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Are You There and Other Stories
Unconventional and deep, this dynamic collection of 26 stories offers a wealth of fantastical and horrifying settings. Several perspectives on life after death are exploreds mother, but soon discovers that he might be falling in love with the module. Edgy and surreal, each tale reflects on familiar, emotional issues and complex relationships from new and imaginative angles.
Contents:
The Avenger of Love (2009)
Dead Worlds (2003)
Life on the Preservation (2006)
Double Occupancy (2008)
The Chimera Transit (2007)
Overlay (2005)
Scatter (2004)
Bean There (2005)
Girl in the Empty Apartment (2006)
Rewind (2004)
The Apprentice (2003)
Everyone Bleeds Through (2007)
Reunion (2004)
Thank You, Mr. Whiskers (2007)
The Tree (2005)
Are You There (2006)
Transplant (2004)
Here's Your Space (2009)
Cat in the Rain (2008)
Alone with an Inconvenient Companion (2008)
What You Are About to See (2008)
Rescue Mission (2009)
Two (2007)
Scrawl Daddy (2007)
Human Day (2009)
Strangers on a Bus (2007)
Contents:
The Avenger of Love (2009)
Dead Worlds (2003)
Life on the Preservation (2006)
Double Occupancy (2008)
The Chimera Transit (2007)
Overlay (2005)
Scatter (2004)
Bean There (2005)
Girl in the Empty Apartment (2006)
Rewind (2004)
The Apprentice (2003)
Everyone Bleeds Through (2007)
Reunion (2004)
Thank You, Mr. Whiskers (2007)
The Tree (2005)
Are You There (2006)
Transplant (2004)
Here's Your Space (2009)
Cat in the Rain (2008)
Alone with an Inconvenient Companion (2008)
What You Are About to See (2008)
Rescue Mission (2009)
Two (2007)
Scrawl Daddy (2007)
Human Day (2009)
Strangers on a Bus (2007)
330 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 9, 2026
This may be better than the rating I've given it. Horror is not really my thing, and I don't feel that I'm really competent to evaluate it
February 14, 2015
One Of The Most Original Talents in Speculative Fiction
With the recently revised, paperback edition of his short story collection “Are You There”, Jack Skillingstead shows readers why he has earned ample praise from the likes of Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, Eileen Gunn and Nancy Kress, demonstrating that he is one of the most original talents writing in speculative fiction now. In his tales, he demonstrates that he is an edgy, yet perceptive, observer of human nature, offering readers his unique perspectives on what makes us human, even if some of these stories are set in the remote vastness of interstellar space. Though demonstrating his familiarity and admiration for standard tropes in speculative fiction, for example, whether it is life on a multigenerational starship or first contact with aliens, Skillingstead never hesitates in throwing his readers some unforeseen twists and turns, offering us protagonists – who are often quite flawed – that are restless, embarked on some quest, always searching for answers. What he offers readers is what noted speculative fiction writer Richard Bowes has dubbed “noir of the future”, often relying on the time-worn tenants of crime fiction without ever once coming across as either redundant or derivative. Whether it is the first story, “The Avenger of Love” – a superb literary homage to Harlan Ellison, who had contributed initially to writing an earlier version of it – or creepy, yet hauntingly beautiful “The Tree” – or “Rescue Mission”, a “First Contact” story quite unlike any other I have stumbled upon – or “Strangers on a Bus”, the very last tale in the collection, or any of the others between those I have cited, Skillingstead demonstrates his considerable range as a writer of speculative fiction, as both a storyteller and a most accomplished prose stylist. Having heard him read from his work at a New York City speculative fiction reading recently, I recognized immediately that he is one of the most original voices writing now in speculative fiction; “Are You There” is indeed an exceptional affirmation, worthy of a wide readership even beyond the bounds of speculative fiction. Simply put, Jack Sillingstead deserves to be read by anyone interested in reading great tales that grapple with what it means to be human.
With the recently revised, paperback edition of his short story collection “Are You There”, Jack Skillingstead shows readers why he has earned ample praise from the likes of Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, Eileen Gunn and Nancy Kress, demonstrating that he is one of the most original talents writing in speculative fiction now. In his tales, he demonstrates that he is an edgy, yet perceptive, observer of human nature, offering readers his unique perspectives on what makes us human, even if some of these stories are set in the remote vastness of interstellar space. Though demonstrating his familiarity and admiration for standard tropes in speculative fiction, for example, whether it is life on a multigenerational starship or first contact with aliens, Skillingstead never hesitates in throwing his readers some unforeseen twists and turns, offering us protagonists – who are often quite flawed – that are restless, embarked on some quest, always searching for answers. What he offers readers is what noted speculative fiction writer Richard Bowes has dubbed “noir of the future”, often relying on the time-worn tenants of crime fiction without ever once coming across as either redundant or derivative. Whether it is the first story, “The Avenger of Love” – a superb literary homage to Harlan Ellison, who had contributed initially to writing an earlier version of it – or creepy, yet hauntingly beautiful “The Tree” – or “Rescue Mission”, a “First Contact” story quite unlike any other I have stumbled upon – or “Strangers on a Bus”, the very last tale in the collection, or any of the others between those I have cited, Skillingstead demonstrates his considerable range as a writer of speculative fiction, as both a storyteller and a most accomplished prose stylist. Having heard him read from his work at a New York City speculative fiction reading recently, I recognized immediately that he is one of the most original voices writing now in speculative fiction; “Are You There” is indeed an exceptional affirmation, worthy of a wide readership even beyond the bounds of speculative fiction. Simply put, Jack Sillingstead deserves to be read by anyone interested in reading great tales that grapple with what it means to be human.
May 13, 2010
My Mostly Fiction review: http://bookreview.mostlyfiction.com/2...
My interview with Jack Skillingstead: http://sciencefictionmusings.blogspot...
My interview with Jack Skillingstead: http://sciencefictionmusings.blogspot...
March 22, 2010
These short stories are best not read right before bed. Their complexity and imagination need a fully awake brain to really understand and appreciate.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews