Stories

A short story by Michael Moorcock.

Publishing History

• Stories, eds. Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantorio, 2010
• London Bone and Other Stories, Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 2016

Parallels

Given the (albeit fictionalized) autobiographical nature of 'Stories', many of the characters in 'Stories' have parallels with real-life counterparts associated with Moorcock and New Worlds magazine:

• Mike (the narrator) = Michael Moorcock
• Rex Fisch = Tom Disch
• Jack Hawthorn = James Cawthorn
• Harry Hayley = Barrington Bayley
• Jake Slade = John Sladek
• Billy Allard = J.G. Ballard
• Len Haynes = Ted Carnell
• Helena Denham = Hilary Bailey
• Sara = Sophie Moorcock
• Cass = Kate Moorcock
• Peggy Zorin = Pamela Zoline
• Jilly/Jill Cornish = Judith Clute
• Jimmy Cornish = John Clute
• Jane Allard = Mary Ballard
• Spike Allison = Lee Harwood
• Chick Archer = Charles Naylor
• Jenny = Jill Riches
• Charlie Ratz = Charles Platt
• Julie Mistral = Judith Merril
• Lucinda = Linda Steele
• Mysterious magazine (formerly 'Hank Janson's Mystery Magazine') = New Worlds magazine

Mike Says

'It's a version of my short novel STALKING BALZAC -- or rather an episode extracted to some degree from that story. We were first published by the Golds who published Hank Janson, so it was a shortish step to making New Worlds Hank Janson's Mystery Magazine. Then to provide the distance I needed I tried to use a slightly noirish voice which is also explained in the story. A difficult story but no story should be difficult for the reader. The first review I saw made me feel I hadn't made it interesting or readable enough.'