Secret Cargo is a scifi/steampunk novelette (or long short story) and is available in eBook and print formats.

Available in print & as an Amazon Kindle ebook:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Cargo-Charles-Christian-ebook/dp/B00G6PBB7Y/
 
The story revolves around two 23rd century space travellers, who each have a secret but share a love of 20th century cinema. They know every movie ending ever made but will they survive when the credits roll?
 
So far it has had 10 x  5 star reviews on Amazon and has been nominated for the British Science Fiction Association Awards 2014 and even made it to No#3 in the Amazon Top 100 paid-for ebook chart in the science fiction/steampunk category. Thank you all.
 
Secret Cargo is available from Amazon (including Amazon.com if you are in the US) plus iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Kobo and Gardeners plus just about any other ebook source you can name. 

And there's more... here's what the early reviews said...

"If, by the end, you are not screaming curses at the author, then you've read it wrong!"

"...the twists which come close to the end had me both cheering and crying."


"...marvellous mental imagery - and some a little bit 'mental'..."

Here are the latest reviews in full (including one review from Puerto Rica)

5.0 out of 5 stars - A great read I am looking forward to part2! - 11 April 2014

By IconTom

As a fan of science fiction I am always looking to be exposed to new authors. I downloaded Secret Cargo to my Kindle and read it start to finish in one setting. For the record, I am not someone who is going to discuss the idioms and literary nuances of any book; I read for pleasure, and that is exactly what Secret Cargo delivered. The story premise is unique, the dialog is engaging, and there are plenty of novel sci-fi inventions that make this eBook a great read. I won't play the spoiler, but there are plenty of surprises and plot twists. My only disappointment was that since I was reading it on my Kindle I was not keeping a good watch on percent complete. When I got to the end, I was definitely left wanting for more. I hope that Part 2 is on the way, and soon! Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Enjoyable even if you're not a sci-fi geek - 26 Feb 2014

By Mellifluous

I'm not a sci-fi geek (though I love John Wyndham's books), and I'm not really a film buff either. However, if you are either of those things, I think you'd absolutely love this novella, and get even more out of reading it than I did.

I really liked it, anyway – despite my ignorance of sci-fi and what terms like steampunk mean – as it's an easy, entertaining and ultimately thought-provoking read. It also caused me to have a really vivid dream about it afterwards, so obviously made as much of an impression on my subconscious as it did as my conscious mind! 

Highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars - classic short story - 12 Feb 2014

By Amazon Customer

Secret cargo is a classic short story, the main characters are established fairly quickly, with further surprising aspects of themselves neatly woven into the story as you go along. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I enjoyed this novelette on holiday, and sometimes, a short story like this fills a journey very nicely.

5.0 out of 5 stars - 30 Jan 2014

By SB

I'm not a great reader. In fact, I'm very fussy, and a lot of books get discarded within minutes – life's too short. Secret Cargo had me gripped from page one. It is refreshingly easy to read, it is engaging and charming on so many levels and its humour and plot proved so compelling, it was indeed hard to put down. How so much plot, futuristic outer-space imagery, tragedy (a sprinkling) and fun is packed into such a short book, left me impressed. For me, Secret Cargo is an inspired work of art, which I enjoyed very much and will certainly revisit in the future.
 
5.0 out of 5 stars - Small but crafted - 26 Jan 2014

By Writearound "Poet"

This is long short story or a short novella ( who wants to split hairs about word count ). The story has the satisfying circular arc that makes the end a beginning. It is well crafted and draws you into another world which in the end sci-fi and fantasy lives and stands by. If you aren't convinced of the world created by the writer you don't want to stay there, I stayed till the end ...enough said. The art of the novella is tricky enough detail to create a sense of reality but too much and you risk bloating the novella into a rushed novel. It is a trick many could not pull off but Christian does.

5.0 out of 5 stars - A great read - 21 Jan 2014

By Jon MD

A very worth while purchase and read. Enjoyed it cover to cover. Well written and the author certainly knows his stuff. Thoroughly enjoyable.

4.0 out of 5 stars - Twisty, turny fun - 21 Jan 2014

By R. B. Harkess "Rob H"

This is the first thing I have seen from Charles since This is the Quickest Way Downand I was instant taken back to the quirky style I remembered. This is slightly outside of his Urban Fantasy playpen; much more Steampunk and very good at it too. The technology concepts are quite delightful.

