The Sleep Corporation Douglas Thompson 9781326444808 Books
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By turns wistful, haunting and macabre, 'The Sleep Corporation' is a major collection of thirty-one stories by Douglas Thompson, a self-proclaimed 'Glasgow Surrealist' and one of the most original and individual voices to have emerged in the field of British speculative and dark fiction over the last fifteen years. "Thompson is a short story writer and novelist of almost unparalleled skill. This is an extraordinarily gifted writer whose lines are infused with poetry" Charles Packer - Sci Fi Online
The Sleep Corporation Douglas Thompson 9781326444808 Books
Douglas Thompson's The Sleep Corporation contains stories that have been published in many magazines and anthologies over the recent years. This is the first time that they've been gathered into a single collection. It's great that they have been made available to readers, because some of them are difficult to find.I consider Douglas Thompson to be one of the most talented speculative fiction authors ever to emerge in the field of British speculative fiction. Along with such authors as Nina Allan, David Rix, Allen Ashley, D.P. Watt, Terry Grimwood and Rhys Hughes, he is one of the few authors who consistently write excellent and thought-provoking fiction. His stories are exceptionally insightful and imaginative, because he dares to explore different themes and issues. He clearly has a passion for telling good, strange and wild stories that will mesmerise his readers.
Douglas Thompson's short stories feature excellent literary prose, imaginative storytelling and stunning originality. He writes refreshingly diverse stories with plenty of depth and imagination. I'm fascinated by the various disturbing, macabre and wistful elements that can be found in his stories, because he uses them in an impressive way to create a strange atmosphere.
It's possible that Douglas Thompson's stories may not be to everyone's liking, but that's one of the reasons why they're so good and impressive. He doesn't try to please everyone and avoids clichés. He has his own distinct voice and he has an ability to surprise his readers with interesting plot twists. When you begin to read his stories, you'll notice that they're wonderfully unpredictable and anything can happen in them.
If there are readers out there who wonder what kind of stories Douglas Thompson writes, the answer is simple: he writes all kinds of speculative fiction stories with emphasis on quality. His stories feature excellent characterisation, atmospheric storytelling and beautiful prose. There's an addictively sharp, bittersweet and satirical edge to many of his stories that attracts readers who want to read something extraordinary.
If you haven't read anything by Douglas Thompson yet, The Sleep Corporation is an excellent entry point to his short fiction. It showcases his writing skills and endless imagination in a perfect way. If you enjoy reading strange and well written stories, I strongly urge you to read this short story collection as soon as possible, because you're in for quite an addictive and unique reading experience.
The Sleep Corporation contains the following stories:
- Raymond and Arlene
- Fallen Woman
- Moving Vehicle
- Central Station
- World War Three Remembered
- On Garnet Hill
- Moon Shot
- The Topography of City Parks
- The Bicycle
- Eleanor
- Alva's Island
- Pandora's Box
- The Flowers of Uncertainty
- The Key to Harry
- Sylvia, Dumped by Her Boyfriend
- Sunday Relatives
- Underpass
- Madame Mannequin
- The Enlightened Heart
- The Pleasures of Television
- Stations Are How Towns Dream
- Hypnostra
- The Mystical Wardrobe
- Fugitive Dreams of the Enslaved
- Elspeth
- Death Trains of Durdensk
- My Lost Sister
- The Sleep Corporation
- Deadbook
- Martworld
- Colossus
These stories range all the way from science fiction to horror fiction and cover a lot of ground between both genres. Some of them are modern dark fiction while others are literary strange fiction. What unites them is that all of them have a touch of strangeness in them.
In these stories, elegance meets strangeness in a stunning way and subtle beauty is balanced by disturbing elements and fascinating grotesqueness. They're beautiful, macabre and thoughtful tales of human condition, everyday life and strange happenings.
Here's more information about the stories and my thoughts about them:
Raymond and Arlene:
- A beautifully written story about Raymond and Arlene who are of different ages. Raymond is eleven years younger than Arlene.
- This is a slightly different kind of love story between two different people, because the author analyses and examines the relationship and its development in an intimate and observant way.
Fallen Woman:
- An intriguing story about a woman who tries to commit a suicide.
- The author has written this story from the point of view of a man who tries to save the woman from drowning.
Moving Vehicle:
- A fascinatingly observant story about four people are driving an automobile.
- This story is a fine example of how to write good and fluent prose.
