August was a challenging month, both personally and professionally. It's reflected in my #AugustReads, having only read two books (and DNF'd two others) -
SIGNS OF LIFE, M. John Harrison
CUGEL'S SAGA, Jack Vance
I've also fallen behind on my goal of reading 365 short stories this year.
My thoughts in the replies...
SIGNS OF LIFE is an expanded version of Harrison's novelette, "Isobel Avens Returns to Stepney in the Spring," which is one of my favorite stories.
Harrison himself described the short story as having "a much springier, smarter, more folded structure than the novel," which I agree with. While the plot of the novel ultimately ends up in the same place as the short story, it takes several detours with the newly introduced characters.
The novel was good, but the short story was fantastic.
Mike Palumbo