Having said that I did think that both the main characters turning out to be unlikely closet ancient (20th Century) history geeks stretched the plot a little and did in some ways seem a vehicle to mention a lot of books and films. I didn't quite get what that was to do with the story, and it did distract a little from the main plot. Which was a shame, as I enjoyed the simplicity of the setting and the retelling of a classic abandonment story.

On the flip side I loved the idea of an AI system that had a primary interface about as helpful as a DOS session

Of course, I can't tell you much else about it without going into spoilers. It is, after all, a short story. I'll settle for saying that its very much up to the standard one would expect from Charles.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Cargo of secrets - 19 Jan 2014

By A fielding

Cargo of secrets indeed everyone from the sapient life forms to the robotic intelligence had their own little secret hidden away.It took me about twenty minutes to read this book it wasn't long enough in a good way. The references to films etc in the early parts were amusing and witty. I had an inkling that all would not end well for the travellers when the instructions given to the robot were shall we say ambivalent without giving too much away! Get it, read it it's well worth it. Well done Charles now to download some more. (This review is by S Fielding but my kindle is registered to my wife)

5.0 out of 5 stars - Science Fiction has never been as real as this - January 18, 2014

By Anibal J. Rosario Planas

This book probably falls somewhere between a short story and a novelette. However, you will get more than your money's worth when you read this 50+ pages.

The story has only two central characters, both of which have interesting surprises up their sleeves. The technology around them is an interesting cross between steampunk style retro machinery and futuristic dreams, but both seem rooted very much in actual, realistic technology. But the really interesting thing is not the background in which it is set, but the struggles of the characters and the few surprises the author manages to hit us with.

The story is short and fast paced, but well developed. You will probably sit down and want to finish reading without stopping. But do take the time to savor the unexpected twists and turns.

5.0 out of 5 stars - This Author Never Fails To Surprise Me - 11 Jan 2014

By Rae Gee

Secret Cargo takes a look at two secretive space travellers. After their starship is wrecked, they find themselves stranded and that's when things begin to come to light.

Well, what can I say about this book?! Charles Christian has a knack for taking something which most people would span over a series of novels (and probably wouldn't write half as well) and cramming it in to something less than sixty pages. This is a quick and interesting read. If you know your popular culture from the 20th and early 21st centuries then you're going to love this. And the twists which come close to the end had me both cheering and crying. 

I get the feeling that Christian doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve but, for this one, the last few pages were packed with raw emotion. It was a complete, and wonderfully surprising, contrast to the rest of the book. The entire book is a beautiful read for anyone who's into sci-fi, modern culture, or just wants a read which is completely different from other books in the genre. Secret Cargo does exactly what it says on the tin (a long short story) and, like Christian's other book "This is the Quickest Way Down", will leave you wanting to more. If, by the end, you're not screaming curses at the author, then you've read it wrong! Brilliant book and definitely looking forward to Christian's next offering.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Boom ...and there it is. The Secret. - 8 Jan 2014

By Mrs. M. S. Bidwell

So what's the big Secret? I read Mr C's witty novelette to find out and was immediately drawn in by his clever writing.

I was warmed to the cockles (Norfolk ones of course) to learn that some things will still exist in a world 300 years from now. The cultural history that we have now is the key to the Secret here. 20c and 21c film acts as the magnetic force which pulls the two characters closer, and the Secret cargo is revealed. But wait! There is no time to dwell on such matters, their survival is at stake.

Mr C pushes us along at a pace dictated by words and within creates marvellous mental imagery (and some just a little bit 'mental' but hey that's pure fantasy). I loved it. Love the cover too!

5.0 out of 5 stars - Intro to Steampunk - 8 Jan 2014

By NickM

I have known Charles since his post-barrister career as a tech guru for the law took off. I have seen him publish haiku on line and dismissed this as the dilettante pass time of those called to the Bar. I gradually became aware that he was keen on sci fi and again didn't bother to read any!

I have now read "Secret Cargo" and it is a wonderful revelation.

His tech journalism was always "au point", witty. Charles has a talent for pricking the overblown claims of tech suppliers and encouraging legal tech users to give him opinions, which he very equitably filters and interprets. He became the go to authority of the actual use of technology in the Law.

But this is something else. It is still witty, very tongue in cheek, packed with accessible cultural references and self deprecating.

The story line grabs and whirls you along. The characterisation is hilarious schoolboy fantasy (I'm sure I recognise a version of Mrs C in Meredith!).

