Fragile Things: Short Fiction and Wonders, a collection of short stories by Neil Gaiman

Condition Score: 9/10

Fragile Things is Neil Gaiman's second collection of short fiction
In a novella set two years after the events of American Gods, Shadow pays a visit to an ancient Scottish mansion, and finds himself trapped in a game of murder and monsters
Two teenage boys crash a party and meet the girls of their dreams and nightmares
Such marvelous creations and more, including a short story set in the world of The Matrix and others set in the worlds of gothic fiction and children's fiction, can be found in this collection, which showcases Gaiman's storytelling brilliance as well as his entertaining (and dark) sense of humor
• A Study in Emerald • (2003) • novelette
• October in the Chair • (2002) • shortstory
• Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire • (2004) • shortstory (variant of Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire)
• Closing Time • (2003) • shortstory

• Bitter Grounds • (2003) • novelette
• Keepsakes and Treasures: A Love Story • (1999) • shortstory
• The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch • (1998) • shortstory
• Harlequin Valentine • (1999) • shortstory
• The Problem of Susan • (2004) • shortstory
• How Do You Think It Feels? • (1998) • shortstory
• Fifteen Painted Cards from a Vampire Tarot • (1998) • shortstory
• Diseasemaker's Croup • (2003) • shortstory

• Goliath • (1998) • shortstory
• How to Talk to Girls at Parties • (2006) • shortstory
• Sunbird • (2005) • novelette
• The Monarch of the Glen • [American Gods] • (2003) • novelette