Central Station:
- An excellent story about a station and what kind of people visit it.
- This story is a deep and fascinating glimpse into life at a station.
World War Three Remembered:
- An interesting flash fiction story about an old woman, Mrs Paisley, who takes care of coffee and biscuits in the kitchen.
- This story has an excellent and well written ending.
On Garnet Hill:
- A beautifully written story about an architect and a place called Garnet Hill.
- I enjoyed reading about the different places, because the author wrote well about them.
Moon Shot:
- This is a fine example of well written flash fiction that is both intriguing and original.
- If you like flash fiction, you'll enjoy this story.
The Topography of City Parks:
- An excellent story about a married couple whose life is not blissful. The man finds a new meaning to his life by examining leaves and how they move around the city.
- This story has been co-written with Allen Ashley.
The Bicycle:
- In this story, Robert loses his job and becomes deeply fascinated by an old bicycle and tries to finds out if anybody uses it.
- The story has a satisfyingly strange ending.
Eleanor:
- A fascinating story about Eleanor who visits a bookshop. The owner of the shop finds a perfect book for her.
- The author writes captivatingly about Eleanor's life and an author she used to know.
Alva's Island:
- A story about Alva, a Swedish woman, and Peter, an English man.
- This is one of the best stories I've ever read in a while, because it features excellent and atmospheric storytelling.
Pandora's Box:
- This is a story about a man who receives a box that is titled Pandora's Box. The box affects his mother in an unexpected way.
- A well written story with a distinct dark fantasy flavour.
The Flowers of Uncertainty:
- A fascinatingly surreal story about a writer called Harold Swimmer, his life and his relationship with a woman called Sharon.
- I enjoyed reading about Harold and his life, because the author wrote well about him.
- This beautifully written story was originally published in the Blind Swimmer anthology (Eibonvale Press, 2010).
The Key to Harry:
- An intriguing story about Harry Houdini and his wife, Bess.
- This story has been co-written with Allen Ashley.
Sylvia, Dumped by Her Boyfriend:
- A story about Sylvia who becomes an extraordinary artist after she has been dumped by her boyfriend.
- The ending is brilliantly sharp, disturbing and artistic.
Sunday Relatives:
- An excellent story about a man who's the director of a mental asylum and has a passion for model trains.
- This story was first published in Rustblind and Silverbright: A Slipstream Anthology of Railway Stories (edited by David Rix / Eibonvale Press, 2013).
Underpass:
- An interesting and atmospheric story about children's tunnel adventure.
- This wonderful story was first published under the pseudonym of Daniella Geary in Where Are We Going? (edited by Allen Ashely / Eibonvale Press, 2012).
Madame Mannequin:
- A bit different kind of a story about a mannequin.
- This is a delightfully strange story that offers food for thoughts.
The Enlightened Heart:
- A fascinating examination of love.
- This story has a perfect ending.
The Pleasures of Television:
- A brilliant futuristic and weird story about TV technology.
- This story has dark and sharp humour that will please readers who are used to reading something different.
Stations Are How Towns Dream:
- An interesting and well written flash fiction story.
- I have to admit that I'm very impressed by the author's ability to write flash fiction, because this story is amazing.
Hypnostra:
- In this story, people participate in Hypnostra conference that is organised by The Sleep Corporation. Hypnostra is a set of abilities that have lain dormant in the human psyche.
- A well told story that has been written from the point of view of Max and Clara who are the participants' lead hosts.
- This is one of the best stories I've read this year, because it gives a new twist to conference tales. It's a fascinatingly strange story.
The Mystical Wardrobe:
- A story about a mysterious wardrobe that mystically appears in different locations.
- I enjoyed reading this story, because it was charmingly strange.
Fugitive Dreams of the Enslaved:
- Jason and Marina, who attended the conference organised by The Sleep Corporation, are trying to escape something.
- This story is connected to "Hypnostra" in an intriguing way.
Elspeth:
- This is an intriguing horror story about a man who sees a ghost of a woman who has killed herself.
- The atmosphere is fascinatingly weird and the ending is excellent.
Death Trains of Durdensk:
- An excellent story about trains that are filled with corpses and randomly travel through train stations in the middle-European city of Durdensk.
- This story was first published under the pseudonym of Daniella Geary in Rustblind and Silverbright: A Slipstream Anthology of Railway Stories (edited by David Rix / Eibonvale Press, 2013).
My Lost Sister:
- In this fascinatingly dark story, the protagonist is aware of her dead sister.