I am not an expert on Steampunk as a genre; but as a 60 year old graduate in English Literature I can recognise good writing and a great read. So I will pass this on to my kids who are seriously into Manga, fantasy and sci-fi lit and see what they say about genre authenticity; but I bet its bang on.

Buy it. Read it. Make him write more!

Treading the line between normal and fantastic

Set mostly in the present day, the eleven stories give everyday existence a gentle nudge into the realms of the weird, the supernatural, the horrific and the surreal.

These stories tread a fine line between the normal and the fantastic, where a casual encounter can embroil a person in dangerous liaisons with ghosts, aliens or even vengeful gods. Yet also the bizarre can be found lurking just around the corner, across a cup of cooling mocha in a suburban coffee shop, over a glass of chilled rosé wine in a beachside cafe on the Cote d'Azur or in the next message to arrive on your mobile phone.

Gothic tales for the 21st century - with a sense of humour

THIS IS THE QUICKEST WAY DOWN takes the traditional English recipe for science fiction, dark fantasy, horror and urban gothic tales and gives them a topical twist, reinventing them for the digital age of the 21st century and the sensibilities - and sense of humour - of the modern reader. 

Quotes from reviews:

"Christian's strength is the abandon with which he brings together the fantastic and the mundane..." David Hebblethwaite in the British Science Fiction Association's Best of 2012 issue of Vector magazine.

“Christian doesn't f*** about; there's not a hint of postmodern malaise or feigned sub-Hollywood angst in this book. Christian delivers the goods economically, effectively and with immense dignity and compassion. In a nutshell; the man can write!”

....Dave Kelso-Mitchell

“Christian has put together an intriguing collection of stories here. Its a short book, with eleven stories, but its a classic example of quality over quantity.”

...R B Harkess

“And then we get to The Hot Chick. In this story Charles effortlessly strides in to a world of sci -fi fantasy I am sure every teenage male sci-fi geek on the planet inhabits or wishes they did! If any of the stories in this book were to be made in to a short film for channel 4 then I think it should be this one....with Ben Miller as the male lead. It would be comedy gold although I am sure the more energetic bits would probably need to be toned down for terrestrial TV!”

...Rob Lancashire

“The book transported me back to Kuttner, Sheckley, Ellison and Pan Horror anthology stories. Ballard in the last one. Even a flavour of Kipling spooky stories. A real pleasure and a fine tradition.”

...Louis P W

 “Overall the themes - many in that gritty urban hinterland of post 9/11 and tsunami disasters - have much in common with J G Ballard (including the latter's sometimes bleak approach to sex) with pacy, sometimes gritty writing for the modern age. Christian's style is sparse and urgent and makes me, for one, wish he would now tackle a crime novel. Norfolk noir anyone?”

...Trevor Heaton, EDP Weekend supplement

“These are magnificent short stories by a master of the genre, and they beg to be read many times. There is a lightness of touch in these tales, but there is no superficiality. There are many familiar tropes, but they've been turned on their heads and given a stunning reworking. Cataclysms lead to a weird sort of utopia. Redemption is found unexpectedly. Murders, sexual encounters, tsunamis, explosions and foiled suicide attempts are played out against the backdrop of a cup of mocha slowly cooling.

"I love these stories. Absolutely love them. There are hints of Asimov, of Hemmingway, of - I don't know, everyone from the Strugatsky brothers to Neville Shute via James Joyce and Evelyn Waugh. They are stories overflowing with intelligence, with wit, and with keen observation of human foibles. I want to know when the next collection is coming out, and the novel - preferably the series of novels. How about it, Charles?"

...Catherine Edmunds

"Christian’s style is far from hard, drawing the reader in with an easygoing narrative, plenty of dialogue and buckets of wry humour. But what I found most was heart. You’ll smile as you read these stories, not least the first and last entries, a two-parter end of the world tale which sets the tone perfectly for what’s to come, as well as what’s been, leaving the reader surprisingly uplifted at the book’s conclusion."

...Wayne Simmons

The stories:

Waiting for my Mocha to Cool has a killer first page, and is a primer for the themes explored in the rest of the book. 

Already Gone is a sharp piece of of flash fiction.

Kastellorizon is a good solid traditional sci-fi story.

More Important Than Baby Stenick has the vibe of an early Michael Moorcock.

The End of Flight Number 505 has the feel of an old-fashioned piece of sci-fi, a bit like The Twilight Zone.

This is the  Quickest Way Down is a sharp Harlan Ellison type story, dark and sexy.

A Beretta for Azrella is a kind of ‘cybernoir meets the devil’.

