Tales from the Fragrant Harbour

These short stories were all penned in and around Garry Kilworth’s time in Hong Kong.

The collection is split half-and-half into general fiction stories and supernatural tales. They were all inspired by the people and places of that magical effervescent city, not forgetting its surrounding mountains and countryside, and the myriad islands that come within its sphere. There are tales from Chinese viewpoints and stories about the lives of expatriates.

If you read no other general fiction stories, then you must try ‘Typhoon’ with its fearless heroine the indomitable Elizabeth, or the imperturbable reptile catcher from ‘The Snake-Man Cometh’. If your taste is not for the fantastic, you would be poorer in spirit for not experiencing the poignancy of ‘The Hungry Ghosts’ and ‘Memories of the Flying Ball Bike Shop.’

If you have never been to Hong Kong, enter it page by page. If you have, retrace its familiar corners.

There’s plenty of variation to satisfy most readers’ literary appetites. Fans of elegant short fiction and Far Eastern culture will find this very worthwhile reading.

Garry Kilworth is arguably the finest writer of short fiction today, in any genre. (New Scientist)

His characters are strong and the sense of place he creates is immediate. (Sunday Times)

Kilworth is a master of his trade. (Punch)

Kilworth is one of the most significant writers in the English language. (Fear)