Front cover of

Brilliant Blue

By Karen Stevens

Front cover of

Category: All Books, Barbican First, Fiction, Women's

Formats available: Paperback, Ebook

Publication date: 19/06/25

ISBN-13: 9781917352055

ISBN-10: 1917352050

A Barbican First debut

“Bold, beautiful and ebullient, it fizzes with life and dazzles with sheer power and intelligence” – Alison MacLeod

“Perfectly constructed, wonderfully written stories” – Suzanne Joinson

“Moving and powerful. This is such an important book.” – Ed Hogan

Welcome to the infamous Duncock Estate. Nestled on the South English coast, it is a place where identity matters; where people hold down jobs and do their best. Where taboos are broken, adultery is committed, and problems can’t be wished away. But even tragedy can be tinged with fragile hopes and humour.

Brilliant Blue is a remarkable debut collection. Its characters are as rich, complex, dark and ambitious as any you will find in fiction. Let Karen Stevens lead you into areas where few writers dare to tread.

 

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Reviews

'Brilliant Blue' is surely about to become a book of the year. It deserves every prize going. Bold, beautiful and ebullient, it fizzes with life as we journey through the unseen and overlooked landscapes of Britain today. From a sinkhole estate to the aspirational suburbs of southern England, we watch Stevens' characters grapple with loaded odds, human fallibility and the failures of love. Yet 'Brilliant Blue' is no grim examination of working-class life. It dazzles with the sheer power and intelligence of Stevens' vision. Her stories kick back with honesty and an off-the-scale daring even as they reveal the tender intimacies and affirmations that sing through the everyday. I don't think I've ever read a writer whose eye is more acute.

- Alison MacLeod

The short stories in 'Brilliant Blue' are perfectly constructed mosaics of recognisable, daily life. Sensitively written, they show us how often moments of intimacy happen alongside undercurrents of violence and misunderstanding. Fans of Sarah Hall and Jon McGregor will appreciate the craftsmanship in these wonderfully written stories that reflect and comment on our current time.

- Suzanne Joinson

Karen Stevens' moving and powerful stories go straight to the heart of the human condition. Many of her characters are fighting: for money, for friendship and love, for family. There are so many moments of humour and grace and beauty. This is such an important book, and I loved it.

- Ed Hogan

Black and white headshot of author Karen Stevens

Karen Stevens

Karen Stevens writes short fiction and has been published in a variety of anthologies and journals, including The Big Issue, Fish Publishing, Salt Publishing and Valley Press. She was runner-up for the prestigious ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award in 2023. Her edited collection of essays Writing a First Novel: Reflections on the Journey was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2014. Her co-edited collection of short stories High Spirits won a Saboteur Award for Best Anthology in 2019. Karen is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Chichester and lives in West Sussex. Brilliant Blue is her …

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