The Time Out Book Of New York Short Stories

Time Out anthologies

by Nicholas Royle (Editor), Lynne Tillman (Contributor), Jonathan Carroll (Contributor)

A collection of original, specially commissioned stories depicting life in a vibrant, pulsing city"It's the kind of place people dream about. The kind of place people have ideas about. The idea of New York can be as potent as New York itself". -- from the Introduction

Time Out has tapped into the city's essence with Time Out New York magazine. Now they bring us an anthology that uncovers the diverse and hidden nuances of the most mysterious and international of cities -- and reaffirms their commitment to providing forums for quality short fiction.

Cutting-edge writers -- both American and British, new and established, and all sharing a fascination with Manhattan -- lead readers through the Big Apple in this collection of twenty-three stories that is more thrilling than a subway ride. From Chelsea to Times Square, from Central Park to Greenwich Village, depicting romance, depravity, beauty, and danger, The Time Out Book of New York Short Stories is certain to delight city dwellers, those who dream of being city dwellers, readers of Time Out New York magazine, and lovers of great fiction.

Contents: This could be the first day of the rest of my life - Mark Amerika The Coalminer's Scarf - Russell Celyn Jones Swallows - Lisa Natalie Pearson Suck on this - Charles Higson Toby and Cole - Samantha Gillison Coastal City - Kim Newman Recovering at the Chelsea - Maureen Freely 9th and 13th - Jonathan Coe A Manhatten Romance - Joyce Carol Oates Sexual Perversity in New York - Steve Grant Suzie and Choo-choo's day in New York - Liz Jenson Occupational Hazards - Thomas Beller Personal History - Brooke Auchincloss Doves in the Circle - Michael Moorcock Daniel's Skyline - Christopher Burns The New Zoo - Rikki Ducornet Elevator Man - Edward Fox The Fortune-Teller - Elisa Seagrave Little Tales of New York - Lynne Tillman Asleep in Wolf's Clothing - Jonathan Carroll Looking for Bolivar - Christopher Fowler Heart Problems - Chris Mazza Shrinking - Elizabeth Young

Genres: Fiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published November 27, 1997

About the author

Nicholas Royle is an English writer. He is the author of seven novels, two novellas and a short story collection. He has edited sixteen anthologies of short stories. A senior lecturer in creative writing at the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University, he also runs Nightjar Press, publishing original short stories as signed, limited-edition chapbooks. He works as a fiction reviewer for The Independent and the Warwick Review and as an editor for Salt Publishing.

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

variable - some beautiful, some brutal

[Mark Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great little collection was this. Especially if, like me, you love New York.

The stories were quick and easy to drop in and out of the book. Being published in the mid 90's, it is a victim of it's time though and I would doubt that some of the stories would be allowed to be published today, lest you get shouted at. Just some of the language and attitudes would not fly today. I didn't find anything problematic personally, but still.

I particularily enjoyed 'Recovering at the Chelsea' and the Christopher Fowler story. But then, he's great full stop. The book covers all areas and class structures of one of the greatest cities in the world.

I really want to go back and do NYC properly one day and not have a nagging ex-wife in tow that wouldn't leave the hotel for three days, besides a Chili Peppers concert and the bloody Magnolia bakery. Her loss, I got to see one of the last ever gigs at CBGBs and the still smouldering wreckage of the Twin Towers.

[Elicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read most of the stories in this book (a few just didn't grab me within the first few pages) and it is wonderful in its points of view of how New York was and still is (in some instances). More notable stories for me were "The Coalminer's Scarf" by Russell Celyn Jones and "Looking for Bolivar" by Christopher Fowler.