- I enjoyed reading about what happened to the protagonist.
- The author writes well about a fractured mind.
The Sleep Corporation:
- A brilliant story about a police detective who investigates The Sleep Corporation that seems to be connected to a dead prostitute that was found hanging from a lamppost.
- This story is connected to "Hypnostra" and "Fugitive Dreams of the Enslaved".
Deadbook:
- An interesting piece of modern weird fiction about a dead man who still seems to be on Facebook.
- An excellent and well written story with a good ending.
Martworld:
- In this story, Michael lives inside Martworld, a vast dome, that is almost like a prison, because no-one is allowed to go outside.
- This story is a memorable and powerful satire of our current world and the ever-growing supermarkets that are almost like small villages.
- This story has been co-written with Allen Ashley.
Colossus:
- An impressively written story about the suicide of Alan Turing.
- This flash fiction story demonstrates that sometimes shortness is better than length, because it's a perfect story.
"The Topography of City Parks" is a brilliant story about a married couple, Arnold and Rosalinda. Arnold is made redundant and becomes fascinated by leaf movements in the city. The authors (Douglas Thompson and Allen Ashley) write well about Arnold and Rosalinda and how they feel about each other. I've noticed that stories about married life often tend to be a bit annoying and frustrating, because not many authors have the ability to approach this matter in a new way, but the authors have succeeded in it.
"The Flowers of Uncertainty" deserves a special mention as one of the best literary stories written during the last decade. The author writes perfectly about the protagonist, Harold Swimmer, and his life. The story is a successful marriage of literary storytelling, sexuality, realism and surrealism in which all elements fit tightly together and form an intelligent and slipstreamish whole. The ending of this story demonstrates the author's ability to surprise his readers with sharp humour.
"The Key to Harry" is an intriguing piece of fiction, because it's simultaneously a story about Harry Houdini, his wife, Bess, and the meaning of life. It's an intelligent short story to readers who want to read well written stories.
"Underpass" is one of the best tunnel stories I've ever read, because the author's way of writing about what it feels like to explore strange places is refreshingly realistic yet fantastical. This story has interesting echoes of adventure stories.
The intriguingly documentary "Death Trains of Durdensk" is a perfect combination of strange beauty and charming grotesqueness. The Death Trains that travel in the city are quite a sight to behold, because the passengers are corpses. This story is modern weird fiction at its utmost best and most imaginative.
"The Pleasures of Television" is also modern weird fiction at its best, because it gives readers a disturbingly brilliant glimpse into a world where people have televisions on their stomachs and have interfaces that allow them to connect to each other. This story will impress fans of modern weird fiction.
"Martworld" is a disturbing and satirical glimpse into a future world where supermarkets have grown into massive domes and have swallowed entire cities. The citizens never see the light of day, because they're not allowed to go outside. It was fascinating to read about Michael and his life, because he became fascinated by what was outside the dome. The Sex-Booths that can be used to have sex add a nice touch of weirdness to the story. (This excellent story has been co-written with Allen Ashley.)
The interlinking stories about The Sleep Corporation were a pleasant surprise, because they reminded me slightly of one of the author's previous books, Entanglement. It was intriguing to read about the mysterious corporation and what they did to people, because they used dreams to their advantage and could make people do all kinds of things.
The collaborations with Allen Ashley are excellent. Douglas Thompson and Allen Ashley have a similar kind of way of examining life and that's why their voices merge beautifully together in their collaborations.
I have to mention that it was interesting to find out that Daniella Geary is a pseudonym used by Douglas Thompson, because I was instantly captivated by the stories written under this pseudonym when I first read them. I think that this revelation will interest many readers.
Douglas Thompson writes fluently about the human condition and everything that's related to it. He writes about what makes us human, how we act in different situations, how we interact with each other and what we do to ourselves and our fellow human beings. He also writes about how we deal with changes in our lives and what happens when we face things that are unknown to us.
Many of these stories have a complex and intricate structure that will please speculative fiction readers who are used to reading stories that have depth in them. They're filled with beautiful, grotesque, macabre and disturbing elements and effective imagery that will haunt readers.
I appreciate the author's ability to write unflinchingly about human sexuality and its different forms. He doesn't shy away from sexuality, but fascinatingly intergrates it into his stories. His way of writing about sexuality feels bold, fresh and uninhibited.
