The Fiction Shelf

A short piece which is whimsical, comic and tragic. The mundane notions of vanity are presented before an impending horror of conflict with prose that are simple and wholly enjoyable to read.

A brave narrative poem that deals honestly with issues of fundamentalism, placing them – vitally – in a human context. The poetic voice, like the protagonist – and like his brother who we never hear – is nervous but determined. An important, modern piece of writing.

A Cold War drama that deals with trust and combative relationships. The narrator of Shipmate takes under his wing someone who has time after time proved them selves to be recklessly indisciplined and unreliable.

Grandparents are living history and well worth exploring. History and humour stand side by side in this gently paced but wonderfully contained story of a cross‐generational road trip told through the pages of a child’s journal.