Book description
In 'Myth' the shame of being made redundant seems to have robbed
David Meacher of vitality. Then, on a trip abroad, he becomes
fascinated with an ancient map of the Garden of Eden. Returning to
England, his obsession only increases and even re-energises him...but
it is not a force for good.
In 'The Astronomical Scarf' a magnificent silk scarf, deepest blue
and with the constellations of the night-sky patterned in silver
across it, is weirdly destined to pass through many hands, and to
shape many destinies.
In 'Walter's Leg' his grandchildren's persistent questioning leads
Walter to reminisce on a distant childhood escapade - in which he was
shot in the leg. The memory provokes a desire to track down the
perpetrator, but without a thought for the consequences.
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously
published in the collection Piranha To Scurfy.
Ruth Rendell is crime fiction at its very best. Her first novel,
From Doon With Death
, appeared in 1964, and since then her reputation and readership have
grown steadily with each new book. She has received major awards for her
work; three Edgars from the Mystery Writers of America; the Crime
Writers' Gold Dagger Award for 1976's best crime novel,
A Demon in My View
;the Arts Council National Book Award for Genre Fiction in 1981 for
The Lake of Darkness
; the Crime Writer's Gold Dagger Award for 1986's best crime novel for
Live Flesh
; in 1987 the Crime Writer's Gold Dagger Award for
A Fatal Inversion
and in 1991 the same award for
King Solomon's Carpet
, both written under the pseudonym Barbara Vine; the
Sunday Times
Literary Award in 1990; and in 1991 the Crime Writer's Cartier Diamond
Award for outstanding contribution to the genre. Her books are
translated into 21 languages.
