GARY FRY

THE GRIEVING STONES by Gary McMahon Review by Gary Fry I had the privilege of reading this novella in manuscript form, cos the author and I are old pals and often take a look at each other's stuff before flinging it out at the world. Anyway, let's not suggest that this will make me less objective here. If I can tell him what I think of his floppy new fringe, I can tell him about his fiction, too. But I find myself with nothing but good things to say here. At the time of reading, I recall telling the old bastard that it was one of the best things he'd written. And so it is. The novella begins in typical McMahon territory, with a woman (Alice) healing from previous duress and seeking a new direction in life. She joins a counselling group which retreats to what at first appears to be a standard Bad Place, chockfull of weird property shenanigans (sterling use of a dummy, in particular) and all its ancient, legend-infused surrounding environment (the wonderfully named Staple Sis

The Booking by Ramsey Campbell A review by Gary Fry   Ramsey Campbell’s latest novella – his third in recent years, making four in his career – is certainly an elusive work. I’ve read it three times and am still wrestling with its suggestive multiplicity, its layers of meaning and themes. It begins with a seemingly youngish guy called Kiefer seeking new work in a depleted jobs market. He finds a post at a bookstore owned by a seemingly older chap called Brookes. After losing a key to his girlfriend’s home, Kiefer ends up living in a room above the shop and soon begins his duties alongside the rather eccentric proprietor. Kiefer is tasked with cataloguing the shop’s books online, with a view to making e-sales. However, Brookes is suspicious of the Internet and refuses to let Kiefer switch on his laptop’s webcam (which problematizes Kiefer’s Skype-like communication with his girlfriend, who is away looking after her parents). Brookes constantly speculates about a chip which can be pla