The Hot Chick is a funny and naughty satire on sci-fi authors and conventions.

Confessions of a Teenage Ghost-Hunter is a neat and pleasant ghost story.

By The Steps of Villefranche Station is a great long-story to end the collection. A gentle apocalypse, very J.G. Ballard, that combines many of the themes that run through the book.

To take advantage of this special offer, buy direct from the Shopping Gallery on this site for £6.50 (inc p&p) payment via PayPal. You can now buy copies of this book direct from the Shopping Gallery on this site for £8.50 (inc p&p) payment via PayPal. If you have any questions about the book either use Contact Us on my home page or email charles@charles-christian.com

The book can also be bought via Amazon.

LONG LISTED FOR TWO BOOK AWARDS

This is the Quickest Way Down was longlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2012 - the field that year included Edna O'Brien.

This is the Quickest Way Down was longlisted for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award 2012.

* LATEST REVIEW

Wayne Simmons, February 2013

Sci-Fi’s a funny old thing.
 
There’s the mainstream stuff, such as STAR WARS and DOCTOR WHO, and then there’s the… lessmainstream stuff, the books and movies described by some as Hard Sci-Fi, and generally for good reason.
 
THIS IS THE QUICKEST WAY DOWN is the more digestible end of sci-fi. It’s a varied read, for sure – or reads, should I say, what with the book spanning eleven short stories – but it flows well and feels like a collection as opposed to a load of unconnected stories thrown together. Most of the stories are good, too. My favourites included KASTELORIZON; a somewhat bleak space exploration romp reminiscent of Danny Boyle’s SUNSHINE and indie movie PANDORUM. I also loved pulp action story, A BERETTA FOR ARAZELLA, as well as the title story itself, a sordid little flash number warning of those bad girls your mummy doesn’t want you bringing home, which proved to die for. Literally.
 
Christian’s style is far from hard, drawing the reader in with an easygoing narrative, plenty of dialogue and buckets of wry humour. EMPIRE STATE OF MIND was the only entry that didn’t work; an overly tech and self-aware thing that proved a little too confusing and cluttered to hold my attention. Horses for courses, as they say: the beauty with a collection of shorts is that no one tale overstays its welcome.
 
The devil is in the detail, they also say, and this is true of Christian’s writing. He’s a man who likes to theme, certain little quirks and tropes presenting themselves time after time. There’s a lot of Mocha in this book, for one thing. There’s a lot of sex, too: alien sex, demon sex, and, least believable of all, sex with sci-fi fans.
 
But what I found most was heart.
 
You’ll smile as you read these stories, not least the first and last entries, a two-parter end of the world tale which sets the tone perfectly for what’s to come, as well as what’s been, leaving the reader surprisingly uplifted at the book’s conclusion.
 
THIS IS THE QUICKEST WAY DOWN 5 STAR REVIEWS

Quirky, and beautifully written
5 star Review on Amazon by R B Harkess 14/10/2011

Christian has put together an intriguing collection of stories here. Its a short book, with eleven stories, but its a classic example of quality over quantity. Particularly worth noting are Waiting for my Mocha to Cool, Already Gone and Empire State of Mind but I'm not going to tell you anything about them. Its too easy to accidentally give out spoilers on short stories, but the book is a great collection of ghost stories, supernatural and sci-fi. 

What I will say is I love the way Christian writes. It is smooth and elegant without being overly literary. Sometimes it feels as though literary authors can be shoving how clever they are down your throat, but Christian eases you along and makes it very difficult to put the book down.

Old School is the Best
5 star Review on Amazon by Dave Kelso-Mitchell 02/12/2011

In these days of what appears to be the death throes of the 'entertainment-business-as-we-knew-it' and more specifically the 'publishing-industry-as-we-knew-it', it seems that the small men have over-ridden the great, the talentless successfully shouted down the talented and genuine artistry is rarer than rocking horse doo-doo. It's refreshing then to discover that there are still people like Charles Christian.

Christian doesn't f*** about; there's not a hint of postmodern malaise or feigned sub-Hollywood angst in this book. Christian delivers the goods economically, effectively and with immense dignity and compassion. In a nutshell; the man can write!
     
A great man once said that comparisons are odious but as they can be helpful when unsure of how to approach and unfamiliar book and whether to dip into one's wallet or not, I'll make some anyway. Brian Aldiss (60s), Keith Roberts (Chalk Giants), Fritz Leiber (Our Lady Of Darkness), Phillip Jose Farmer.
      
