Surreal and imaginative short fiction exploring the boundaries of reality.Steve Simpson's mesmerizing collection presents a series of interconnected stories, each delving into the strange and wonderful aspects of existence. From schools with cardboard walls to cities divided by negentropy horizons, these tales blend science fiction, fantasy, and philosophical inquiry.Explore themes of loss, transformation, and the search for meaning in a world where the lin...

An imaginative short story inspired by real events, taken from the collection, BEYOND THE STARS, and written and illustrated by two award-winning talentsTold from the perspective of the Russian dog Tsygan, this is the story of the first living creatures to be sent into space – the ‘star dogs’ of the title.Roddy Doyle’s typically accessible voice is complemented by the illuminating illustrations of Steve Simpson, together immersing a new generation of young readers in the in...

Steve Simpson's remarkable collection of poetry and illustrations is dream-like, playful and wildly inventive. Here is a selection of the beings within: The detective, who carelessly morphs into birds and insects, and cannot choose between brooding and moping, until a stylish grayscale client with retrolescent highlights appears. Proteus, Homo Sapiens Beta, who discovered fire and put it out, who created a rudimentary encyclopedia that he pedaled across Gondwanaland on weekends. Millie, th...

Sometime in his mid-teens, Steve Simpson decided he wanted to become a hermit. Socially awkward and athletically inept, he felt isolated from his classmates in a huge suburban high school. Finding no joy in the company of his peers, he sought his joy in nature; in the forest preserves and state parks of the Midwest and in kayaking the waters of the region. He read Walden at an impressionable age, and the movie Jeremiah Johnson helped to reinforce the notion that true happiness could be fou...

Freedom of speech is indispensable to a free and civilized society, yet this precious right is increasingly under attack today.Islamic totalitarians repeatedly threaten and kill those deemed blasphemers while our political leaders stand idly by—and many intellectuals blame the victims. College students seek “trigger warnings” and “safe spaces” from controversial ideas. The government harasses tea party groups, preventing them from speaking out during an election, and it investigate...

A short story from the Fighting Words collection, BEYOND THE STARS, written and illustrated by two of the most outstanding talents in children’s fiction todayIreland, 1955: Charley’s used to being lookout for Mammy – or ‘Sal Capone’, as she’s known in the local papers. He doesn’t want to be part of a criminal gang, but he’d rather that than have his mammy dragged off to prison; she’s only trying to keep him safe from Dad.But on the day of Charley’s fourteenth birthday, when...

A gorgeous short story from the collection, BEYOND THE STARS, written and illustrated by two great Irish talents in children’s fiction todayAs battle rages beyond the castle walls and soldiers fall like flies, the king despairs. His kingdom is crumbling around him, and he has lost his fighting spirit. His people know that without that, they will surely lose the war.While the bombs fall and arrows rain down, a black cat wanders silently amongst them, invisible but for her fo...

A captivating short story taken from the collection, BEYOND THE STARS, written and illustrated by two great Irish talents in children’s fiction todayOn the day of the Winter Solstice, all the birds of Ireland assemble before the wise old Barn Owl to choose their ruler by a trial of flight. When Iolar the Golden Eagle, the largest and most powerful bird there, is challenged to the title by the tiny and mysterious Dreolin the Wren, his feathers aren’t ruffled: he thinks he deserves t...

An atmospheric short story taken from the collection, BEYOND THE STARS, written and illustrated by two great Irish talents in children’s fiction todaySilla loves the winter with its snow and cold winds, but most of all, she loves the ice. So when the ice floes of her kingdom and the icicles at her Ice Palace start to melt, she doesn’t believe Zeffa, King of the Warm Winds, when he comes to her in friendship, begging for her help. Instead, she declares war on him and assembles her b...

Three friends frighten each other with tales of haunted beach houses, sinister cats, and witches in this trio of cautionary stories from Japan and the United States. Beginning readers come away with a satisfying experience and the benefit of good advice!

In dealing with the theme of this first story in the 'Action Annie' series of stories from the book of the same name, I wanted to address that perennial question that has perplexed the minds of millions of children ever since 'Father Christmas' became a prime feature of their Christmas Day celebrations. "If there is a Father Christmas, and he is a Christmas visitto the home of every boy and girl across the world to give them a present; then why does he always give the most expensive presen...

A witty short story from the collection, BEYOND THE STARS, written and illustrated by two Irish talents in children’s fiction todayThe first great snowfall of winter and Brian and his friends can’t contain their excitement. They rush out to play in this magical new world before the daylight fades. Noticing a glistening above them, the children see the snow-laden boughs of the trees are dripping in icicles, each one dressed in a ribbony wisp of gold. ‘Ice fairies…’ Brian breathes in...