"I like things to be story-shaped."So says the narrator of The Flints of Memory Lane, one of the stories in this collection. I agree wholeheartedly.Which is why I'm only giving this a 3-star rating. Not because the writing is poor, but because so few of these stories are actually, well, story-shaped. Also, it's such a mix of genres, not all of which I enjoy... My favorite parts of this collection are the Introduction (in which Gaiman explains the genesis of each story/poem/whatnot) and the author interview at the end, in which he says: "I've never written a horror novel, and one reason I've never written a horror novel is I don't think I'd want to live in that place for eighteen months or two years. But I'm perfectly happy to visit for a weekend or a couple of weeks and get absolutely creepy and dark and nasty and strange in a way that I wouldn't want to be long-term."I'm not a fan of horror, so maybe I should stick to his novels. ( )

I decided to read something serious by Gaiman, and picked up this collection of short stories. They were all very good, but there was something will-o'-the-wisp-y about them. In the Introduction, he mentions that he'd originally meant to write a collection of stories with unreliable narrators; that plan fell by the wayside, but there's still often a feeling that what's really happening may not be quite what you think it is. The title is very apt. All these stories are fragile little soap bubbles; if you poke them too hard, they'll break.

I don't know if you'd call it favorite, but the story that stood out the most to me was "Sunbird," which Gaiman wrote in the style of R.A. Lafferty as a birthday present for his daughter Holly. I have been a Lafferty fan since college, I absolutely adore his unique sideways look at reality. I kept thinking as I read "Sunbird" that it had a Lafferty-ish feel, although it never quite managed the giddy spark of wonder that Lafferty often achieved. Anyway, after I finished Neil's story, I had to go dig up my yellowed copy of New Dimensions III and re-read my all-time favorite Lafferty story, "Days of Grass, Days of Straw." ( )

Neil Gaiman is known to pen imaginative stories with intriguing characters. His anthology "Fragile Things" delivers both, but the collected short stories and poems vary in quality as much as subject matter. Anthologies tend to tickle us in different ways, so I'll simply say I enjoyed "A Study in Emerald," "October in the Chair," and "The Monarch of the Glen" (featuring Shadow from "American Gods"). ( )

Another satisfying read from Mr. Gaiman. The man never fails to impress and I was very happy when my book club voted to read this wonderful collection of poems, short stories, and novellas for our October selection. All the stories in this collection were enjoyable and none of them were disappointing to me. There were a few that stood out to me though:

A Study in Emerald: I have never read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I have read some Lovecraft. This mixture of the two had me laughing and imagining. A good combo.
October in the Chair: This is typical of Gaiman: a well written story within another well written story. As if creating a persona for the individual months of the year wasn't hard enough, that's just the stage for the tale of an unloved boy who befriends a ghost, and possible becomes one too. Humor, sadness, sympathy, and then undeniable creepiness. Effectively evoking these emotions is a tough task to tackle, but this story get is done in 15 pages.
The Hidden Chamber: Love and haunting. One of my favorite poems in the book.
Closing Time: This is my favorite story in the whole collection. Once again, its a story within a story. The private clubs of London sets the stage for the telling of another tale, of childhood exploration. I personally identify with this story because I too remember exploring woods and abandoned places near my various homes growing up and stumbling upon places you knew you just weren't supposed to be at. I would like to think that all children at some point have had that opportunity to mix danger and exploration into their development, but I'm afraid that this experience is becoming fewer and far between. Anyway, this story ends in a most believable and creepily satisfying way.
Other People - This short story evoked the most discussion at our book club meeting. Basically the group was undecided on whether or not the demon and man were simply trading places continuously forever, or there were new sinners coming into and eventually being turned into a demon, just so they could administer the punishment to the next sinner. I fell into the latter camp, being partial to Dante and plus it was more poetic for a sinner to become the embodiment of his own punisher. Now if I could only decipher what a "Lazarene's Daughter" is?
Keepsakes and Treasures: This story is somewhat connected to Hittites, and features the mysterious Mr. Alice. Yeah!
The Problem of Susan - I'm not a big fan of C.S. Lewis, but this one evokes some very kinky images between Aslan and the white witch, something I imagine only Gaiman could conjure up.
How to Talk to Girls At Parties - Sci-fi, humor, and 70's brit punk. The things these girls say, if only it were like that when I was 15 years old.
Sunbird - A nice blend of mythology, humor, and appetite.
The Monarch of the Glen - Shadow is back and he's on vacation.

