The Songbirds of Pain

The Songbirds of Pain is a science fiction story collection by British writer Garry Kilworth, published in 1984.

Cover of the first edition, published by Gollancz.

Contents

It contains 13 short stories written from 1974 until 1982.

• "Introduction (The Songbirds of Pain)" (1984) •
• "The Dissemblers" (1982)
• "The Rose Bush" (1980)
• "Blind Windows" (1982)
• "Lord of the Dance" (1980)
• "Let's Go to Golgotha!" (1974)
• "Sumi Dreams of a Paper Frog" (1982)
• "Scarlet Fever" (1982)
• "The Man Who Collected Bridges" (1980)
• "The Invisible Foe" (1982)
• "Almost Heaven" (1982)
• "God's Cold Lips" (1979)
• "Oubliette" (1983)
• "The Songbirds of Pain" (1984)

Reception

Dave Langford reviewed The Songbirds of Pain for White Dwarf #60, and stated that "Amid Kilworth's exotic settings, 'ordinary' and 'fantastic' aspects fuse in a blaze of style. Try it."

Reviews

• Review by Chris Morgan (1985) in Fantasy Review, January 1985
• Review by Nigel Richardson (1985) in Vector 124/125