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The Pier Falls

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The Pier Falls

By: Mark Haddon
Narrated by: Clare Corbett, Daniel Weyman
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Summary

'He writes with the craft of Julian Barnes or, even, Truman Capote.’ The Times

A Spectator Book of the Year

An expedition to Mars goes terribly wrong.

A seaside pier collapses.

A thirty-stone man is confined to his living room.

One woman is abandoned on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean.

Another woman is saved from drowning.

Two boys discover a gun in a shoebox.

A group of explorers find a cave of unimaginable size deep in the Amazon jungle.

A man shoots a stranger in the chest on Christmas Eve.

In this first collection of stories by the author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Mark Haddon demonstrates two things: first that he is a master of the short form (several of the stories have been longlisted for prizes), second that his imagination is even darker than we had thought.

 Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Fiction Short Stories Mars

Critic Reviews

A superb collection of stand-out stories… The Pier Falls is unique in that every story is brilliant… It is, simply, and ultimately, an absolute pleasure to read
This is a top-notch collection… It veers into unexpected territory, and the evolving surprises are mesmerizing… 'The Pier Falls' leads the collection. It is a perfectly controlled little masterpiece… So chilling that one imagines its author could carve out a second career as a horror film scriptwriter. (Lionel Shriver)
Brilliant collection… Seamless prose… It feels as though Haddon is leading you into the deepest underworld of human endeavor and behavior, yet holding your hand gently as he guides you into the labyrinth. Outstanding. (Imogen Lycett Green)
The real redemption in these superbly gripping stories comes from their canny human detail, and the vivid, unsettling clarity they bring to our brief lives. (Phil Baker)
He writes with the craft of Julian Barnes or, even, Truman Capote. (Andrew Billen)
The title story…is so good and so awful I read it with my hand over my mouth… His global smash hit The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-time...hit the mark. Here, he hits it again, and again and again
A knockout. From the breathtaking first piece, The Pier Falls is powerful and emotional.
Mark Haddon is a master of haunting detail. This title story is a tour de force and the other eight are diverting reminders of just how transporting a perfectly constructed short story can be. (Olicia Cole)
Superb new collection… This impressive collection is both bleak and brilliant and shows a writer at the top of his game. (Mernie Gilmore)
A sustained set of powerfully told stories... It's as if Ian McEwan had never turned nice. (David Sexton)
All stars
Most relevant
The Pier Falls is unquestionably one of the strongest most accomplished short stories of our time. In the hands of the narrator, it’s power is undeniable and I listened and listened to it over and over again. I cannot recommend it enough. I cannot.

Exceptional

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