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A Conundrum of Drabbles
by Nick Bantock
The internationally bestselling author of Griffin & Sabine returns with his newest literary mystery—a charming assemblage of his own illustrated stories. Each of the invitingly strange tales is paired with its own glyphic creature (perhaps created by Sabine herself).
Little is known of the fascinating manuscript that Nick Bantock has come to possess. It was discovered in an attic in North London, stuffed into a battered cardboard box, and unceremoniously delivered directly to Nick's doorstep. Inside the package lay one hundred evocatively absurd stories, one hundred humorous drawings of strangely familiar, quirkish glyphs, plus a cryptically poetic note signed only as "HH." (Possibly the well-known, eccentric billionaire, Hamilton Hasp?)
In these stories—each consisting of precisely 100 words—strange creatures slip through alleyways, and eerie streets swallow people whole. Taken altogether, they may constitute a puzzle that no one has been able to solve thus far. Could there even be one missing story?
For those perceptive readers with a curious mind, the celebrated author of Griffin & Sabine cordially invites you to find your own path through his beguiling conundrum of drabbles—or even to contribute one of your very own.
"Readers will find themselves delighted, intrigued, and often moved by the love, pain, and wonder of these finely written drabbles thoroughly extraordinary."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Though some readers will likely find the puzzle element a head-scratcher, Bantock's fans will appreciate his fresh stylistic approach. This beguiles." —Publishers Weekly
"A tapestry of exquisite miniatures, the kind of stories you might hear told in one of Calvino's invisible cities. Microfictions are seldom this inventive or persistently pleasurable."
―John Coulthart, World Fantasy Award-winning graphic artist, illustrator, author, and designer
"I have always been fascinated by artists who manage to invent imaginary creatures and worlds, and Nick Bantock does it with extreme elegance and a unique freshness of sign, managing to combine cave paintings with Flemish art in a contemporary key."
―Daniele Serra, three-time winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Artist
"100 Stories. 100 words each. 100% captivating. In The Corset & The Jellyfish, Nick Bantock weaves tales that are wholly fantastical and yet absolutely believable. Talking lampposts, bottled angels, and dancing dice are just a few of the magical characters that you will meet along the way. Accompanied by 100 illustrations that are equally mysterious, be ready for a journey to places far beyond your imagination."
―Seth Apter, author of The Mixed Media Artist
This information about The Corset & The Jellyfish was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Nick Bantock has authored thirty books, including the internationally bestselling Griffin and Sabine series. His works have been translated into thirteen languages. and over five million copies have been sold worldwide. Bantock has worked in a betting shop in the East End of London; trained as a psychotherapist; and designed a house that combined an Indonesian temple, an English cricket pavilion and a New Orleans bordello. He was also one of the twelve committee members responsible for selecting Canada's postage stamps. Among the things Bantock can't do: he can't swim; has never ridden a horse; his spelling is dreadful; and his singing voice is flat as a pancake.
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