Well, they are a few of my favourite writers with whom I wouldn't mind being likened, so I hope Mr Christian will forgive me my indulgence. I hope this book is followed by many more equally as good. That would go a ways to restoring my faith in humanity. Yes - if you're wondering - I think you should shell out and buy this book!

He kept me waiting but it was worth it !
5 star Review on Amazon by Rob Lancashire 03/01/2012

Having read and enjoyed a couple of the short stories contained in this book when they were published previously on various blogs prior to this larger collection being published I awaited the release of Charles' first book with anticipation. I was not disappointed!
       
Before I go in to detail on why I liked this book I should set the record straight and say that Charles is a good personal friend of mine who has over the years taught me a lot about copy writing in his day job capacity as a tech journalist. With that said one thing I have always taken as read and appreciated greatly is Charles' journalistic integrity. I know full well he will critic whatever I write with diligence, honesty, fairness and occasionally a gentle but deserved slap. I have approached this review with the same respect and so I hope you take it for what it is. If you don't believe me buy the book and decide for yourself!
       
As a collection I felt the stories fit neatly in to the genre I have enjoyed previously from authors like Neil Gaiman (Good Omens with Terry Pratchett and Anansi Boys) and Douglas Adams (Dirk Gently series). A mixture of sci-fi, gothic horror and some fantasy thrown in for good measure. In my opinion Charles executes this extremely well with the pace of each story keeping you held in the story. I accept that short stories will probably always have pace because they are short and need to move along however to me a good short leaves you desperately wishing the author to go on when the story ends. This is how I felt with the stories in book.
       
Waiting for My Mocha to Cool and Kastellorizon provided my first introduction to Charles' work when I read them previously on blogs so to read them again was like greeting old friends with Waiting once again resonating some of the more terrifying events in recent history intertwined with reminders of the fragility of everyday life. The character called Jeremy Mills reminds me of someone but I can't quite put my finger on it.
       
Intersecting these two pieces is Already Gone which neatly dovetails the two with a creepy tale well-grounded in the fatal reality of life for anyone that knows that part of rural Norfolk. Baby Stenick quickly gives us a sanity check in our modern world of faraway wars and celebrity status culture before the End of Flight number 505 plonks us firmly back in the conspiracy theory world of X-Files. As previously commented each story so far leaves you wanting more. That is until to you get to Empire State of the Mind where Charles stops teasing you for just a moment and soothes your fevered brown with a gentle bend of your mind. In this case I felt Charles takes the layer upon layer story concept similar to that used in Inception and masterfully weaves it in to a complete story in a can. This is probably a story that could be expanded in to a more comprehensive text but I finished this one like any good story should feeling satisfied that it had unravelled to deliver the main characters conundrum. That was enough for me as anything else would have spoilt it.
       
After this small rest we then rush down the next section of the slide with This is the Quickest Way Down. The question you need to ask yourself at the end is could your own murder really be the biggest erotic thrill you will ever have? A Beretta for Azraella is another story which ends reasonably neatly once again suggesting this is a text that could be filled out with more back story but then again you get to imagine lots of extra detail as Charles quietly leaves you to fill in the gaps which is half the fun.
       
And then we get to The Hot Chick. In this story Charles effortlessly strides in to a world of sci -fi fantasy I am sure every teenage male sci-fi geek on the planet inhabits or wishes they did! That is not to liken to Charles to a 15 year sexually frustrated sci-fi geek but just to applaud his wit in pointing out that we may or may not be alone in the universe but at the end of the day every species in the universe probably enjoys a late night knee trembler. If any of the stories in this book were to be made in to a short film for channel 4 then I think it should be this one....with Ben Miller as the male lead. It would be comedy gold although I am sure the more energetic bits would probably need to be toned down for terrestrial TV!
       
Confessions of a Teenage Ghost Hunter takes us through an MR James style winter's evening fireside ramble travelling from that irrational creepy feeling of isolated countryside or a lonely beach through an almost romantic ghost hunt to a warm and fuzzy conclusion that takes an interesting twist on James' view that the story must "put the reader into the position of saying to himself: 'If I'm not careful, something of this kind may happen to me!'"
       
Finally we get to By the Steps of VilleFranche Station. As a previous reviewer has commented this story seems very marginally not quite as polished as the other stories but it doesn't detract from either the book or Charles' style so is quite readable as an end story.
       
