The Lightning of Possible Storms

Aleya's world starts to unravel after a caf customer leaves behind a collection of short stories. Surprised and disturbed to discover that it has been dedicated to her, Aleya delves into the strange book...

A mad scientist seeks to steal his son's dreams. A struggling writer, skilled only at destruction, finds himself courted by Hollywood. A woman seeks to escape her body and live inside her dreams. Citizens panic when a new city block manifests out of nowhere. The personification of capitalism strives to impress his cutthroat boss.

The more Aleya reads, the deeper she sinks into the mysterious writer's work, and the less real the world around her seems. Soon, she's overwhelmed as a new, more terrifying existence takes hold.

Jonathan Ball's first collection of short fiction blends humour and horror, doom and daylight, offering myriad possible storms.

Praise for Jonathan Ball:

"Ball is not only a virtuoso of language and form, but a virtuoso of our present moment, exploring how we are entwined in words and history and how we find ourselves here and now, surrounded by ourselves and our words." --Gary Barwin, Scotiabank Filler Prize shortlisted author of Yiddish for Pirates