Thoughtful, intelligent and light of touch. Lively has the gift, rare and wonderful, of being able to peel back the layers one by one and set them before us, translucent and gleaming

A sublime storyteller . . . she has us riveted with curiosity as to what will happen next, yet also keeps us consistently aware of the nature of the illusion

Each story encapsulates a vividly imagined universe... covering a broad range of styles with ease and elegance, it is a witty and grounding collection

Superb, unmissable ...The writing is as good as it gets

A stunning achievement. Bernard MacLaverty is undoubtedly one of the finest and most gifted writers at work today, and in terms of the short story he has no better

Masterly

Short stories come in all shapes and sizes... There are the stories which are essentially tales... Others are atmospheric pieces... Bernard MacLaverty is a master of the second sort of story...I can't think of anyone who does it better... There is not a dud in this collection. Each story demands the reader's close attention. Each invites a second reading which in every case will deepen one's understanding...by shedding a sympathetic light on difficult moments in people's lives, he enriches our experience of each other.

Few write stories with such emotional clarity as this Booker-shortlisted son of Belfast.

MacLaverty's real skill lies in creating atmosphere, in presenting images that last in the mind more than incidental details of plot... these are stories that must be listened to carefully to catch their deafening boom.

MacLaverty... is a matchless observer of human details both trivial...and significant.

A fine collection by a true craftsman, thematically rich and deeply humane.

Can we just accept that Bernard MacLaverty is one of the greats now? In this, his latest collection of short stories, the Glasgow-based Northern Irish writer reminds us of his range and power.

Inventive, dazzling, devastating and laugh out loud funny, the stories in Shine/Variance are all this and more. It's exhilarating to read such remarkable writing. An astonishingly good debut from a writer who clearly finds joy in language

This collection depicts with caustic wit and insight the undersides of Irish domesticity: the quiet angers and atrophying dissatisfactions. Flaunting an enviable dexterity in both voice and style, Shine/Variance is an addictive collection, rich in moments that linger in your consciousness

Stephen Walsh's stories are often playful, sometimes twisted, in form and tone, but the dexterity on display allows for deep, subtle and profoundly moving explorations of modern life

A striking new talent in Irish literature. These stories vibrate with wry humour while always packing a serious emotional punch. Slyly revealing how we communicate today; how the language of modern technology, travel, lifestyle and ambition have infiltrated our deepest thoughts, Walsh illustrates that, in fact, little has changed in the human heart since James Joyce published Dubliners, which this collection brings to mind. Hugely entertaining, gripping and moving, Shine/Variance announces the arrival of a wonderful new voice for our times

[K-Ming Chang] is back with her signature precise and enthralling prose in this short-story collection.

K-Ming Chang's inspired mix of magic and realism returns in full fabulist force. . . . The stories are eclectic . . . and united by Chang's fascination with the queer and quotidian in her characters' worlds. . . . Piercing.

Her new short-story collection Gods of Want both widens and calcifies the expansiveness of her range. . . . Chang is singular amongst us all. . . . New work from Chang is a cause for celebration-a holiday in its own right-and it's also a reminder of the infinite possibilities on the page. . . . Nothing short of marvelous.