Taking Doreen Out of the Sky

A stunning new collection of stories about sex, drugs and cities. Winner of the Tom Gallon award, regular contributor to Radio Four, and published across the spectrum of story magazines and anthol- gies, Alan Beard has long been recognised as a master of the modern short story. By turns comic and unsettling, these stories are framed by the complex urban landscapes of the West Midlands and deal with the everyday reality of modern living. 'Here is life that goes on in today's factories, pubs and council flats, observed with humour...