The News From Dublin, new Irish short stories edited by Joseph O’Connor, is published by Faber & Faber today. The Rev Murphy’s contribution is a wee sci-fi dustbowl allegory called the Blacklight Ballroom.

Here’s the blurb:

“Edited by Joseph O’Connor (author of “Star of the Sea” and “Ghost Light”), The News From Dublin is a stunning collection from a fascinating variety of writers, both new and established. Featuring, among many others, William Trevor and Roddy Doyle, Rebecca Miller and Richard Ford, Christine Dwyer Hickey and Colm Toibin, it shows the short story to be a vibrant, thriving form and one that should continue to be celebrated and encouraged. This collection follows the two acclaimed editions David Marcus edited for Faber in 2004-5 and 2006-7.”

And if you fast forward to the 21 minute mark, you’ll see a reading of the story in Boston here:

http://forum-network.org/lecture/peter-murphy-reads-john-revelator