The Brain Harvest

The stories in Ken Nashs brilliant collection The Brain Harvest lay bare the sparks and idiosyncrasies of an exceptional mind. Each new story is distinct and memorable in its jewel-like compactness and the characters we meet are unique and endearing. In subject matter the stories weave and delve into continuously unexpected territory; from the alien adventures of Emily Dickinson to the intricacies of bespoke basket-making time travel orchestral garden plots and the great green sea lizards that haunt our parents dreams. Nashs playful and quick-witted style bears echoes of maverick American greats like George Saunders and Donald Barthelme and recalls the quirkiness of Miranda July. Taut intelligent eccentric and wholly engaging The Brain Harvest is a wonderful debut for a very talented new writer (Clare Wigfall author of The Loudest Sound and Nothing and winner of the 2008 BBC National Short Story Award)