There are many more great stories in this collection. I really appreciated the format of this book in that Mr. Gaiman gives a little intro and background in the introduction to each story. It helped put the stories into context and added value to their reading for me. It also helped me realize that Neil Gaiman is a very very busy man and no wonder he isn't always coming out with new books. ( )

How to describe this collection of short stories by Neil Gaiman? Here's the thing - this is a really odd collection because it's contrary to how collections normally go. There weren't any stories that left me totally mesmerized, but there weren't really any that were total slouches either. Here's the strange part - the stories each separately would probably rate as 3 stars - but since they were all 3 stars I feel it brings the collection up a 1/2 star. Overall, Gaiman has a real storyteller talent - like I could picture him many lifetimes ago being a bard traveling the lands or a tribe's shaman keeping stories alive. ( )

Intriguing and unusual . Gaiman is a brilliant story teller. The stories are odd, with no loose ends, not really.
Even if you are not a Science Fiction fan, you will enjoy this book. ( )

Short stories, ranging from the weak to the mediocre. I've enjoyed some of Gaiman's other work, and his blog is always entertaining … more so than this book, I'm afraid. The one line that did amuse me was the reference to Robert Maxwell's death: "The most satisfying splash I've ever heard." Yes. ( )

Reading now, and like it already.

But don't read right before going to sleep. This also requires the HP Lovecraft method of reading more than one at a time in the hopes of rendering your nightmares absurd rather than traumatic. But, damn, if it isn't tremendous writing. ( )

Neil Gaiman sneaks up on me. I'm reading along, certain that I don't much care about what's happening, when I suddenly realize that I'm speed reading because I'm so desperate to know where all this is going. It's all about the buildup. Gaiman's narratives gradually gain momentum until the story takes flight.

The trouble is, Gaiman's short fiction is short. (Stating the obvious: a proud tradition). There's not always enough time for the tale to build up the momentum I need to really get into it. It becomes about the overall effect, rather than the buildup. How engaging is the story? How creative is the language? What do I think of the payoff?

In most of these cases, I think it's good. Not fantastic, not breathtaking, just good. Gaiman's short fiction is entertaining, but it rarely moves me. It rarely forces me to reconsider any of my previously held views or inspires me to dig deeper into the story. It's fun, but it's fleeting.

There are a few notable exceptions, though, and one of them just so happens to be in FRAGILE THINGS. "The Problem of Susan" is one of my very favourite stories. I first read it several years ago, shortly after this anthology was released. Narnia was, for many years, my favourite place that never was, and the problem of Susan always bothered me. Gaiman does such a beautiful job of discussing Susan's Afterwards that I just couldn't contain myself. I slammed the book closed and cried my eyes out.

The rest of the book is very good. It's readable. It's fun. It's easy to just whip on through this, fast as anything. Gaiman plays around with some interesting premises and produces many entertaining, elegantly crafted stories and poems that display a true understanding of both modern expectations and traditional storytelling. But as far as I'm concerned, "The Problem of Susan" is the main reason this collection is so worthwhile. It's the only Gaiman story that's ever truly moved me.

As a side note, I highly recommend the audio presentation. Gaiman narrates many of his own audiobooks, including this one, and he's a fantastic reader. He elevates many "just good" stories to "really bloody good." It's worth checking out. ( )

An enjoyable collection of short stories by Gaiman, Fragile Things has some very good works, some rather poor stuff, and a couple of things which seem more like anecdotes or sketches than actual stories. The most inventive are the best, because the most vivid, though I had the same problem with some of them that I do with other works of Gaiman's: there is often not a there, a person, behind his characters. Also, based on what appears here, he should stick with prose: poetry is not his forte. ( )

I was sort of bipolar on this one. The ones I loved, I really loved, and the ones I didn't, I really hated.

I loved 'A Study in Emerald', the one I mentioned above, combining Sherlock Holmes and this sci-fi setting. I think the more often I reread that one, the more I will like it! Very well done.

