I love books of short stories and am firmly of the opinion that they are under-read and under-rated. Graham Greene was known for work examining the political and philosophical ramifications of the human condition.
By far my favourite story from this collection is 'The Destructors.' It is a story about boredom, destruction and changing the face of reality. The other stories mimic it; all about ordinary situations but all including surreal manifestations of reality. In 'Alas Poor Maling' a man is plagued by a rumbling stomach whose rumblings resemble sounds that he hears around him, in 'The End of the Party' a young child's fear of darkness becomes his very being.
Greene has an exceptional way of writing which draws the reader into the situation and shocks them with a climactic entry into the extents of imagination. I would definitely be keen to read more of Greene's short stories as well as his novels.
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