Piranha to Scurfy: And Other Stories

By Ruth Rendell

Book Overview

In these pages, internationally celebrated novelist Ruth Rendell, author ofHarm Done, offers a collection of unforgettable stories evocative of Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, and other masters of the chilling touch. "Piranha to Scurfy" tells of a lonely man who devotes his life to writing scathing letters to newly published authors, pointing out their many mistakes. He does so in memory of his mother, who lies buried in the garden, for reasons that emerge to haunting effect. "The Wink" recounts the story of a woman, raped years ago in a small English town, whose patience is rewarded by a perfectly satisfying moment of revenge. "Catamount," set in the Rocky Mountains, is seen through the eyes of an Englishwoman who perceives the ruthless ferocity that lurks behind the beauty of the landscape. And bringing the collection of nine stories to an unforgettable conclusion is the novella-length "High Mysterious Union," a dark, relentless tale of erotic obsession and bloodless violence in remote, rural England.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609608533
• ISBN13: 9780609608531
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Crown
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

EXCELLENT SHORT - AND NOT SO SHORT - STORIES

For an evening of light reading this is just the thing and the scope and variety of the author,s imagination is breathtaking at times. Read this book and you will not be disappointed. Timothy Wingate Ottawa CANADA

Something for everyone

It's been a long time since Ruth Rendell published a book of short stories, but _Piranha to Scurfy_ is worth the wait. There is plenty to like here; although the nine stories (including the novellas "High Mysterious Union," and "Piranha to Scurfy") have their high and low points, overall they make an interesting and entertaining addition to Rendell's work.I should say at the beginning that I do not believe, as some seem to do, that Ruth Rendell's work is in any way in decline. Though _The Chimney Sweeper's Boy_ and _Harm Done_ will never rank among my favorite Rendell novels, I don't believe that they are on any different literary level from her books of five or ten years ago, and I freely admit to preferring her most recent work to earlier books like _One Across, Two Down_. I think Rendell's prolificacy leaves her books susceptible to uneven quality. Additionally, her affinity for writing and plotting in several different styles means that many readers will not like all of her books.The title story, called "Piranha to Scurfy" in the Rendellian tradition of the initially incomprehensible title, is a claustrophobic story of paranoia and obsessive compulsion that reminded me initially of earlier Rendell books like _The Bridesmaid_ and _Talking to Strange Men_ but an important difference soon became apparent; there is a surprisingly funny side to "Piranha to Scurfy." The protagonist is so unattractive, so irritating, that it is nearly impossible for the reader to feel empathy for him. "Piranha to Scurfy" does not force the reader to align herself with the protagonist/murderer in this story as she has in some of her other work; the dramatic depth of this story is therefore less than in a book like _Live Flesh_ but judged on its own merits and as a story which is intended to be humorous, "Piranha to Scurfy" succeeds.Of the shorter stories, "Catamount" was an enjoyable story that illustrated something that every horror movie viewer knows to be true: just because you know what's going to happen doesn't mean it won't scare the bejesus out of you when it does. "Walter's Leg" was funny, and almost something of a tease on Rendell's part; sometimes, she seems to say, nothing really terrible happens. "Fair Exchange" reminded me of some of the occult-inspired short stories of Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie. "The Professionals" was an interesting portrait of not-quite-cheeky-enough bootblack and a brief case study of class in that bizarre microcosm, the department store.Some of the stories were less satisfying; "The Wink" was a story about revenge, but not a particularly spectacular or satisfying revenge. "The Astronomical Scarf," reminded me of a 7th grade essay written from the point of view of Ben Franklin's pocket watch and seemed to get bogged down occasionally. "The Beach Butler" was well written, the characters quickly and skillfully drawn but seemed to lack resolution. "High Mysterious Union," the eighty-page novella that finishes the

Rendell at her best

In her latest collection of sories, Ruth Rendell explores again some of the invisible traits in our nature. While some of the stories deal with the unusual or with borderline personalities, the rest take an ordinary event or person and show us the dark inside. What has always amazed me in Rendell's books is her ability to convey violence in actions and emotions without actually describing violent events or behaviors. And she does it again in this short story format.It is always refreshing to get a mystery/suspense collection that is built on a more elaborate scheme than a juxtaposition of good and bad.

Rendell's short stories also carry a punch!

Ruth Rendell is better known for her novels, especially her Inspector Wexford series, but in "Piranha to Scurfy" she produces a volume of short stories that do her credit. Writing short stories is not the same as writing novels and Rendell proves she can do both with equal excellence. Suspenseful, intriguing, insightful, captivating--the author's nine stories are worth the short read of each! Interestingly, she moves her setting from her comfortable England to the colorful American West, Colorado to be more specific, in one of the stories, "Catamount." The transition of setting goes well and Rendell feels just at home in America as she does in Kingsmarkham. The title story is a reference to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the protagonist is a "literary critic" of sorts, who writes to authors pointing out their mistakes. But don't be misled--this is Rendell at her best, her chillling best. Small wonder it is the first story (and title) of this collection. But the other seven are also worth reading, as well. While I really do prefer Rendell the Novelist, these stories are tops in their own "write"! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

From Peaceful to Scary!

A hum-dinger of a book. Good, solid, tight writing with no fat. I could not put this one down. From the first story, 'From Piranha to Scurfy,' ( a reference to a volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica) to the last, 'High Mysterious Union' the psychological impact that Rendell has on your mind will creep you out. I really loved this book and will never think of books in the same way again.(you'll see why after you've read it!) A day or night spent with a Ruth Rendell book in your hands is time not only well spent but an investment in your mental health...surely neither you nor I are as mentally unstable as her literary creations!