As I said at the outset I was not disappointed by this book. I have now reread it a few times and each time couldn't put it down. There are lots of books of the same genre you can download for free on Kindle so why should you buy this one. Well when it comes to free books like the saying goes, when something looks too good to be true it usually is. I may be Charles' friend but I paid hard earned moolah for this book and like a very good wine got exceptional enjoyment from it, something which is rare in today's world of books. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre and in fact to anybody else who just enjoys a good read. I firmly believe Charles' is a name we will see a lot more of in time to come. I hope so as then I can say my friend is a famous author!
       
 Now get on and publish the next book Charles as I need something else to read.

Magnificent Short Stories by a Master of the Genre
5 star Review on Amazon by Catherine Edmunds 20/03/2012

One of the basic rules of novel-writing states that if you set something up in chapter one, don't let it slip away and be developed no further. Finish it. Give it a conclusion, ideally at the end of the novel so that the gestalt is complete. Short story collections are different of course. Or are they? On finishing the last story in Charles Christian's new collection This is the Quickest Way Down I suddenly had a light bulb moment and went back to re-read the first story. Yes. I was right. I'm saying no more on that subject for fear of spoilers, but I salute whoever it was, whether editor or author, who decided on the order of the stories in this collection.
     
Re-reading the first story has got me hooked once again. These are magnificent short stories by a master of the genre, and they beg to be read many times. What genre, though - there's the question. `Short story' in itself isn't a genre. The settings in these tales range from Norfolk to Aldebaran; from Nottingham to Villefranche; and all points in-between. These stories are fantasist but not fantasy - you'll find no elves and goblins. Sci-fi then? Yes, but firmly rooted in reality - the Klingon warrior maid, complete with fearsome bat'leth blade, actually hales from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Magical realism? Not really. Slipstream? Yes. That's it. Slipstream with ghosts, but such a firm grip on reality anything paranormal becomes essential and unsurprising; an integral part of the world that requires no further explanation.


There is a lightness of touch in these tales, but there is no superficiality. There are many familiar tropes, but they've been turned on their heads and given a stunning reworking. Cataclysms lead to a weird sort of utopia. Redemption is found unexpectedly. Murders, sexual encounters, tsunamis, explosions and foiled suicide attempts are played out against the backdrop of a cup of mocha slowly cooling.


I love these stories. Absolutely love them. There are hints of Asimov, of Hemmingway, of - I don't know, everyone from the Strugatsky brothers to Neville Shute via James Joyce and Evelyn Waugh. They are stories overflowing with intelligence, with wit, and with keen observation of human foibles. I want to know when the next collection is coming out, and the novel - preferably the series of novels. How about it, Charles?

other reviews...

Continuing a fine tradition
4 star Review on Amazon by Louis P W 13/01/2012

The book transported me back to Kuttner, Sheckley, Ellison and Pan Horror anthology stories. Ballard in the last one. Even a flavour of Kipling spooky stories. A real pleasure and a fine tradition. A bit of a holiday to have that whole part of my psyche re-activated for a couple of hours - doesn't happen often these days. Look forward to the next collection/first novel.

Pacy writing for the modern age
Trevor Heaton, Eastern Daily Press EDP Weekend supplement 31/12/2011

Norfolk-based Charles Christian moves into the realms of modern-gothic and post-apocalyptic dystopia with this collection of short stories.

The 11 stories touch on various genres, with sci-fi the most common. Christian sets out his stall in Waiting for my Mocha, in which a self-obsessed writer (who we'll encounter later in the book too) gets a lesson in life from a ghost. That story's startling introduction (hint: it might make your great-aunt Nelly drop her toast) establishes that adult themes are going to be explored here.

The End of Flight Number 505 plays neatly upon those 'Men in Black' and alien abduction stories with a twist in the tail account of a stricken teenager making a last trip to the US, while The Hot Chick is a, ahem, rather naughty satire on sci-fi conventions. If you've ever seen the great comedy film Galaxy Quest you'll probably have an inkling where this one is going but you'll enjoy the journey.

The best piece is the finale, By The Steps of Villefranche Station, exploring a world where people are suddenly dying for no reason, leading to a rapid collapse in society. The story picks up on characters introduced earlier but is strong enough to stand on its own.

Overall the themes - many in that gritty urban hinterland of post 9/11 and tsunami disasters - have much in common with J G Ballard (includinh the latter's sometimes bleak approach to sex) with pacy, sometimes gritty writing for the modern age. Christian's style is sparse and urgent and makes me, for one, wish he would now tackle a crime novel. Norfolk noir anyone?