The Dissolving Man

by Douglas Thompson

Genres: Short Stories

18 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2022

About the author

Douglas Thompson's short stories have appeared in a wide range of magazines and anthologies, most recently Ambit, Postscripts, and New Writing Scotland. He won the Grolsch/Herald Question of Style Award in 1989 and second prize in the Neil Gunn Writing Competition in 2007. His first book, "Ultrameta", was published by Eibonvale Press in August 2009, nominated for the Edge Hill Prize, and shortlisted for the BFS Best Newcomer Award. His critically acclaimed second novel, "Sylvow", was published in autumn 2010, also from Eibonvale. A third novel "Apoidea" was released from The Exaggerated Press in 2011, a fourth "Mechagnosis" is due from Dog Horn in September 2012, and a fifth "Entanglement" is due from Elsewhen Press as an e-book from August 2012, and as a paperback from November 2012,

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nightjar Press publish long short stories as stand alone books and they are very beautiful objects, not to say all wonderful pieces chosen by editor Nick Royle. I was asked to write the cover quote for this one which reads like a lost Joel Lane story. I said: 'Combines penetrating social commentary with poetry, police procedural with personal breakdown, realism with unreality. Electrifying'. It is.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short 'crime' story owes more to the fiction of Joel Lane than it does any criminologist. Quietly affecting, the 'urban legend' of the dissolving man - in itself, not confined to one individual - becomes a metaphor for the protagonist's failing when it comes to making an important decision. The final paragraphs elevating the story beyond the ordinary into something both profound and tragic. Recommended.

[Dan Sumption · Rating 5 out of 5]

A senior police officer looks back on a career and a life of missing persons. Stunningly true horror, with imagery that stops you in your tracks. More evidence that Nightjar Press publishes some of the best contemporary short stories out there.

[LayDownYourSoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely immersive story that does a lot in only a few pages. Very powerful imagery and concept, a few genuinely unnerving and emotive moments. Hints at deep themes with a nice translucency, leaving some things unsaid.

Wild, strange, climactic ending...