David Gaffney's compact, surreal tales are filled with poignancy and wit. Each story goes off like a tiny depth charge in the mind, leaving you with the trace memory of some new urban myth - comic, absurd and disturbingly true.

Utterly brilliant. Hilariously demented and wonderfully succinct. David Gaffney's Sawn-Off Tales are little McNuggets of pure gold. This is writing at its best. -- Graham Rawle David Gaffney writes truly 21st century stories for a fragmented and fragmenting world; they're short, snappy and utterly addictive and they should be required reading for anybody trying to make sense of Britain in 2006; or for anybody in a bus queue with five minutes to spare. -- Ian McMillan

Your Name in Weetos The Lost Language of Hairgrips Last to Know Flying Lessons with Gary Numan Intimate Zone Happy Place Where We Left Off You Know, Quiet 'Uchafu' What You Know is There Pets Killer Lines Click Into the World Heavy Java Guy She's Really Alt-Country Smells Like Some Call it Loungecore Special Interest We Are the Robots Little Jan A Good System We Like it Here No Turning Last Chance to Turn Around Mask The Kids Are All Right Tasting Notes Wednesday Night's Alright for Fighting Contact Time Enclosures New Best Friend Potato Smiles Shop Talk Until You are Happy Floydy The Habits of Unstoppable People The Way you Say 'Park' Lady Pleaser First Out Light Lunch With Tongues On This Very Special Day Cica Lights The World Won't Listen Smack End of Line Server Farmer Kick inside Pop-Tarts The Funny Way I Feel Inside The Heartless Chain The Man Whose Head Expanded A Personal Message Doctor Logic Dead Star Who Loves You Baby Life Just Bounces