Overview

An engaging new voice in absurdist fiction A new North American edition of an acclaimed short story collection, Instruction Manual for Swallowing explores what happens when ordinary people collide with bizarre, fantastical situations. A man discovers he has testicular cancer on the day that a Godzilla-like monster attacks the city he lives in; a kitchen-hand is put under terrible peer pressure in a restaurant for zombies; a husband and wife discover they are pregnant with 37 babies; and a man travels into the engine room of his own body to discover Busta Rhymes at the controls. The 14 stories are grotesque, hilarious, unnerving, and moving. No matter how outrageous the subject matter of the stories, they have at their heart genuine human experiences that are common to us all. Bonus BackLit materials will include two new stories and an interview with the author.

Full Product Details

9781770410800

Table of Contents

Reviews

Each tale builds with mysterious suspense, bringing to mind Neil Gaiman with his fantastical imagination or Bret Easton Ellis with his frenetic intrigue. . . . This is a book that may hold a broad appeal for lovebirds, philosophers and zombie-lovers alike, and that's part of the fun. -- Scene Magazine (January 2013)

Marek's fabulously meaty, funny writing makes the short story look really exciting again, pulling you, frame by frame, into a bright, strange future. --Maggie Gee

. ..a transgressive thrill...delightful. --t he Guardian

Author Information

Adam Marek’s prize-winning stories have appeared in many anthologies and magazines. He won the 2011 Arts Foundation Short Story Fellowship and was shortlisted for the inaugural Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award. This story collection was nominated for the Frank O’Connor Prize. Visit him online at AdamMarek.co.uk.

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