By A.C. Tillyer
Roast Books £19.99

With inspiration from bored daily commutes on the train, this is based on an entirely different metro map, one of the mind. The only familiar tube station here is Waterloo, but just a couple of recognisable names such as Rome, Millwall and Royal Courts of Justice, nestling along the exotic such as Dreaming spires, Never Never, Jerusalem, Babel, Babylon etc.

The collection of short stories are totally different in theme, but expect twists and unusual possibilities as you peek into different worlds and ways of life. The sobering tale of the island/pirates/wreckers who exact
exorbitant tolls on passers by, but also have their place in the world is matched by the ambitious Queen who thinks that she can tame the mercenaries who live on her borders.

Naturally there are 26 stories and they have exotic sounding titles such as 'Peep Show' or 'Labyrinth', and even the mindane such as 'Job Centre' or 'Youth Hostel' hide an enticing gem that is hiiden within.
Designed to be read on a boring train/tube journey these will have you thinking about what you can see out of the window and second guessing about the person sitting next to you.

Tillyer gives us an archipelago where an entire race are burying themselves alive, and  a golf course where only robots can play, as well as an orbital road (M25?) that lures motorists to their death, and a rail network where passengers can get lost forever.