Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, an astonishing collection of short fiction that stretches the boundaries of imagination, probes the depths of human experience, and reveals how the ordinary and the fantastical are intertwined.Fragile Things showcases the distinctive storytelling genius that has made Neil Gaiman one of the most admired literary artists of our time. The thirty-two gems of prose and verse in this astonishing collection stretch the imagination and engage the intellect even as they illuminate the vagaries of human experience. Whether he’s conjuring a mysterious traveling circus, exploring the rarefied tastes of an exclusive epicurean club, or visiting a strangely altered Victorian England, Gaiman reveals how the ordinary and the fantastical are transmutable and intertwined.With breathtaking clarity, Fragile Things illumines Gaiman’s brilliance as well as his terrifyingly entertaining dark sense of humor. By turns delightful, disturbing, and diverting, this volume is a gift of enchantments that will startle the senses and stir the soul.

Washington Post Book World

“Dazzling tales from a master of the fantastic.”

USA Today

“The tales of Fragile Things are nibbles and bits of Gaiman’s immensely satisfying inner landscape. They are fiercely playful and very grim, wisps of whimsy and wonder buoyed by the happy heart of a tragic poet.”

Baltimore Sun

“Neil Gaiman at his unique best is terrific . . . compelling and dreamy . . . Readers will be reminded most in these stories of that master craftsman yet to be superseded, Ray Bradbury.”

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Think of it as a month with Scheharazade . . . No Gaiman fan can be without [Fragile Things] . . . If you’ve never encountered Gaiman’s unique voice before, this volume is an excellent introduction, with easily digestible stories that can be devoured in one sitting. Still, you may find yourself gorging at this narrative feast, not stopping until you’ve read two or three or even half a dozen at a time.”

Library Journal

“Charming, at times creepy, and good fun. . . . Well-worth adding to any collection; highly recommended.”

New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice

“A prodigiously imaginative collection . . . The best of these clever fantasy metafictions explore the mysteries of artistic inspiration.”

Entertainment Weekly

“Strange, or sweet, or eerie, or heartfelt stories . . . wonderfully peculiar . . . Gaiman relishes the sacred act of telling stories.”

Toronto Star

“A powerful and oddly unified collection, a perfect introduction to Gaiman’s work for new readers and a thrilling reminder to his long-time fans . . . [T]he shorter prose form allows Gaiman a greater freedom of whimsy and provocation than even his graphic work, with stunning results.”

San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

“Those with a taste for inventive idiosyncracy will find themselves fully rewarded.”

Booklist (starred review)

“One delight after another.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Lush prose...and a winning faith in the enchantment of stories. Expect the unexpected. Then savor the chills.”

Washington Post Book World

“FRAGILE THINGS is a delightful compendium...[Gaiman] is indeed a national treasure.”

USA Today

“Fiercely playful and very grim, wisps of whimsy and wonder buoyed by the happy heart of a tragic poet.”

Baltimore Sun

“Readers will be reminded most in these stories of that master craftsman...Ray Bradbury...Gothic tales of high caliber.”

New York Times Book Review

“A prodigiously imaginative collection...The best of these clever fantasy metafictions explore the mysteries of artistic inspiration.”

From the Inside Flap

A mysterious circus terrifies an audience for one extraordinary performance before disappearing into the night . . . Two teenage boys crash a party and meet the girls of their dreams--and nightmares . . . In a Hugo Award-winning story, a great detective must solve a most unsettling royal murder in a strangely altered Victorian England . . .These marvelous creations and more showcase the unparalleled invention and storytelling brilliance--and the terrifyingly dark and entertaining wit--of the incomparable Neil Gaiman. By turns delightful, disturbing, and diverting, Fragile Things is a gift of literary enchantment from one of the most original writers of our time.--New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice

From the Back Cover

A mysterious circus terrifies an audience for one extraordinary performance before disappearing into the night . . . Two teenage boys crash a party and meet the girls of their dreams—and nightmares . . . In a Hugo Award–winning story, a great detective must solve a most unsettling royal murder in a strangely altered Victorian England . . .These marvelous creations and more showcase the unparalleled invention and storytelling brilliance—and the terrifyingly dark and entertaining wit—of the incomparable Neil Gaiman. By turns delightful, disturbing, and diverting, Fragile Things is a gift of literary enchantment from one of the most original writers of our time.

About the Author

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling and multi-award winning author and creator of many beloved books, graphic novels, short stories, film, television and theatre for all ages. He is the recipient of the Newbery and Carnegie Medals, and many Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner Awards. Neil has adapted many of his works to television series, including Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett) and The Sandman. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR and Professor in the Arts at Bard College. For a lot more about his work, please visit: https://www.neilgaiman.com/

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