This exciting debut collection of short stories includes a Goth clutching a homemade tart on a Melbourne tram, an old lady camping out on a medium strip and a wife who follows her trainspotting husband into his dreams. A person fitting on a suburban train challenges the equilibrium of urbane commuters and the weird guy jotting down words in the mall is about to commit an unspeakable crime. In Manning's fractured future worlds, sexual partners are purchased and returned like commodities and language, culture and religion are all dealt a body blow.Expertly crafted and highly imaginative, the stories explore alienation, criminal behaviour and love. There is also theme of longing in these stories-for connection and understanding in a world where relationships and people are variously damaged. Mary Manning writes with compassion, linguistic flair and a particular brand of wicked humour.