Andy Fairclough, Masters of Terror

Black Butterflies collects together 17 of John Shirley's stories from the last decade into this attractive trade paperback edition.

Forgive me if I spend quite a bit longer than usual in my perusings over this book but it's not very often that a work of such quality crosses my path.

I had had little of experience of Shirley's work prior to reading this collection so I really didn't know what to expect. What I got was short fiction of the very highest standard. Each story almost without exception is so involving and so memorable that I came away each time as satisfied as if I had just finished a damn good novel.

Shirley's stories are dark, moody, more often than not guttural pieces where the characters come alive with startling ferocity. Even the small characters are well defined and memorable. This is not just an author's imagination running riot, picturing what it must be like at the bottom rung of society. When you are in these stories with Shirley driving, you're there living breathing and sweating with the meanest of the mean and the weirdest of the weird. If you've ever sailed two or three rungs above the bottom of the ladder you will be able to appreciate the accuracy and vividness with which Shirley paints these desperate pictures.

In fact I can't comment on a few of the stories as each holds its own special magic, so here are 16 reasons why you should get hold of Black Butterflies:

1. "Barbara" - The opening story just came back to me like a flash even though I read it almost a week ago. A couple of hoodlums get a bit more than they bargained for when they decide to rob Barbara.

2. "War and Peace" - A killer tale about the seedier side of the police force. Shocking.

3. "You Hear What Buddy And Ray Did?" - Without doubt the most disturbing piece within this collection. I was physically shaken up more than once during this story.

4. "Answering Machine" - A gruesome confession into an answering machine.

5. "The Rubber Smile" - Another really memorable tale. "The Rubber Smile" is a slasher movie with an apparent cult following. Vivid stuff.

6. "The Footlite" - Back into sleazeville for another disturbing piece. So real.

7. "Cram" - While on a train journey an earthquake occurs and then the nightmare begins....

8. "What Would You Do For Love?" - Rips through you like a gunshot. Unhappy at home? Thinking of an affair? Read this one! One of the very very best stories here and it's original to this collection.

9. "Delia And The Dinner Party" - Another triumph. People - recognise your children for what they are, the most precious and special thing in the world. "Delia And The Dinner Party" shows you the selfishness and fallibility of people and we can all feel a little self disgust after reading this one.

10. "Pearldoll" - Once bitten twice shy? Or maybe not...love is blind. Another walk on the seedier side of town.

11. "Woodgrains" - A tormented sculptor gets more than he bargained for. Another story about how far we will go to satisfy our own selfish needs.

12. "The Exquisitely Bleeding Heads Of Doktur Palmer Vreedeez" - This one is an old friend. Find out what happened to Idi Amin. Features cameo appearances from Michael Jackson, Madonna and Stephen King to name but three. Almost a light hearted moment in this collection.

13. "Flaming Telepaths" - Superb atmosphere. The action takes place in the Black Glass nightclub. A rock band is about to take the stage when one of our old favourites, a TV evangelist is spotted in the audience.

14. "How Deep The Taste Of Love" - Ever been offered your dream sexual experience out of the blue? No, neither have I ... but the central character in this story has all his dreams come true.

15. "Aftertaste" - Horror tale about crack dealers and addicts. A deft belnd of the seedy world of drugs and the supernatural.

16. "Black Hole Sun, Won't You Come" - An apocalyptic sci fi tale about a man intent on killing earth's remaining population which has gathered in Central Park.

Shirley is a master craftsman. Short fiction has never got to me like this before. There is power in the pages of Black Butterflies. Collection of the year (at least) this one is going to rocket up my all time top 100 list. Absolutely essential reading...now to track down the back catalogue....

(fly back)