This is another book read off the back of it being reviewed in Planet. It is a collection of short stories, and is a mixed bag both in terms of quality and in terms of style and subject.
It is strongest when the subject involves the development of a psychosis building to an extreme act of violence - in these cases the writing is gripping and you are drawn into a vivid world - although it is out that is uncomfortable and disturbing. The opening story of the collection is one such example, with a range of acts of mindless cruelty being inflicted on animals - it was a challenge to get through it but it was compelling and there was an air of something like the Wasp Factory about it - however perhaps it was a mistake to have read it on the bus on the way to church as it certainly wasn't not the ideal fare for getting oneself in the disposition to encounter the Holy Mysteries.
At the other extreme there is 'Banana Squirrel' which is a charming, although not brilliant, tale of Fluffy the squirrel, and could easily but the text for a colourful children' book - although it was read with a little tension as given the earlier stories I thought there must have been some gruesome twist coming - but it wasn't.
As is should be the case with shorts they left you wanting more and overall this is a great advert for the talents of a writer - I would happily read more by Tom Fourgs if he hit the standard of the best of this collection - and hopefully he will have the support and guidance of editor/publisher to give a greater level of quality control either to future collections of shorts or full length novels.
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