The Big Issue

Books

CHERRY PICKINGS

Autumn jewels to brighten the short, dark days ahead

Liberation Day

By George Saunders

Time magazine called George Saunders “the best short story writer in English”, so it’s not surprising that the announcement of a new collection of short stories sent ripples of anticipation throughout the book-loving world (despite five of these stories actually having already made an appearance in The New Yorker).

The 60-page titular story that kicks off proceedings is one of the book’s publication virgins, and begins with a thrillingly mystifying paragraph, the bizarre language of which suggests a futuristic or fantastical setting. Saunders has been teaching the craft of the short story at Syracuse University for 20 years; he has honed to perfection the art of locking in his reader within a few sentences.

His own style, however, is far from the consistently grave pondering of Tolstoy; he cannot help being funny and taking gleeful pleasure in undercutting his own carefully constructed scenarios. Liberation Day is a perfect example; its initial, linguistically imposing set-up of an austere community composed of mysterious characters and strange hierarchies quickly gives way to hilariously mundane chatter among the anxious group members. The theme of the individual’s place among contrived or natural communities continues, raising compelling questions about belonging, estrangement, obligation and connection. With the lightest, most playful of touches, Saunders raises big, serious questions about the way we live now, and what new fears and sorrows stalk us.

Out on October 18 (Bloomsbury, £18.99)

Illuminations

By Alan Moore

Another writer whose cult status has collected an awestruck readership, in this case since its inception in the early Eighties (, , ) is comic-book writer Alan Moore. A master of the imagination, Moore is celebrated for his ability to combine vast, fully realised alternative realities with sharp social commentary and insight into psychological breakdown. (Todd Phillips’ magnificent movie is heavily influenced by Moore’s dark, intelligent.) This is his first foray into short story writing in a 40-year-plus career, a landmark moment for his fan base. His comics’ panels have however always been punctuated with long think-pieces of prose, so this is not entirely new territory.

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