I also loved 'How to Talk to Girls at Parties', 'The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch', 'Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire' - love the title! so funny, and the last one, 'The Monarch of the Glen', which brings back the characters from American Gods briefly.

But I hated the one about Susan from the Chronicles of Narnia. And I really, really hated 'Keepsakes and Treasures' - some disturbing sexual content in there that I didn't appreciate at all. I was going to give this to my daughter to read when I was done, but I know she would be very disturbed by that story, and told her so.

In all, I guess I discovered that I like Gaiman when he tones it down - with his children's books, or his collaboration with others. He can be a little too graphic for me to enjoy on his own. ( )

I liked this book, though not as much as Smoke & Mirrors. It was interesting to read the history of how each story had been conceived (or at least, for what purpose it was written).

The stories were all of good quality, but none really stood out.

Recommended for fans of Neil Gaiman. ( )

A book full of little treasures. Including the poems - actually especially the poems.... you know, the ones that come free with the stories that no-one has to read but I always do because they are amazing.
Full of humour, and little twists and turns into the most unexpected places. ( )

A superb set of short stories that rivals Gene Wolfe in cleverness, but is often less obscure than Wolfe. Inevitably one or two duds, but so many little gems. ( )

Once upon a time I was in love with Neil Gaiman. I happily devoured Neverwhere, Stardust and Smoke and Mirrors. Then our relationship hit a rough patch. I hated Good Omens, Anansi Boys and American Gods. So when I started to hear the buzz around Fragile Things I didn't rush out a get a copy. I was a little reluctant to try it. I guess I considered it the last bridge of the relationship, once you cross it there's no going back. The beginning of the book got off to a great start. I really enjoyed October in the Chair and A Study in Emerald (if only Gaiman wrote more Sherlock Holmes!) Now for the bad news... nothing else in the book appealed to me. I fear the relationship is over. ( )

I got this in hardback way back when it came out, and I started reading it pretty much immediately. Then I hit a glut of ghost stories in the middle and ran out of steam. Picked it back up a couple of days ago and finally finished it.

I'd forgotten quite how much I enjoy Neil Gaiman's prose. Even if not all the stories are exactly my cup of tea (given the guy's range, that's bound to happen), there is pleasure to be gained from the beauty of the writing itself. Favourite stories from this collection: A Study In Emerald, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, and Sunbird.

And of course there's the poetry. Instructions has made it into my notebook of favourite poems. It makes me cry. The Day the Saucers Came and Inventing Aladdin are also very good. ( )

Favorite Stories:
A Study in Emerald
Other People
Sunbird
Forbidden Brides... ( )

Introduction >> Gaiman explains his selection process for the stories included in this anthology. This collection's original title was supposed to be "These People Ought to Know Who We Are and Tell That We Were Here" but was changed to its current title since, according to Gaiman, "There are so many fragile things. People break easily, and so do dreams and hearts."

Don't skip the introduction since aside from the author's insights of his works, he has also hidden a short story within, "The Mapmaker" which is about a Chinese emperor obsessed by the notion of mapping the land he ruled.

A Study in Emerald >> A very delightful read; combining the "styles" you'll often associate with Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes stories, the world of H.P. Lovecraft and Alan Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. One of a kind.

A Fairy Reel >> (poem) Of being young and hearing the Fairy Reel and having the opportunities to visit that fantastical world.

October in the Chair >> If the months of the year could be personified and be able to tell stories around a campfire, what would they say?

The Hidden Chamber >> A Bluebeard poem written when the author was staying in an almost empty house. Believe me, the last house I would want to find myself in would be that of Bluebeard's.

Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire >> Writing realistic fiction can be so dreadful...especially when reality is so unreal! "Aye, welcome--on this night of all nights." The story deserves another reading.

The Flints of Memory Lane >> A first person retelling of a ghost story experienced in a young boy's life.

Closing Time >> A ghost story told by a member of the Diogenes Club. An unsettling story it seems, for in the end, who could tell what parts of it was frighteningly real? The story may be considered "horror" in that it becomes more frightening the more imaginative you are. Long time readers of Gaiman won't consider this a flaw, but rather a virtue - subtlety is far rarer in fiction these days, and far more difficult to achieve, than simple raw horror.

