Scablands and Other Stories

Jonathan Taylor is an author, editor, lecturer and critic. His books include the memoir Take Me Home (Granta, 2007), and the novels Melissa (Salt, 2015) and Entertaining Strangers (Salt, 2012). Both novels were shortlisted for the East Midlands Book Award, and Take Me Home was recently named as one of the Five Best Books on Neuroscience by Prof. Andrew Lees. Jonathan teaches Creative Writing at the University of Leicester. His website is www.jonathanptaylor.co.uk

Although each of these compelling stories stands alone, there are at least two possible links between them all: first, the political nature (with a lower-case “p”); and second, the desperate need these characters have for connection in this isolating world. Such themes unite them as a collection. This is a short story collection that I strongly recommend.