finally.
Lucy at Christmastime is a cool story that does not feature any of the usual unusual suspects. It’s one of those slightly creepy stories that fools the reader. You start out believing that the narrator is talking about one thing, when it’s really another all along.
The Spirit of the Thing is a classic John Taylor story. John Taylor is a private investigator who lives and works in the Nightside. Once upon a time, his mother was Lilith, and he was intended to be the King of the Nightside, and he declined the honor. But part of his inherited power is that he isn’t just a private eye, he literally has a “Private Eye”, a third “eye” that, when he is willing to open it, allows him to see the truth behind the glamour of everything. And also find anything that he wants or needs. However, there are a lot of nasty things hiding behind powerful glamours in the Nightside, so using the eye takes a lot out of him. But when it’s necessary, the price is worth it.
In this story, a nasty barkeep hires John to find out who is watering the drinks in his disgusting bar. The owner of the Jolly Cripple intends to use John Taylor, but discovers in his last moment that he has made a horrible mistake, and Taylor makes sure they all come back to haunt him. At once.
I enjoyed this collection a lot. But then, I love the Nightside, and I’m going to miss it now that it’s over. As a collection, the stories worked together pretty well, in spite of having mostly been published before. If you enjoy urban fantasy of the dark and creepy kind, the Nightside will be right up your alley.
I give Tales from the Nightside an A-
I love Simon R. Green’s The Nightside. I’ve even read some of the short stories in this collection before, which does not mean I didn’t love them again.
I’m also kind of glad now that I’ve been saving the last book in the series, The Bride Wore Black Leather, for a special reading occasion. Because Bride really is the last book in the Nightside. The author says that he has stopped, at least for the time being.
And while there’s a part of me that thinks John Taylor’s story may have reached a conclusion, I’m going to miss him and the rest of the gang. His line of snark and self-deprecation was always good for a laugh and a groan, often simultaneously.
Especially when he takes down his enemies with a handful of pepper. Not pepper spray, actual pepper. The condiment. He always has a handful in his pocket because, well, “condiments are our friends”, especially when they make our enemies sneeze themselves into oblivion, or at least into a good, solid punch from a knuckleduster in one’s other hand.
Of the ten stories in this collection, nine have been published before in various anthologies. The tenth story, The Big Game, is new.
Because these stories were originally intended for publication in places other than a Nightside collection, the author has included one of his usual snarky intros to the nature of the Nightside in each of the stories. This may possibly be too much of a good thing, but is understandable under the circumstances.
For those not familiar, the Nightside is the dark heart of London, where it’s always 3 o’clock in the morning, the dawn never comes, but something that will consume you, either simply because it can or with malice aforethought specially for you, is always hunting the unwary. If someone absolutely must have a sin or degradation that cannot be found elsewhere, it is certainly for sale (or rent) in the Nightside.
If you’ve ever read Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, the Nightside is kind of like that, but more predatory and with even more teeth.
Like most collections, some stories work better than others. If you’ve never visited the Nightside before, the earlier stories in the collection make a great introduction. If you’ve managed to find your way to the Nightside on some previous occasion, this collection provides origin stories for a few of the Nightside’s more colorful characters.
It’s also interesting to view the Nightside from a point of view other than John Taylor’s.
The stories that worked best for me in this collection were Razor Eddie’s Big Night Out, Lucy at Christmastime, The Spirit of the Thing, and How Do You Feel.
Razor Eddie’s Big Night Out is a story about the Street of the Gods. The author often uses a Street of the Gods in his fiction, it’s always a skewering of organized religion – all of them, all at once, and with extreme prejudice of the snarktastic kind. In the Nightside, any god with enough worshippers can set up a booth or a temple, depending on how much power they can muster. When the Authorities try to step in and clean up the place, one of the oldest gods on the street teams up with one of the most feared gods in the Nightside to get things back where they belong. We don’t often see the Nightside from Razor Eddie’s perspective, and this story gives us a tiny peek into the mind of the Punk God of the Straight-Razor.
How Do You Feel is Dead Boy’s story. It not just his origin story, it’s the origin story behind the origin story. Dead Boy is really dead, he’s just not gone. His consciousness is inhabiting his corpse, and has been for 30 years. In this story, he finally discovers not just how he became Dead Boy, but why it happened. And someone is going to pay. Finally.
Lucy at Christmastime is a cool story that does not feature any of the usual unusual suspects. It’s one of those slightly creepy stories that fools the reader. You start out believing that the narrator is talking about one thing, when it’s really another all along.
The Spirit of the Thing is a classic John Taylor story. John Taylor is a private investigator who lives and works in the Nightside. Once upon a time, his mother was Lilith, and he was intended to be the King of the Nightside, and he declined the honor. But part of his inherited power is that he isn’t just a private eye, he literally has a “Private Eye”, a third “eye” that, when he is willing to open it, allows him to see the truth behind the glamour of everything. And also find anything that he wants or needs. However, there are a lot of nasty things hiding behind powerful glamours in the Nightside, so using the eye takes a lot out of him. But when it’s necessary, the price is worth it.