I think it's great that the author writes thought-provoking stories. Some of his stories are fascinatingly multi-layered and make you think about their contents. Because I've always enjoyed reading complex and multi-layered stories, I find the his stories extremely enjoyable.
One of the best things about this collection is the high quality of the prose. Douglas Thompson writes excellent prose. His literary prose has plenty of substance and style that is lacking from many modern speculative fiction stories. He has his own unique writing style that is in equal parts observant, satirical, macabre and wistful.
There's intriguingly dark humour in some of these stories. In my opinion, Douglas Thompson is one of the best authors when it comes to using dark and sharp humour in speculative fiction stories, because he uses humour in an inventive way and makes it part of the stories. He uses it sophisticatedly and sparingly.
It was interesting for me to read this collection, because I hadn't read many of the stories. I was only familiar with a few of the stories.
I like the cover image, because it's a sophisticatedly artistic and strange cover image that fits this collection and its contents perfectly. It echoes the strangeness of the stories.
I give this short story collection full five stars on the scale from one to five stars. I was very impressed by it, because all of the stories were good and differed from each other.
Douglas Thompson's The Sleep Corporation is one of the finest short story collections of the year. It contains different kinds of stories that range from horror to science fiction. If you're looking for a short story collection that will captivate and unsettle you, you'll love this collection, because it's a unique collection filled with thought-provoking, intelligent and beautifully written stories. Its diverse contents will please all who love good fiction.
Highly recommended!
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The Sleep Corporation Douglas Thompson 9781326444808 Books Reviews
In Douglas Thompson’s latest short story collection, the writer explores a surreal and hypnotic territory in a series of 31 stories. A recurring theme weaves through his tales from whence the collection derives both its strength and its title – the hazy subconscious realms of sleep. It is as though Thompson has appealed to the ancient god Neptune directly for inspiration, and indeed, he plumbs the depths, bringing back impressions of every day life which dove tail into alternate universes – such as “The Bicycle”, “Underpass”, and “Sunday Relatives” among others, and sentient landscapes as detailed in “Stations Are How Towns Dream”, “On Garnet Hill”, and the fascinating “The Topography of City Parks,” (co-written with Allen Ashley) in which a man charts the patterns of autumn leaves.
Thompson has no small gift of elevating those mundane moments into disorienting and hyper-real snapshots, such as the whirling narrative of “Central Station,” and a suicide attempt reeled back at the last minute in “Fallen Woman”, related in the second person voice to great affect. Thompson experiments with style and aims for the literary, roundly smacking it on the nose when the mood takes him, as it does in “The Flowers of Uncertainty,” which details the side-slipping narrative of a writer entangled with an assistant/lover who sabotages his life’s work, or the smartly bizarre “The Pleasures of Television” in which people no longer satisfy themselves with merely watching the tube — they embody it, broadcasting images from their bellies.
In addition to these particular highlighted selections, one begins to understand the overarching theme in stories like that of the collection’s title, “The Sleep Corporation” and in particular, the sinister and riveting “Hypnostra”, which does double duty as dark fiction and as near satirical commentary on the maniacal optimism of the self-help industry via a convention whose attendees discover that not only can they take their human potential to new, superhuman levels, but need not be weighed down by the same pesky morals as anyone else, either. Through it, Thompson gives definition to the modern day insecurities that plague the west in its quest for self-improvement. But the Sleep Corporation running the show is slippery – just when you think you have them figured out, reality itself seems up for contention.
Themes of water – and the fluidity of reality – make their appearances so often its hard not to see it everywhere within the collection as one starts looking. The Sleep Corporation makes for a fascinating and riveting read of intelligent and deeply layered fiction, and will most likely be enjoyed by readers who appreciate their fantastic crossed with darkness.
Douglas Thompson's The Sleep Corporation contains stories that have been published in many magazines and anthologies over the recent years. This is the first time that they've been gathered into a single collection. It's great that they have been made available to readers, because some of them are difficult to find.
I consider Douglas Thompson to be one of the most talented speculative fiction authors ever to emerge in the field of British speculative fiction. Along with such authors as Nina Allan, David Rix, Allen Ashley, D.P. Watt, Terry Grimwood and Rhys Hughes, he is one of the few authors who consistently write excellent and thought-provoking fiction. His stories are exceptionally insightful and imaginative, because he dares to explore different themes and issues. He clearly has a passion for telling good, strange and wild stories that will mesmerise his readers.
