When I was much younger I read a short story that turned out to be a Father Brown by Chesterton. ?áIt's influenced me ever since, because it teaches a valuable lesson about paying attention. ?áThe premise was a bit of a 'locked-room' - all the witnesses swore that nobody" entered the building that day. ?áWell, of course they're wrong, because the overlook the postal carrier. ?áI still have not gotten around to reading more Father Brown mysteries, though I do want to. ?áMeanwhile, I learned of this collection and immediately ordered it from my library system... so glad I did.

Surreal, satirical, sometimes downright funny, and often terrifying. ?áOften all of the above in a two page fable. ?á

Not the easiest read. ?áSome of the satire is pointed at contemporary politics or personages, I'm sure, and so went over my head. ?áSome of the language and structure is old-fashioned, to the point that it seems almost pompous to modern ears, and I don't think I would have enjoyed this so much when I was a less experienced reader. ?áBut if, like me, you love O. Henry and Saki, you'll probably enjoy this. ?áAnd if, like me, you like G.B. Shaw and Wells, you'll enjoy meeting them here, as they are referred to as GKC's contemporaries. ?áAnd these pieces are numerous enough, and concise enough, that if you don't care for one, just go on and read the next.

But do read them, and think about them. ?áI say 'concise' rather than 'short' because the ideas are just packed in.

"He looked at the dandelions and crickets and realised that he was gigantic. ?áWe are too fond of reckoning always by mountains. ?áEvery object is infinitely vast as well as infinitely small."

"In short, they were the slaves of modern bondage.... bound by a chain; the heaviest chain ever tied to a man -- the watch-chain."" ( )