Going Wodwo >> (poem) - Of what would be and what it would feel like becoming a Green Man yourself. "I'll tell the wind my name, and no one else.// True madness takes or leaves us in the wood halfway through our lives."

Bitter Grounds >> A confusing ride of a story, taking the reader traveling from somewhere before hitting Tennessee to New Orleans and mainly focusing on the sub-culture of zombies and Haitian coffee girls.

Other People >> "Time is fluid here." What is your personal concept of hell? Is it the one elaborately explained by Dante? If so, you'd find this encapsulated version to be grimly enjoyable to read. "This time through his life he learned about consequences. He learned the results of things he had done; things he has been blind to as he did them; the ways he had hurt the world; the damage he has done to people he had never known, or met, or encountered."

Keepsakes and Treasures >> A well crafted story about growing up in a tough world where one has to adapt or be consumed by it. "There's many a smart man who's been brought down by a keepsake." The story recounts how to uncover the whereabouts of the Treasure of Shahinai, who, according to legend, was the most beautiful man in the world.

Good Boys Deserve Favors >> A story of a 9 year old boy growing up before he even realizes it: from his acquaintance with the double bass (the incongruity of the idea) to that of knowing that he'll tire of childish things and focus on girls soon enough.

The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch >> A flashback kind of a story of a group date ending up with a member of it suddenly disappearing, or more aptly, "went to join the circus." This later appeared as a graphic novel illustrated by Michael Zulli.

Strange Little Girls >> A set of twelve very short stories, written to accompany Tori Amos's CD "Strange Little Girls" where she created a persona for each song then Gaiman wrote a story for each persona. "She remains on the edges of time, implacable, unhurt, beyond, and one day you will open your eyes and see her; and after that, the dark."

Harlequin Valentine >> This is based on the old Commedia dell'arte and Harlequinade pantomime. The story takes place on February 14 with the Harlequin giving Missy his heart, literally speaking, by nailing it to her door. The story follows the Missy as she tries to discover who gave her this gift, and what she does with it (watch out for unexpected twists!). The merry Harlequin follows her the whole time, wondering what Missy (his current Columbina) will do with it.

Locks >> "We owe it to each other to tell stories." A re-telling of the fairy tale "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

The Problem of Susan >> Related to C.S. Lewis's "The Last Battle" but be warned: this isn't your usual fare of children's story. Echoes of Lewis' Narnia parallelism to Christian Heaven.

Instructions >> Reminiscent of stories that make up the collection of the Brothers Grimm. Literally a set of instructions for what to do when you find yourself in a fairy tale.

How Do You Think It Feels? >> What would happen if you can have a gargoyle to protect your heart, instead of the churches they usually guard?

My Life >> A monologue of a hard life as experienced by a sock monkey who was a member of two hundred photos contained in "Sock Monkeys" by photographer Arne Svenson. Try it yourself; just provide enough alcohol for the poor, sad, little sock monkey.

Fifteen Painted Cards from a Vampire Tarot >> The cards of the tarot as vampires armed with their own distinct personalities: the Fool, the Magician, the Priestess, the Pope ("It was the only religion that delivered exactly what it promised: life eternal for all its adherents"), the Lovers, the Chariot, the Wheel of Fortune, Justice, Temperance, the Devil, the Tower and the Star.

Feeders and Eaters >> A creepy story of keeping an old woman alive with her supply of raw meat as induced by never ceasing guilt.

Diseasemaker's Croup >> A medical jargon filled story of an imaginary disease about making imaginary diseases.

In The End >> How Gaiman imagined the last book of the Bible would play out.

Goliath >> A story based on the film script of "The Matrix" before it was made into a movie and consequently became a cult hit. It's set in the Matrix universe and included with The Matrix Comics Vol. 1.

Pages From a Journal Found in a Shoebox Left in a Greyhound Bus Somewhere Between Tulsa, Oklahoma and Louisville, Kentucky >> written for Tori Amos's album "Scarlet's Walk". Written to tell of identity and travel, and of any kind of resolution that is just out of reach.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties >> "They're just girls; they don't come from another planet." I'm reminded of B. Willingham's wooden soldiers describing humans very much how Gaiman described it, as "a decaying lump of meat hanging on a frame of calcium."

