This is a collection of short stories by Mary South. South is great with the initial hook, creating opening paragraphs that astonish and delight. Here's the opening for Keith Prime, the first story in the book:

The Keiths are Keiths because they are not particularly handsome, not particularly intelligent, not particularly kind. A Keith would never train to compete in professional sports or practice an instrument until he became a maestro. Neither would a Keith jump in front of a loaded gun, but he would help you gather the contents of your grocery bag if you spilled it on the sidewalk.

You want to read a little more, don't you? Or how about this one?

If you're reading this page, chances are you've recently heard that you need to have a craniotomy. Try not to worry. Although, yes, this is brain surgery, you're more likely to die from the underlying condition itself, such as a malignant tumor or subdural hematoma.

That's from Frequently Asked Questions About Your Craniotomy; South is also great at coming up with intriguing titles. The ideas that South tackles in her stories remind me of early George Sanders, with one story centering on a summer camp for teenage cyberbullies, another about a grieving mother forcing her new daughter to live her dead daughter's life, one is told from the point of view of the fandom for a science fiction tv show. Where these stories sometimes fall short is in finding the heart of the story behind the clever ideas, and not every story gels on the page to become something greater than an idea stretched into the shape of a short story. But the ones that do, really shine. ( )

I loved half the stories, but couldn't engage with the other half. That's why only 3 stars. I do not regret my purchase since, "The Age of Love," "The Promised Hostel," and the title story were worth the price of the entire volume. ( )

There is definitely a gimmick in each of these stories, but it is always a clever / satisfying gimmick. Remarkable unity in the collected whole even though each story touches on a unique problem of modern life. Looking forward to what the author does next. ( )

A whole pack of disturbing and intriguing stories about upheavals in sexual/societal/relationship norms, sometimes informed by technology, sometimes just in response to the changes in technology. Some great, only one I didn't like, and unfortunately the last story in the book ended with a (wait, wait, what does that mean?) for me which isn't the best feeling at the very end of a book! ( )

Very enjoyable. Not as grim as David Foster Wallace's stories, nor quite as hopeful as George Saunders... but the fact that these evokes such comparisons is a very good sign. One to watch. ( )