Douglas Thompson's short stories feature excellent literary prose, imaginative storytelling and stunning originality. He writes refreshingly diverse stories with plenty of depth and imagination. I'm fascinated by the various disturbing, macabre and wistful elements that can be found in his stories, because he uses them in an impressive way to create a strange atmosphere.
It's possible that Douglas Thompson's stories may not be to everyone's liking, but that's one of the reasons why they're so good and impressive. He doesn't try to please everyone and avoids clichés. He has his own distinct voice and he has an ability to surprise his readers with interesting plot twists. When you begin to read his stories, you'll notice that they're wonderfully unpredictable and anything can happen in them.
If there are readers out there who wonder what kind of stories Douglas Thompson writes, the answer is simple he writes all kinds of speculative fiction stories with emphasis on quality. His stories feature excellent characterisation, atmospheric storytelling and beautiful prose. There's an addictively sharp, bittersweet and satirical edge to many of his stories that attracts readers who want to read something extraordinary.
If you haven't read anything by Douglas Thompson yet, The Sleep Corporation is an excellent entry point to his short fiction. It showcases his writing skills and endless imagination in a perfect way. If you enjoy reading strange and well written stories, I strongly urge you to read this short story collection as soon as possible, because you're in for quite an addictive and unique reading experience.
The Sleep Corporation contains the following stories
- Raymond and Arlene
- Fallen Woman
- Moving Vehicle
- Central Station
- World War Three Remembered
- On Garnet Hill
- Moon Shot
- The Topography of City Parks
- The Bicycle
- Eleanor
- Alva's Island
- Pandora's Box
- The Flowers of Uncertainty
- The Key to Harry
- Sylvia, Dumped by Her Boyfriend
- Sunday Relatives
- Underpass
- Madame Mannequin
- The Enlightened Heart
- The Pleasures of Television
- Stations Are How Towns Dream
- Hypnostra
- The Mystical Wardrobe
- Fugitive Dreams of the Enslaved
- Elspeth
- Death Trains of Durdensk
- My Lost Sister
- The Sleep Corporation
- Deadbook
- Martworld
- Colossus
These stories range all the way from science fiction to horror fiction and cover a lot of ground between both genres. Some of them are modern dark fiction while others are literary strange fiction. What unites them is that all of them have a touch of strangeness in them.
In these stories, elegance meets strangeness in a stunning way and subtle beauty is balanced by disturbing elements and fascinating grotesqueness. They're beautiful, macabre and thoughtful tales of human condition, everyday life and strange happenings.
Here's more information about the stories and my thoughts about them
Raymond and Arlene
- A beautifully written story about Raymond and Arlene who are of different ages. Raymond is eleven years younger than Arlene.
- This is a slightly different kind of love story between two different people, because the author analyses and examines the relationship and its development in an intimate and observant way.
Fallen Woman
- An intriguing story about a woman who tries to commit a suicide.
- The author has written this story from the point of view of a man who tries to save the woman from drowning.
Moving Vehicle
- A fascinatingly observant story about four people are driving an automobile.
- This story is a fine example of how to write good and fluent prose.
Central Station
- An excellent story about a station and what kind of people visit it.
- This story is a deep and fascinating glimpse into life at a station.
World War Three Remembered
- An interesting flash fiction story about an old woman, Mrs Paisley, who takes care of coffee and biscuits in the kitchen.
- This story has an excellent and well written ending.
On Garnet Hill
- A beautifully written story about an architect and a place called Garnet Hill.
- I enjoyed reading about the different places, because the author wrote well about them.
Moon Shot
- This is a fine example of well written flash fiction that is both intriguing and original.
- If you like flash fiction, you'll enjoy this story.
The Topography of City Parks
- An excellent story about a married couple whose life is not blissful. The man finds a new meaning to his life by examining leaves and how they move around the city.
- This story has been co-written with Allen Ashley.
The Bicycle
- In this story, Robert loses his job and becomes deeply fascinated by an old bicycle and tries to finds out if anybody uses it.
- The story has a satisfyingly strange ending.
Eleanor
- A fascinating story about Eleanor who visits a bookshop. The owner of the shop finds a perfect book for her.
- The author writes captivatingly about Eleanor's life and an author she used to know.
Alva's Island
- A story about Alva, a Swedish woman, and Peter, an English man.
- This is one of the best stories I've ever read in a while, because it features excellent and atmospheric storytelling.
