Cigar-Box Faust and Other Miniatures

More about the book

Featuring over 70 stories packed into fewer than 100 pages, this collection showcases Michael Swanwick's inventive storytelling. The title piece creatively condenses a classic Western tale, reimagining characters and themes with whimsical elements like a cigar-cutter as Mephistopheles. Each letter of the alphabet and every planet in the solar system inspires unique narratives, alongside alternate autobiographies and a concise novella exploring decadence and corporate politics in a futuristic Venice. The stories blend humor, chills, and imaginative twists, making for a captivating read.