There's nine stories here, and each one offers a unique little slice of filthy life. From the downbeat last day of a tormented old janitor in "Taking a Line for a Walk" to the dark and clever humor of the Ramones-inspired "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight)", Bird displays a remarkable insight into what makes the lowlifes and losers of the world tick.
He's at his best with the stories written in first person, and fortunately that's the majority of them. It's the voice, man: it's authentic and sincere and real, shot through with remarkable bits of insightful black humor.
Like this one, from the title story, "Dirty Old Town", which starts with the narrator getting the bee-jeezus beaten out of him:
"It was like my birthday in reverse. They gave plenty and I ended up with less than I started with."
That line kills me.
At .99 cents on Kindle, this is the kind of bargain you don't wanna miss. Bird is the real deal.
Favorite stories:
"Taking a Line for a Walk"
"Dirty Old Town"
"One Hundred and Ten Percent" Dirty Old Town (And Other Stories)
Nigel Bird walks a tightrope. He's a writer capable of great brutality, quick wit, and stunning grace, and you'll often find all three in the same story. The first story I read of his made me stand up and take notice, and everything I've read since has proven this particular pony's got a whole big bag of tricks.
Speaking of tricks, the price point of this baby's gotta be one. Nine stories from a guy at the top of his game for under a buck? I don't know what he's playing at, but I say snatch it up while the snatching is good...
Most modern noir I've read is purely centered on crime, revenge- the dirty deeds. Nigel Bird's `Dirty Old Town' takes this a step further, digging underneath the dirty deeds to the mere oil slick black soul of it. There is depth, humanity, an ironic sense of humor mimicking real life. His stories reach in and ask questions, where most noir forces the answer without taking the time to build the question. I find this incredibly refreshing and it shows Nigel's talent. I would love to read a longer work by this writer. For lovers of noir and crime this collection is a must read.
Quick praise for great author. A tight, well written collection of shorts by a writer I would dearly love to see in novel form. Nigel Bird has skill, creates very human characters it is easy to become fond of and does not write by rote.
Bird can tell a tale about a custodian in a school and on the next page switch to a story about dark, violent murders. And each story is completely different, yet completely compelling. The author's voice carries you along, not fitting a certain style, but sounding exactly the way you'd expect the character to sound. Well done, challenging writing here. Definitely worth picking up.
One thing I like about Nigel Bird's stories is that he doesn't look down his nose at the people in them - and they seem like people.Real people. People who've been around the block and people who have knocked a few blocks off. And both.
Also, he touches on so many worlds! An Olympic team! A school caretaker! Small time crims!
In the hands of someone like James 'butterfingers' Kellman, these stories could seem heavy handed and self serving but not when Nigel Bird is molding them into something special.
Dirty Old Town is a top collection.
This collection of 9 short stories has something for everyone - a dad and son burglary team, a pimp, a frustrated housewife. Every story is really well-written and each brings its own charms and surprises. The stories are really varied - touching, menacing, chilling, sad, violent - but what they all have is honesty and immediacy. My favourites were SISTERHOOD with its theme of getting revenge on racists, the title story DIRTY OLD TOWN - a thoroughly nasty little tale set in a gym, and MERRY CHRISTMAS (I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT TONIGHT) a heart-warming Christmas tale of a father and son burglary team. Really good stuff. I always look forward to one of Nigel's short stories because I know I'm going to get something fresh and exciting.
From the opening story `Drinkin Wine' Nigel Bird's collection of stories grabs the bull by the horns.
His use of dialogue and pacing is exemplary and his characters live and breathe smut and crime.
Nigel Bird bird writes with an assured narrative voice that never bores or relents from its insistence on making the characters live and that is the sign of a great storyteller.
He maintains this throughout and the concluding story `Silver Street' is both concise and brilliant.
Here is a sample from the opening story.
Any writer who writes tight narrative like this deserves to be read:
`It was a red carpet all right. Furry and stained with wine. Wouldn't have done a thing for me if it hadn't been for the silver stud. Way it rattled against her teeth made me tighten my thighs.'
He knows what he's doing and he knows how to deliver it.
I found this collection enjoyable and sharp.
Nigel Bird is edgy and has great tone in his stories.
The last story has the lines which encapsulate his ability to create a neat scar on the edge of velvet:
`The tip took without problem. If it hadn't been for the thickness of the scarring, nobody would have noticed anything was amiss.'
He writes with a tight control on his phrasing and characterisation, he is an immensely readable immensely enjoyable writer.
This is crime writing at its best.
It is entertaining and unpretentious.
Nigel Bird brings in menace seamlessly.
Read this collection, it is a crime not to do so.
Richard Godwin author of 'Apostle Rising'. - British - Contemporary Fiction - Noir - Crime Fiction'
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