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IMAGINING MORE and Other Stories
“The sheer narrative daring in the title story, where Cacoyannis strips away the facade of a romance to expose its calculated origins, is superb. The intellectual wit and irony promised in the afterword shine through in the sharp dialogue and situational setup… Cacoyannis’s talent is immense” Scott Olsen – San Francisco Book Review
“The focus on art and perception ties together disparate stories, suggesting that the act of creation mirrors the human effort to find meaning and beauty in the nuances and entanglements of life... acts of cruelty or betrayal coexist with moments of profound insight or aesthetic clarity." Kirkus Reviews
“a hauntingly beautiful exploration of the human psyche” Kathryn Dare – Manhattan Book Review
Melancholy, bitingly satirical, occasionally tragic, IMAGINING MORE and Other Stories brings together a kaleidoscope of flawed, searching characters, among them actors, writers, troubled artists, striving to make sense of themselves, their relationships, and their place in the world.
The fifteen stories' protagonists are confronted with impossible dilemmas, or are forced to ask unanswerable questions: Is love the meaning of life? Is sex the meaning of love? What does it mean to be dead? Is “the truth” more important than happiness? Is there ever a single, “objective” view of reality?
"The prose throughout is often lyrical and philosophical, reinforcing the thematic preoccupation with capturing fleeting, almost ineffable aspects of existence." Kirkus Reviews
Many of the stories are themed around relationships, often centred around sex. In others a single protagonist grapples with internal demons, imagining (or perhaps actually living) a parallel life in order to make “real” life less unbearable. In one, the protagonist is caught in a dystopian nightmare that he doesn’t understand. This sense of the uncertain and the hidden is pervasive: in almost all the stories nothing is entirely as it seems.
"In the titular story, a man and woman seemingly meet for the first time and agree to lie to each other, although the depth of their deceptions runs much deeper than it first appears... A professor of art history attempts to combine academia and eroticism in Pleasure Pain. In Patient Zero, a painter, suddenly obsessed with what it means to be dead, goes to see a doctor. A screenwriter who has purported himself as a loner now wishes to extricate himself from this fabricated identity by acting in his latest project in The Right Part, although his co-star faces backlash and violent threats... Rooms follows an underperforming writer with a 'thing about Kafka', traveling with his actor boyfriend to Berlin." Kirkus Reviews
“The focus on art and perception ties together disparate stories, suggesting that the act of creation mirrors the human effort to find meaning and beauty in the nuances and entanglements of life... acts of cruelty or betrayal coexist with moments of profound insight or aesthetic clarity." Kirkus Reviews
“a hauntingly beautiful exploration of the human psyche” Kathryn Dare – Manhattan Book Review
Melancholy, bitingly satirical, occasionally tragic, IMAGINING MORE and Other Stories brings together a kaleidoscope of flawed, searching characters, among them actors, writers, troubled artists, striving to make sense of themselves, their relationships, and their place in the world.
The fifteen stories' protagonists are confronted with impossible dilemmas, or are forced to ask unanswerable questions: Is love the meaning of life? Is sex the meaning of love? What does it mean to be dead? Is “the truth” more important than happiness? Is there ever a single, “objective” view of reality?
"The prose throughout is often lyrical and philosophical, reinforcing the thematic preoccupation with capturing fleeting, almost ineffable aspects of existence." Kirkus Reviews
Many of the stories are themed around relationships, often centred around sex. In others a single protagonist grapples with internal demons, imagining (or perhaps actually living) a parallel life in order to make “real” life less unbearable. In one, the protagonist is caught in a dystopian nightmare that he doesn’t understand. This sense of the uncertain and the hidden is pervasive: in almost all the stories nothing is entirely as it seems.
"In the titular story, a man and woman seemingly meet for the first time and agree to lie to each other, although the depth of their deceptions runs much deeper than it first appears... A professor of art history attempts to combine academia and eroticism in Pleasure Pain. In Patient Zero, a painter, suddenly obsessed with what it means to be dead, goes to see a doctor. A screenwriter who has purported himself as a loner now wishes to extricate himself from this fabricated identity by acting in his latest project in The Right Part, although his co-star faces backlash and violent threats... Rooms follows an underperforming writer with a 'thing about Kafka', traveling with his actor boyfriend to Berlin." Kirkus Reviews
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 4, 2026
13 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Panayotis Cacoyannis
10 books131 followersPanayotis had a magical childhood growing up in a small seaside town in Cyprus. After two years as an army conscript (at a time when the island suffered first a military coup and then an invasion), he travelled to Britain where he studied law at Oxford and qualified to practise at the Bar. Having then decided (very wisely) that he didn't want to be a lawyer, he also graduated art school, and for many happy years he worked as a painter and sculptor, until a spell of artist's block led to a very short course in creative writing...
For the moment at least, Panayotis has no plans (not to mention the energy or any trace of talent) to embark on a fourth career. His time now exclusively devoted to writing, he lives in London but travels to Cyprus often, to visit friends and family and be near the sea. Aside from reading, writing and playing with his cat, his favorite pastime is going to the movies, and ever since his friend/therapist/barber recommended The Sopranos, he has also discovered good TV.