The Day the Saucers Came >> It's quite true: when you're waiting for that call, you're bound to notice nothing.

Sunbird >> What happens if you're a member of the Epicurean Club who has eaten everything that can be eaten? Hunt down the Suntown Sunbird of course! It supposedly tastes "richer than quail and moister than turkey, fatter than ostrich and lusher than duck."

I like the description of one member "who had been once a great beauty but was now a grand and magnificent ruin, and who delighted in her ruination."

Inventing Aladdin >> "Stories are made up by people who make them up. If they work, they get retold. There's the magic of it."

The Monarch of the Glen >> Fans of "American Gods" will appreciate Shadow's return and the echoes of Norse legends.

Book Details:

Title Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders
Author Neil Gaiman
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

This collection of short stories and poetry by Neil Gaiman is enjoyable, but not his best work. Some of the stories work really well, while others feel distinctly unfinished. In spite of the unevenness of the collection, it's still worth a read, as the stories that are good are truly great. "The Monarch of the Glen," a novella starring Shadow from American Gods, was my favorite. "Bitter Grounds" and "The Flints of Memory Lane" scared the bejeesus out of me, and "The Problem of Susan" took something that had always bothered me about C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and twisted it into something very, very disturbing. Most of the rest of the stories, and all of the poems, pretty much, were nothing memorable. A fun, interesting, uneven collection, recommended for Gaiman fans. ( )

I really enjoy much of Gaiman's short work, but I found these stories falling really flat at the end; I didn't care for the last two (very long) stories at all, which really marred my experience with the book. ( )

Fragile Things is a collection of “short fictions and wonders,” including stories, poems and other short pieces, as well as a novella featuring Shadow, the main character from American Gods. For the most part, the stories are weird, creepy, fun horror and dark fantasy. Gaiman includes a lengthy introduction with notes on each piece. I found it interesting that he only wrote a story or poem when specifically commissioned to do so—none of these pieces was written on impulse. ( )

After enjoying Neil Gaiman's other short story collection, Smoke and Mirror, my hopes were perhaps too high and I was a little disappointed with this collection. Just as mysterious, dark and macabre as its predecessor, I found the stories in Fragile Things a little less involving, I just didn't become interested in many of the characters he had created. Although I generally like Gaiman's writing, I felt that I stood apart from most of these stories, they brushed by me without leaving much of an impact. It also felt like these stories had been thrown together with little thought to how they might affect each other, thus I found that they did not blend well, there was no smooth transition.

Having said all that, there were a few stories that stood out:

A Study in Emerald - A Sherlock Holmes-esque tale of mystery and murder in London with a dark side.

The Faery Reel - A short poem that Gaiman himself said, is enormous fun to read aloud.

October in the Chair - Storytelling from the months of the year. An entertaining story within a story.

Going Wodwo - A short exploration of becoming a wild man of the woods.

Bitter Grounds - I really didn't like this story. Well, it creeped me out, which was probably the desired effect! A tale of being lost and found and of things happening for a reason..

Other People - A tale of hell. Loved it! "Time is fluid here".

Harlequin Valentine - Based on a sculpture by artist Lisa Snellings, this is a tale of unrequited love that left me feeling so indescribably sad.

Monarch of the Glen - This was an interesting spin on the tale of Beowulf, but my appreciation of it would certainly have been greater had I previously read Gaiman's American Gods, as it features the main character, Shadow. I enjoyed it nonetheless and it actually made me more interested in reading American Gods.

Perhaps I expected too much from this collection, or they will improve upon revisting them, but it will not deter me from reading more of Gaiman's work. ( )

I find myself rather conflicted while staring at the review window for this collection. Gaiman's extremely short pieces (poems, vignettes) did not move me, but I enjoyed all of the longer stories.

So, a caveat to my rating: it is based mostly on the latter. ( )

This is a collection of short stories and poems by Neil Gaiman. Mr Gaiman has mentioned that he does not like to write novel length horror stories because he does not want to live anywhere that dark for the length of time it would be necessary to write a novel. Reading all these stories at once is bit like living in a very dark place for much too long. So I recommend reading them slowly over time. They are too good to pass up altogether.

