Trigger Warning

Short Fictions and Disturbances

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Neil Gaiman

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Neil Gaiman returns to dazzle, captivate, haunt, and entertain with this third collection of short fiction following Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things--which includes a never-before-published American Gods story, "Black Dog", written exclusively for this volume.

In this new anthology, Neil Gaiman pierces the veil of reality to reveal the enigmatic, shadowy world that lies beneath. Trigger Warning includes previously published pieces of short fiction--stories, verse, and a very special Doctor Who story that was written for the fiftieth anniversary of the beloved series in 2013--as well as "Black Dog", a new tale that revisits the world of American Gods, exclusive to this collection.

Trigger Warning explores the masks we all wear and the people we are beneath them to reveal our vulnerabilities and our truest selves. Here is a rich cornucopia of horror and ghost stories, science fiction and fairy tales, fabulism and poetry that explore the realm of experience and emotion. In "Adventure Story"--a thematic companion to The Ocean at the End of the Lane--Gaiman ponders death and the way people take their stories with them when they die. His social media experience "A Calendar of Tales" are short takes inspired by replies to fan tweets about the months of the year--stories of pirates and the March winds, an igloo made of books, and a Mother's Day card that portends disturbances in the universe. Gaiman offers his own ingenious spin on Sherlock Holmes in his award-nominated mystery tale "The Case of Death and Honey". And "Click-Clack the Rattlebag" explains the creaks and clatter we hear when we're all alone in the darkness.

Full of wonder and terror, surprises and amusements, Trigger Warning is a treasury of delights that engage the mind, stir the heart, and shake the soul from one of the most unique and popular literary artists of our day.

©2015 Neil Gaiman (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Not every author is also a talented narrator, but Neil Gaiman is succeeding at mastering the art. It's a pleasure to listen to him deliver his new collection of short stories. He's clearly enjoying himself, and listeners will be carried along with his good cheer." ( AudioFile)

The long stories are best.

I like the long stories best. Truth is a cave in a dark mountain, Sherlock Holmes story and the shadow story.hearing the story about shadow was like reuniting with an old friend. I have missed him since I read American gods.

Great series of short stories

A very strong collection of stories, but not for the faint of heart. But you can probably guess that from the title.

Great

loved it loved loved loved loved good loved loved loved finished loved loved loved excited about the loved

Terrifying and Wonderful

Not every story is scary but the best ones are and the ones that aren't are still wonderful. Gaiman is, as always, evocative and imaginative even in the tales that don't go anywhere. I only take a star off because maybe a sixth of the stories aren't memorable but I wonder if that is the point; less involved stories to serve as palate cleansers?

You won't tire of hearing his voice but I do recommend skipping the author notes at the beginning. Not quite spoilers but useless insight without context that you'll forget by the time you actually get to the stories.

Fantastic as always

I love Neil Gaiman. I am crazy about everything he writes. I have favorites and less favorites, but I haven't hated or really disliked anything he has written so far. I tell you this to demonstrate two things: 1. I am hardly impartial at this point; 2. This writer has been consistently awesome enough to inspire this type of reaction from a girl who doesn't usually give it. This work is a collection of short works that are all fantastic. The works are varied, so I can give you no theme besides awesomeness. There is creepy, fun, odd, moving and interesting contained within. There are no lighthearted romps, though. Also, I love that Neil Gaiman narrates, because I love his narration style. I also love that the book includes a short forward of every entry giving a brief insight into why the work was made and what it was about. These are in a separate section from the stories, so you can skip them if it is not your thing. In conclusion, a solid use of a credit.

Just awesome!

What made the experience of listening to Trigger Warning the most enjoyable?

Neil Gaiman as narrator is amazing (I think I could listen to him read the phone book...). And I actually enjoyed the preamble/foreword a lot.

What did you like best about this story?

In just a few words, Neil Gaiman can introduce a whole world, or new dimensions. Leaving some things open to the imagination, there is always just enough.

Absolutely delicious story telling

Each story here is a jewel and this book will not leave you disappointed. I think I've re-listened to it 6 times now. There's action, adventure, humor, romance and enough light to balance the darkness perfectly. Neil Gaiman is both an expert story teller and reader.

An enjoyable journey into our bizarre reality

What incredible journey. Mr Gaiman's tales, will have you questioning each and every experience in your day to day life. While I had read or heard a few of these stories before, to experience them again along with new stories, was a delectable treat that I savored. Gaiman's fans will not be disappointed .

A Master of Fiction tells the tales of Myths

Would you consider the audio edition of Trigger Warning to be better than the print version?

Yes! Neil Gaimam's voice and distinctive narrative rhythm add greatly to the stories.

What did you like best about this story?

How well Gaiman characterizes the Gods and sews the stories together. Of course, Nordic myths are his old stomping grounds.

Which character – as performed by Neil Gaiman – was your favorite?

Wild, unpredictable, witty Loki!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Very little source material exists for Nordic myths. The author is able to spin them together into a coherent whole While still hinting at all the fantastic stories that have been lost. I would love to know more of the giants, of the goddesses and heroes.

Any additional comments?

If you have never heard Neil Gaiman's performances, don't wait any longer.

A huge load of Gaiman Goodness

if you are a fan of Neil then you owe it to yourself to give this a listen. Not everything is equal but some of these stories are absolutely fantastic. as always very well read by the author and a solid presentation.