Trigger Warning is a compilation of 24 short stories and poems creatively written by Neil Gaiman with the expansiveness that makes one wonder how it was all written by one mind.
These are dark and humorous tales. Gaiman presents each story with an introduction that reveals what inspired him to write it.
Each introduction offers the reader a sense of intimacy and a personal connection, allowing one to take a stroll inside Gaiman’s mind. The authenticity in his writing, along with the structure and the ideas behind the stories themselves are testament to Gaiman’s position in the world of literature.
This book will be enjoyed by those craving freshness. The stories may sound like adventures, and just that, but they are more than adventures.
They are written like protracted poems, where every paragraph, as in every stanza in a poem, is crucial. In many ways, they are each lessons. In another sense, they are a reflection of Gaiman himself. Even though this is not an autobiography, one cannot help but assume they come from a certain warmth within.
I was totally captivated by the preface, which is a rare thing to find in books.
However, I do suggest skipping the introductions to the stories, in order to keep the sense of mystery whilst reading, and then coming back to the introduction to be blown away by the events that inspired each story.
A few familiar names are introduced throughout, such as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who. As I read the stories, I felt entertained, and experienced both chuckles and chills. These days with time becoming more and more precious, it does one good to relax and read and to feel the emotions of the characters.
This book is well crafted and shatters preconceived assumptions about fiction.
One of the stories which resonated with me is inspired by a Scottish legend, a gold mine in the mountains, and the journey it takes to cross it. It is a tale of friendship and trust – the bonds we choose to form and the ones we choose to cut. As such, we learn. We learn from the experiences that the characters, real or fiction, with all of the diversity they offer.
“What we read as adults should be read, I think, with no warnings or alerts beyond, perhaps: enter at your own risk.”