"A Study in Emerald" is a cross between Sherlock Holmes and H. P Lovecraft. Specifically, Holmes investigates the murder of a child of the Elder Gods. A bit of a surprize ending for the Holmes fans. The newspaper ads at the chapter heading are a bit of fun too.

"The Fairy Reel" is a poem and a warning about playing with fairies. A bit sad. Mr. Gaiman recommends reading it aloud.

"October in the Chair" is about the monthly meeting of the Months. They tell stories to each other. They are not all good story tellers. It is a bit disturbing. Mr Gaiman calls it "a sort of dry run" for "The Graveyard Book"

"The Hidden Chamber" a gothic poem from Bluebeard to his wife.

"Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire" one of Mr. Gaiman's younger works. A bit silly. About the problems of being an author in a gothic universe.

"The Flints of Memory Lane" a real life ghost story. And all the more disturbing for being so.

"Closing Time" another story that could be true. A disturbing story about childhood.

"Going Wodwo" a Green Man poem.

"Bitter Grounds" a disturbing story about being undead and lost in America.

"Other People" Mr Gaiman had originally titled this story "Afterlife". An editor retitled it. An ironic reference to the Jean-Paul Sartre quote "hell is other people" since in this story hell is definitely not other people.

"Keepsakes and Treasures: A Love Story" Mr Smith works for Mr Alice. They are both very bad men who do very bad things. But Mr Alice has a lot of money and Mr Smith is very good at his job. Not people you would ever want to meet.

"Good Boys Deserve Favors" A story of childhood music lessons and magic. "Good double bass players... were men who made poor husbands." So it is just as well that the narrator does not become a good double bass player.

"The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Ms Finch" Ms Finch disappears one night at the circus, and I think we can see why but how is another matter. We learn the facts of the case but not really the answers to any questions.

"Strange Little Girls" written for the liner notes for a Tori Amos CD. Nice to have in a collection if you obsessive about these things. But not very satisfying as stories.

"Harlequin Valentine" A retelling of the traditional Harlequin story with a rather literal twist on the theme of giving your heart away.

"Locks" a poem about Goldilocks and the Three Bears as a metaphor for parenthood.

"The Problem of Susan" What happened to Susan after the Narnia books were over. I rather like Mr Gaiman's theory.

"Instructions" another poem. Instructions for how to get in and out of Fairy.

"How Do You Think It Feels?" a gargoyle story and a another bit of chilling horror about the danger of guarding your heart too closely.

"My Life" a funny little poem about a strange little life. Another one that is good to read out loud.

"Fifteen Painted Cards From a Vampire Tarot" Exactly what it says it is. Fifteen very short descriptions of vampire tarot cards. He makes some interesting points. What would "The Devil" or "The Sun" mean to vampires?

"Feeders and Eaters" a horror story about compassion and the lack of it. Some fates are worse than death.

"Diseasemaker's Croup" a description of a disease that disrupts the sufferers ability to think coherently. Written by someone suffering from the disease, and therefore a bit incoherent.

"In the End" the last book of the Bible. Genesis in reverse. Funny.

"Goliath" a story set in the universe from "The Matrix" movies, but not using any of the characters from the movies (except the agents). Written for the movie website.

"Pages From a Journal Found In a Shoebox Left in a Greyhound Bus Somewhere Between Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Louisville, Kentucky" Another set of scraps from a Tori Amos tour book. A bit of a möbius story.

"How to Talk to Girls at Parties" This story is just more evidence that, to boys, there is little difference between girls and aliens.

"The Day the Saucers Came" a fun little poem. You can see mr Gaiman read it on YouTube.

"Sunbird" a gift for his daughter Holly. Epicurean clubs can get a bit carried away looking for exotic things to eat.

"Inventing Aladdin" Where do stories come from? As any author will tell you, every story had to start with a story teller who needed to tell a tale.

"Monarch of the Glen: An American Gods Novella" a Beowulf story with Shadow, Mr Smith, and Mr Alice. ( )