an anthology worth its SALT
by uzwi
Hampson came back after some years, to the seaside in the rain, to this town built around a small estuary where a river broke through the chalk downs. Everything–everything people knew about, anyway–came in through that gap, by road or rail; and that’s the way Hampson came too, down from London, midweek, in a rental van, unsure of what he would find for himself after so long. He had options, but since he wasn’t sure about them either, he rented a single room on one of the quiet wide roads that run down from the old town. “Getting Out of There”, my contribution to Nicholas Royle’s Best British Short Stories 2014, finds itself in some pretty impressive company. “Getting Out of There” was previously available only as a very limited edition chapbook–you’ll have missed it if you blinked, so now’s your chance. Or, if you already have it, why not double down & treat yourself to all these other stories too?
the m john harrison blog 
By the way, Mike, I’ve thought of that story many times since reading the chapbook.
Thanks for highlighting this collection, especially for those of us in the colonies. Looks intriguing though I am one of those who did snap up your chapbook during it’s brief appearance.
That chapbook was Consumer Product of the Year. Enticingly gorgeous, correspondingly sturdily constructed, proofread by human beings, & delivered by hyperdrive.
I’m glad the story’s no longer out of print, though. It beat the hell out of Eggers as social media fiction.
Thanks all. It’s been my most successful live gig story too, made lots of new friends that way. Ray Davis: “social media fiction” –> 🙂
Do you have a new collection in the offing at all, Mike? (P.S. Please say yes.)
Hi Rob, yes I do. All the stories are present. But I need to make some decisions before it’s complete & ready to go; and, as usual, I am having anxieties & difficulties there, about what to include & how it should be presented & published. For instance, should I include some pieces from the blog? Or should I keep those separate & maybe give them a Kindle publication of their own? I am also wound up with a new novel.
I so apologise for this to everyone who is waiting.
That’s brilliant, & you *know* we’ll wait – half-mad & drooling with suppressed glee at the prospect of your next gathering of exquisite cognitive-emotional derailments, sure, but we *will* wait…
For what it’s worth, the Ambiente Hotel deserves its own publication, with all tags intact.
Well, thanks, Rob. It shouldn’t be too long. I think we’ll do something about the Ambiente Hotel too–probably collected highlights rather than warts & all. We’ll see.