海角大神

Neil Gaiman鈥檚 fiction collection 鈥淭rigger Warning鈥� is starting off well in sales and is also receiving many positive reviews.

鈥淭rigger鈥� was published on Feb. 3 and is the newest work by the author of 鈥淎merican Gods,鈥� 鈥淪tardust,鈥� and 鈥淣everwhere,鈥� among other work. The new book, a mix of pieces already published elsewhere and original material, is already selling strongly. It debuted at number three on the IndieBound hardcover fiction list for the week of Feb. 12, behind stalwarts 鈥淭he Girl on the Train鈥� by Paula Hawkins and 鈥淎ll the Light We Cannot See鈥� by Anthony Doerr, and is currently at number four on hardcover fiction list for the week of Feb. 22.

The book includes short stories and poetry. Gaiman told about the book that, 鈥淚n some ways, it's me tipping my hat both to the human imaginative facility, the fact that we can imagine, and it's also a way of trying to celebrate aspects of and creatures of and people of the imagination that I've loved. Which is why it contains a Sherlock Holmes short story, which is why it has a tribute to Bradbury, which is why it has a Jack Vance story. There are things in there that are just ways of tipping my hat to things and fictions and acts of imagining that I have loved."聽

鈥淭rigger鈥� has so far received mostly positive reviews. critic Jason Sheehan noted of the work, 鈥淎lmost everything in聽Trigger Warning聽has appeared elsewhere 鈥� but the odds that you've seen them all, or most, or even any of them before is low鈥�. They are confections, these stories鈥�. Some are substantial 鈥� which sprawl a little and wander a little, and 鈥� as seems to be Gaiman's tendency 鈥� sag a little in the middle鈥�. But others are just tastes. Teases, even. Terrible, haunting, ragged-edged things.鈥�

And staff wrote that the book 鈥渋s worthy of hosannas鈥�. [it] will please all takers鈥�. A reviewer at wrote, 鈥淓verything that endears Gaiman 鈥� to his legions of fans is on display in this collection of short stories (and the occasional poem): his gift for reimagining ancient tales, his willingness to get down into the dark places, his humor鈥�. Even the weakest of these tales have something to recommend them 鈥� an image, a turn of phrase, a mood. And the strongest are truly extraordinary鈥�. [T]his collection will thoroughly satisfy faithful fans and win new ones 鈥� if there's anyone out there left unconverted.鈥澛�

Meanwhile, Edward Docx of the disliked the poetry included but found other pieces in the book more satisfying.

鈥淗ere was another chance 鈥� many chances 鈥� to discover where the reputation comes from,鈥� Docx wrote of the book. 鈥淟et me say this. It鈥檚 not from his poetry鈥�. But then things start to get much better鈥�. [T]he story 鈥� 鈥楾he Truth is a Cave in The Black Mountains鈥� 鈥� is superb. Well constructed, exquisitely voiced鈥�. And there are more treats in store. The Sleeper and the Spindle is another masterclass鈥�. [T]here is so much that is clever and skilful in among the embarrassments that by the end I was reminded of Paul McCartney, another copiously talented artist, who seems to have no sense of which of his works are breathtakingly good and which breathtakingly bad.鈥