Pandora's Box
- This is a story about a man who receives a box that is titled Pandora's Box. The box affects his mother in an unexpected way.
- A well written story with a distinct dark fantasy flavour.
The Flowers of Uncertainty
- A fascinatingly surreal story about a writer called Harold Swimmer, his life and his relationship with a woman called Sharon.
- I enjoyed reading about Harold and his life, because the author wrote well about him.
- This beautifully written story was originally published in the Blind Swimmer anthology (Eibonvale Press, 2010).
The Key to Harry
- An intriguing story about Harry Houdini and his wife, Bess.
- This story has been co-written with Allen Ashley.
Sylvia, Dumped by Her Boyfriend
- A story about Sylvia who becomes an extraordinary artist after she has been dumped by her boyfriend.
- The ending is brilliantly sharp, disturbing and artistic.
Sunday Relatives
- An excellent story about a man who's the director of a mental asylum and has a passion for model trains.
- This story was first published in Rustblind and Silverbright A Slipstream Anthology of Railway Stories (edited by David Rix / Eibonvale Press, 2013).
Underpass
- An interesting and atmospheric story about children's tunnel adventure.
- This wonderful story was first published under the pseudonym of Daniella Geary in Where Are We Going? (edited by Allen Ashely / Eibonvale Press, 2012).
Madame Mannequin
- A bit different kind of a story about a mannequin.
- This is a delightfully strange story that offers food for thoughts.
The Enlightened Heart
- A fascinating examination of love.
- This story has a perfect ending.
The Pleasures of Television
- A brilliant futuristic and weird story about TV technology.
- This story has dark and sharp humour that will please readers who are used to reading something different.
Stations Are How Towns Dream
- An interesting and well written flash fiction story.
- I have to admit that I'm very impressed by the author's ability to write flash fiction, because this story is amazing.
Hypnostra
- In this story, people participate in Hypnostra conference that is organised by The Sleep Corporation. Hypnostra is a set of abilities that have lain dormant in the human psyche.
- A well told story that has been written from the point of view of Max and Clara who are the participants' lead hosts.
- This is one of the best stories I've read this year, because it gives a new twist to conference tales. It's a fascinatingly strange story.
The Mystical Wardrobe
- A story about a mysterious wardrobe that mystically appears in different locations.
- I enjoyed reading this story, because it was charmingly strange.
Fugitive Dreams of the Enslaved
- Jason and Marina, who attended the conference organised by The Sleep Corporation, are trying to escape something.
- This story is connected to "Hypnostra" in an intriguing way.
Elspeth
- This is an intriguing horror story about a man who sees a ghost of a woman who has killed herself.
- The atmosphere is fascinatingly weird and the ending is excellent.
Death Trains of Durdensk
- An excellent story about trains that are filled with corpses and randomly travel through train stations in the middle-European city of Durdensk.
- This story was first published under the pseudonym of Daniella Geary in Rustblind and Silverbright A Slipstream Anthology of Railway Stories (edited by David Rix / Eibonvale Press, 2013).
My Lost Sister
- In this fascinatingly dark story, the protagonist is aware of her dead sister.
- I enjoyed reading about what happened to the protagonist.
- The author writes well about a fractured mind.
The Sleep Corporation
- A brilliant story about a police detective who investigates The Sleep Corporation that seems to be connected to a dead prostitute that was found hanging from a lamppost.
- This story is connected to "Hypnostra" and "Fugitive Dreams of the Enslaved".
Deadbook
- An interesting piece of modern weird fiction about a dead man who still seems to be on Facebook.
- An excellent and well written story with a good ending.
Martworld
- In this story, Michael lives inside Martworld, a vast dome, that is almost like a prison, because no-one is allowed to go outside.
- This story is a memorable and powerful satire of our current world and the ever-growing supermarkets that are almost like small villages.
- This story has been co-written with Allen Ashley.
Colossus
- An impressively written story about the suicide of Alan Turing.
- This flash fiction story demonstrates that sometimes shortness is better than length, because it's a perfect story.
"The Topography of City Parks" is a brilliant story about a married couple, Arnold and Rosalinda. Arnold is made redundant and becomes fascinated by leaf movements in the city. The authors (Douglas Thompson and Allen Ashley) write well about Arnold and Rosalinda and how they feel about each other. I've noticed that stories about married life often tend to be a bit annoying and frustrating, because not many authors have the ability to approach this matter in a new way, but the authors have succeeded in it.
