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MindWorks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction

by Neal Shusterman (Goodreads Author)

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Tami said: " This November, Simon & Schuster is releasing MindWorks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction, a massive collection of 43 short stories by Neal Shusterman. Spanning over 700 pages, it gathers nearly all the short fiction he has published throughout This November, Simon & Schuster is releasing MindWorks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction, a massive collection of 43 short stories by Neal Shusterman. Spanning over 700 pages, it gathers nearly all the short fiction he has published throughout the years, including out-of-print and hard-to-find stories, along with four brand-new tales, two of which are set in the Arc of a Scythe universe.

The collection includes almost all the stories from his earlier compilations (MindQuakes, MindStorms, MindTwisters, and MindBenders), as well as stories previously published in various anthologies. However, two stories were intentionally left out: “Pacific Rim,” because Shusterman didn’t want to inadvertently lend credence to flat-earth ideas, and “Damien’s Shadow,” which he had planned to revise and retitle as “Strange Fruit” but wasn’t able to finish in time. In a Substack post titled Rethinking Shadows: The Evolution of "Strange Fruit", he explained that while the original concept, a boy whose shadow attacks others, remains compelling, elements like a shadow hanging from a tree and shadow-on-shadow violence raised concerns about misinterpretation. He still hopes to complete and release the revised version in the future.

The collection showcases an incredible range of themes and premises: bats blocking out the sun, a soup that traps souls, a glacier that can bring back the dead, a hot tub hiding an ancient monster, and even a story about capturing the wind. There’s also "A Unity of [Purpose]", about a dolphin with lofty ambitions, which Shusterman has called his favorite story in the book.

He shared that short stories have long been part of his creative journey, starting back in high school: “I found short stories were a great way to experiment with new voices, and with new styles of writing… They can be a palate-cleanser between larger projects.” He also mentioned that some stories were rewritten extensively for this collection, updated culturally, technologically, and stylistically, “some to the point of barely being recognizable.”

One standout story, "Dawn Terminator," is currently in early development at Netflix as a film titled Dawn. The end-of-the-world story will be adapted for the screen by A Minecraft Movie’s Neil Widener and Gavin James. While a logline hasn’t been officially shared, sources describe it as focusing on a family’s struggle to survive as solar flares begin destroying Earth. In a recent Q&A, Shusterman explained that the story is about the sun going supernova and burning away the daylight side of the world. Everyone on the dark side of Earth must figure out how to avoid being incinerated at dawn. The plot follows a family trying to board a plane to the North Pole, where the sun will not rise for three months, giving them time to come up with a survival plan. Shusterman noted that it was originally only a short story and that he is excited to see how the writers expand it for the film. The project is being produced by Dylan Clark Productions, which previously teamed with Netflix on Carry-On and Bird Box, with Underground serving as executive producer. Shusterman also mentioned that he is not as involved in the film’s development.

Designer and art director Chloe Foglia took a unique approach to the cover, using the concept of a cabinet of curiosities to reflect the eclectic nature of the stories. Personally, I love the cover. It’s striking, memorable, and just so interesting. The moment I saw it, I was like, wow.

MindWorks is a treasure trove for fans, offering both long-time readers and newcomers a comprehensive, thoughtful collection of Shusterman’s short fiction in one volume. ...more "

Jun 24, 2025 07:43AM · see review

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