Neil Gaiman: Fragile Things

Another fantastic and amazingly wide-ranging collection of stories ( though I did skip the poems/prose poems) Also enjoyed getting re-acquainted with the American Gods novella as there was some back story in one item about a grimly important central character...Mr Alice.
The range of Gaiman is what I admire most as well as his ability to speak well in different voices.
Going to comment (briefly) on most stories now..but may not complete as have pre-dinner drinks in under half an hour! Only ones that I enjoyed or admired. Was left indifferent or unimpressed by a number so not commenting on those.

A Study in Emerald.
A sort of Sherlock Holmes story but with great twists. Some marvellously dark touches.

October in the Chair
Done for/dedicated to Ray Bradbury and manages to be both unique and also Bradburian. Manages his characteristic combo of weirdness and real feeling and emotion which I think virtually no other writer of science fiction/fantasy really manages...although as these are genres I am very inexpert in, I stand to be corrected...ideally by having a previously unknown author recommended to me to show I am wrong!

PAUSE...

CONTINUED...

Closing Time
Smart little revenge story all the better for being to the point.

Other People
Very nasty initially but deeper impact as physical replaced by ( worse) mental. Neatly referred to by author as a Mobius strip story.

Keepsakes and Treasures
Neatly and nastily disturbing. Mr Alice ( from the American Gods novella) in this one.

The Problem of Susan
Essential reading for Narnia fans..or Narnia loathers . Could work for both!

Feeders and Eaters
Great little piece of Gothic with good use of final horrific revelation.

Goliath
Brilliant. Matrix connection. Be interesting to do closer comparison.
Addendum: Just checked. One of several commissioned stories to help launch of the film. Not a precursor it seems...

Pages from a Journal...
Weirdly different. Not sure if I really enjoyed and admired or if I was just intensely irritated!

How to Talk to Girls at Parties.
One used for PR as being filmed...but fear will be expanded and made far more explicit which think will make it lose its power. We will see...Wonder if NG will have anything to do with it.

As hope shown remarkably wide ranging collection.