If anyone would like to get in touch with him, or get regular updates, including news about discounts and giveaways, a newsletter subscription form and a contact email address can be found on his website, where you can also see examples of his artwork.
For the moment at least, Panayotis has no plans (not to mention the energy or any trace of talent) to embark on a fourth career. His time now exclusively devoted to writing, he lives in London but travels to Cyprus often, to visit friends and family and be near the sea. Aside from reading, writing and playing with his cat, his favorite pastime is going to the movies, and ever since his friend/therapist/barber recommended The Sopranos, he has also discovered good TV.
If anyone would like to get in touch with him, or get regular updates, including news about discounts and giveaways, a newsletter subscription form and a contact email address can be found on his website, where you can also see examples of his artwork.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 10, 2026
Cacoyannis has a definite flair for creating complex characters – by no means always likable – who lead fascinating and extremely complicated lives. But despite the bizarreness of their circumstances, what really makes these characters so engaging and relatable is how they also share the same needs and flaws, the same niggling preoccupations and the same lust for life, as all the rest of us. IMAGINING MORE and other Stories works together brilliantly as a unified collection of punchy and insightful stories that occasionally are funny but at other times are shocking and painfully touching.
January 13, 2026
An excellent collection of delicious morsels!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2026
Format: Kindle Edition
As a long-standing fan of Panayotis Cacoyannis, I pre-ordered this collection of short stories as soon as I saw that it was coming out, and waited with excited anticipation. I was not disappointed. I love this author's style and use of words, no matter what the subject, and here I found a selection which often harks back to earlier novels - or rather, contains the seeds that grew into future novels - and also some completely new ideas. It feels very personal too, as if the author is allowing us to know and understand him better as we reacquaint ourselves with some of his recurring themes.
As I got into each story, I thought, "Ooh, I really like this one!" so I can't pick out a favourite; each has something to offer. If you've never read Panayotis Cacoyannis before, this might be a good place to start, and I would definitely urge you to move onto his novels to experience this beautiful writer in full flow.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2026
Format: Kindle Edition
As a long-standing fan of Panayotis Cacoyannis, I pre-ordered this collection of short stories as soon as I saw that it was coming out, and waited with excited anticipation. I was not disappointed. I love this author's style and use of words, no matter what the subject, and here I found a selection which often harks back to earlier novels - or rather, contains the seeds that grew into future novels - and also some completely new ideas. It feels very personal too, as if the author is allowing us to know and understand him better as we reacquaint ourselves with some of his recurring themes.
As I got into each story, I thought, "Ooh, I really like this one!" so I can't pick out a favourite; each has something to offer. If you've never read Panayotis Cacoyannis before, this might be a good place to start, and I would definitely urge you to move onto his novels to experience this beautiful writer in full flow.
January 9, 2026
Each story has a surprise ending - although not always happy, always intriguing and thought-provoking. Even in short stories, Cacoyannis draws his characters very clearly, which is one of his greatest talents. We are immediately involved and happy to go along for the ride.
The first story, Imagining More, has very creative twists and turns and an ending that once again proves the author's ability to amaze. This is true of several of the stories. Some are less twisty, but no less surprising!
A few of the stories here are tragic, some are existential, and thankfully there is the author's marvelous trademark humor. In all of his books are the themes of love, trust and truth, among other things (such as Kafka and rooms).
I recommend this collection of stories to anyone who enjoys thinking about what they've just read for as long as it takes.
The first story, Imagining More, has very creative twists and turns and an ending that once again proves the author's ability to amaze. This is true of several of the stories. Some are less twisty, but no less surprising!
A few of the stories here are tragic, some are existential, and thankfully there is the author's marvelous trademark humor. In all of his books are the themes of love, trust and truth, among other things (such as Kafka and rooms).
I recommend this collection of stories to anyone who enjoys thinking about what they've just read for as long as it takes.
January 17, 2026
It was great to get acquainted with Panayotis Cacoyannis as a short story writer. Some of the stories reminded me how much I liked his novels — The Coldness of Objects, Polk, Harper, and Who. The short story that gave birth to Bowl of Fruit (1907) differs greatly from the novel and was a great proof of how versatile Cacoyannis can be.
It was delightful to read his standalone stories, which haven’t inspired any novels. Yet. I’ll be patiently waiting for that to change!:)
It was delightful to read his standalone stories, which haven’t inspired any novels. Yet. I’ll be patiently waiting for that to change!:)
January 18, 2026
A great collection
This is a very interesting and enjoyable collection of short stories by Mr. Cacoyannis. The style and substance of the stories varies, though they each showcase, to a greater or lesser extent, the recognisable style of Cacoyannis's novels. This first collection of short stories has certainly whether my appetite for more.
This is a very interesting and enjoyable collection of short stories by Mr. Cacoyannis. The style and substance of the stories varies, though they each showcase, to a greater or lesser extent, the recognisable style of Cacoyannis's novels. This first collection of short stories has certainly whether my appetite for more.
January 6, 2026
Still processing, but the opening story was stunning, closely followed by several others. I plan to start re-reading everything as soon as possible. After the distance of another good book.
January 26, 2026
More details to fondle, what more could anyone have asked for! A thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews