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ISBN: 0-9542586-3-0

2005 Fish Anthology

Cover of The Mountains of MarsThe winning story, 'Mountains of Mars', by Marc Phillips makes a great title to the Anthology, and the story, full of understated tension, kicks the book off wonderfully. Second, Jo Campbell's story, 'In the Desert', is surely a woman's story, of loss late in life and the possibility of redemption. I'll be re-reading this one in my middle-age.

I'm pleased that the judges selected two of Barry Troy's stories ­ 'A Life', insightfully written, about a teenage girl whose mother has left her to cope with a drunken father and a house-full of kids, and in third place, 'Booker Night in Baggot Street' ­ hilarious ­ a most unlikely discussion develops in a Dublin pub while watching the Booker Prize on TV. It would make a great play.

It's refreshing to have so many humorous stories in the Anthology. It's difficult to write successful comedy but Tomás O'Beirne succeeds in his eccentric story 'The Missing Taxi Man'. So too does Caroline Koeppel in her story, 'How to Kill a Latin Teacher', which left me with the eerie feeling that I may have missed an opportunity with my own Latin teacher! Selma Dabbagh's story, 'Beirut-Paris-Beirut', was simply masterful. And Mary Leland's 'Skin Song', a sensual tale told from the point of view of Geraldine, a young girl observing her mother's intimate relationship with the music teacher, and her own parallel coming of age, is erotically atmospheric, beautifully paced and unfolds with a timeless quality that had me totally absorbed.

Edited by Clem Cairns

Contents:

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You can view some of the stories from this book in our Short Stories to Read Online page

The Mountains of Mars - Marc Phillips
In the Desert - Jo Campbell
Booker Night in Baggot Street - Barry Troy
Postcard From New York - Tom Murray
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How to Kill A Latin Teacher - Caroline Koeppel
Believe It - Brian Tiernan
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Beirut-Paris-Beirut -Selma Dabbagh
Vanilla - Jessica Wells
Tommy the Voice - Paul Basset Davies
The Butterfly Slippers - Rebecca Smith
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Opening the Door - Rebecca Bryant
God's Fingerprint - Rob Pateman
A Life - Barry Troy
The Plan - Anthony M. O'Sullivan
The Guards Come to the House - Hugo Kelly
Poor Cow - Tessa Green
At the Intersection of Heaven and Hel - Susi Klare
A Typical Wednesday - Richard Dunford
The Object of Desire - Jennifer A Donnelly
Ambition - Clare S Birchall
The Missing Taxi Driver - Tomás O'Beirne
Imaginary Friend for Hire - Paul Bassett Davies
Bus - Kath McKay
Skin Song - Mary Leland