"The Flowers of Uncertainty" deserves a special mention as one of the best literary stories written during the last decade. The author writes perfectly about the protagonist, Harold Swimmer, and his life. The story is a successful marriage of literary storytelling, sexuality, realism and surrealism in which all elements fit tightly together and form an intelligent and slipstreamish whole. The ending of this story demonstrates the author's ability to surprise his readers with sharp humour.
"The Key to Harry" is an intriguing piece of fiction, because it's simultaneously a story about Harry Houdini, his wife, Bess, and the meaning of life. It's an intelligent short story to readers who want to read well written stories.
"Underpass" is one of the best tunnel stories I've ever read, because the author's way of writing about what it feels like to explore strange places is refreshingly realistic yet fantastical. This story has interesting echoes of adventure stories.
The intriguingly documentary "Death Trains of Durdensk" is a perfect combination of strange beauty and charming grotesqueness. The Death Trains that travel in the city are quite a sight to behold, because the passengers are corpses. This story is modern weird fiction at its utmost best and most imaginative.
"The Pleasures of Television" is also modern weird fiction at its best, because it gives readers a disturbingly brilliant glimpse into a world where people have televisions on their stomachs and have interfaces that allow them to connect to each other. This story will impress fans of modern weird fiction.
"Martworld" is a disturbing and satirical glimpse into a future world where supermarkets have grown into massive domes and have swallowed entire cities. The citizens never see the light of day, because they're not allowed to go outside. It was fascinating to read about Michael and his life, because he became fascinated by what was outside the dome. The Sex-Booths that can be used to have sex add a nice touch of weirdness to the story. (This excellent story has been co-written with Allen Ashley.)
The interlinking stories about The Sleep Corporation were a pleasant surprise, because they reminded me slightly of one of the author's previous books, Entanglement. It was intriguing to read about the mysterious corporation and what they did to people, because they used dreams to their advantage and could make people do all kinds of things.
The collaborations with Allen Ashley are excellent. Douglas Thompson and Allen Ashley have a similar kind of way of examining life and that's why their voices merge beautifully together in their collaborations.
I have to mention that it was interesting to find out that Daniella Geary is a pseudonym used by Douglas Thompson, because I was instantly captivated by the stories written under this pseudonym when I first read them. I think that this revelation will interest many readers.
Douglas Thompson writes fluently about the human condition and everything that's related to it. He writes about what makes us human, how we act in different situations, how we interact with each other and what we do to ourselves and our fellow human beings. He also writes about how we deal with changes in our lives and what happens when we face things that are unknown to us.
Many of these stories have a complex and intricate structure that will please speculative fiction readers who are used to reading stories that have depth in them. They're filled with beautiful, grotesque, macabre and disturbing elements and effective imagery that will haunt readers.
I appreciate the author's ability to write unflinchingly about human sexuality and its different forms. He doesn't shy away from sexuality, but fascinatingly intergrates it into his stories. His way of writing about sexuality feels bold, fresh and uninhibited.
I think it's great that the author writes thought-provoking stories. Some of his stories are fascinatingly multi-layered and make you think about their contents. Because I've always enjoyed reading complex and multi-layered stories, I find the his stories extremely enjoyable.
One of the best things about this collection is the high quality of the prose. Douglas Thompson writes excellent prose. His literary prose has plenty of substance and style that is lacking from many modern speculative fiction stories. He has his own unique writing style that is in equal parts observant, satirical, macabre and wistful.
There's intriguingly dark humour in some of these stories. In my opinion, Douglas Thompson is one of the best authors when it comes to using dark and sharp humour in speculative fiction stories, because he uses humour in an inventive way and makes it part of the stories. He uses it sophisticatedly and sparingly.
It was interesting for me to read this collection, because I hadn't read many of the stories. I was only familiar with a few of the stories.
I like the cover image, because it's a sophisticatedly artistic and strange cover image that fits this collection and its contents perfectly. It echoes the strangeness of the stories.
I give this short story collection full five stars on the scale from one to five stars. I was very impressed by it, because all of the stories were good and differed from each other.
Douglas Thompson's The Sleep Corporation is one of the finest short story collections of the year. It contains different kinds of stories that range from horror to science fiction. If you're looking for a short story collection that will captivate and unsettle you, you'll love this collection, because it's a unique collection filled with thought-provoking, intelligent and beautifully written stories. Its diverse contents will please all who love good fiction.
Highly recommended!
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