Katherine Fawcett Knihy

Blending banalities of everyday human routines and dilemmas with elements of fairy tales, magic, the macabre and the downright inventive, Katherine Fawcett’s fiction is anything but predictable.In this collection, reimagined folktales appear alongside stories entirely new, serving to defamiliarize us from the undeniably odd tales we continue to pass down generation after generation, and lend a vague familiarity to the stories of Fawcett’s invention.One of the three little pigs launches a line of high-end, easy-to-prepare, wolf broth–based meals. The Devil is on a mission to steal a child’s soul, but is distracted when he develops a massive crush on the day-care worker. A man stands in the shower contemplating his future when he discovers tiny mushrooms growing in his body’s various nooks and crannies.Fawcett’s wry humour and prodigious imagination are an addictive mix. The weird becomes normal, and the normal, fascinating. Subverting expectations at every turn, her matter-of-fact style and narrative skill make this collection a must-read for any lover of short fiction.

The collection delves into the emotional journeys of richly drawn characters confronting universal dilemmas in bizarre and unexpected settings. With a blend of dark humor and macabre elements, the stories feature engaging plot twists as characters navigate high-stakes situations spiraling beyond their control. A sense of underlying menace pervades many narratives, prompting reflections on the complexities of free will and the unpredictable "what ifs?" of life, making for a thought-provoking and unique reading experience.