In this story, a nasty barkeep hires John to find out who is watering the drinks in his disgusting bar. The owner of the Jolly Cripple intends to use John Taylor, but discovers in his last moment that he has made a horrible mistake, and Taylor makes sure they all come back to haunt him. At once.
I enjoyed this collection a lot. But then, I love the Nightside, and I’m going to miss it now that it’s over. As a collection, the stories worked together pretty well, in spite of having mostly been published before. If you enjoy urban fantasy of the dark and creepy kind, the Nightside will be right up your alley.
I give Tales from the Nightside an A-
December 26, 2017
Well. I liked the characters and the idea of the Nightside, but. I think it's an editing thing, and not a writer thing, since this is a collection of previously released stories, but the very similar, repeated description of the Nightside is: on the back cover, in the introduction, and in many stories. It was distracting to read it over and over. Descriptions of characters were also repeated. This is a disservice to the writer, who writes dark and interesting ideas with quite a bit of appreciated humour. I realised I've read his work before in Cemetary Dance Magazine, and enjoyed it. Find a new editor and get them to re-release this book.
February 28, 2018
The Nightside, Needless to Say - It was interesting to find out how Larry Oblivion's backstory.
Razor Eddie's Big Night Out - I really love Razor Eddie, so getting to hear more of his story was really nice.
Lucy, at Christmastime - Was good.
Appetite for Murder - I'd wanted to re-read this one, so it was nice to get to read it again.
The Difference a Day Makes - I'd read it before, it's still nice.
Some of These Cons Go Way Back - Was good.
The Spirit of the Thing - New to me, it was good.
Hungry Heart - New to me, it was good. I liked it.
How Do You Feel? - The Dead Boy back story. I'd read it before. Liked it.
The Big Game - New to me, it was good.
Razor Eddie's Big Night Out - I really love Razor Eddie, so getting to hear more of his story was really nice.
Lucy, at Christmastime - Was good.
Appetite for Murder - I'd wanted to re-read this one, so it was nice to get to read it again.
The Difference a Day Makes - I'd read it before, it's still nice.
Some of These Cons Go Way Back - Was good.
The Spirit of the Thing - New to me, it was good.
Hungry Heart - New to me, it was good. I liked it.
How Do You Feel? - The Dead Boy back story. I'd read it before. Liked it.
The Big Game - New to me, it was good.
October 5, 2023
This book is out on the edge of human experience, not recommended for weak minds. Its based on the dark of the darkest areas of London twisted into a supernatural realm full of vice, evil, and the scum of humanity. The author went back to his old home to create "The Nightside" {secret heartt of london, if that heart is dark, twisted, and uncaring....which it might be.} Far too many references to things that actually exist in these slums wrapped around a supernatural story. its well written and interesting with a touch of disturbing. I enjoyed the book, dont get me wrong, a dark tale is good from time to time.
August 25, 2022
جلد سیزدهم از مجموعه نایت ساید چندین داستان کوتاه را روایت میکند.این جلد بر خلاف جلدهای قبلی دیگر فقط ماجراجوییهای جان تیلور را نقل نکرده بلکه با هوشمندی و ظرافت نویسنده به پیشینه و اتفاقاتی که در جلدهای گذشته مجهول باقی مانده بود میپردازد که به شدت بر تسلط ،ظرافت کار و هوشمندی و همچنین علاقمندی نویسنده به این مجموعه داستانی دلالت دارد.داستانهایی چون چگونگی آشنایی پدر و مادر جان تیلور،داستان پسر مرده و …بخشی از این داستانهای کوتاه این جلد از مجموعه است.در پایان نیز یک غافلگیری کوچک منتظر خواننده است بنابراین خواندن این جلد را به شدت پیشنهاد میکنم.
June 12, 2025
A collection of short stories set in the Nightside, a number of which do not star John Taylor, but some of the side characters of the series.
This collection presents the reader/listener (Dan Calley, as always, does a very good job here) with the origin stories of Deadboy and Razor Eddie and reveals the nature of Deadboy's "car", too.
Very nice coda to the series after finishing The Bride Wore Black Leather.
This collection presents the reader/listener (Dan Calley, as always, does a very good job here) with the origin stories of Deadboy and Razor Eddie and reveals the nature of Deadboy's "car", too.
Very nice coda to the series after finishing The Bride Wore Black Leather.
January 15, 2018
I am new to The Nightside and I am happy to know this read did not affect any of the other books in the series. I enjoyed the deadly colorful characters and the devious parts of myths, legends, religion, and supernatural characters.
I am excited to note that this book is unlike any other book I have ever read and was a refreshing change. Crime and Murder, fantasy, and interesting perspectives.
I am excited to note that this book is unlike any other book I have ever read and was a refreshing change. Crime and Murder, fantasy, and interesting perspectives.
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