A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth

by Daniel Mason
A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Short Story Collections
Technical
  • ID: 3835
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • ISBN: 9781529038514
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2020-05-14
  • Reviews: 3

Daniel Mason's award-winning collection weaves together stories of men and women confronting the enigmatic and miraculous aspects of life. From a balloonist's life-changing discovery to a telegraph operator's unexpected companionship in the Amazon, each tale is a journey into the unknown. The stories span across continents and time periods, offering a rich tapestry of human experiences. These narratives, which have earned both a National Magazine Award and Pushcart Prize, are at times humorous and irreverent, always moving, and showcase Mason's mastery of storytelling.

Reviews
The Guardian · Guardian Reviewer · 2020-06-05
pleasurable 4.00

The collection offers rich pleasures of fiction with vivid characters and a sense of escape into different historical settings.

The Guardian reviewer found this collection to be a rich and pleasurable reading experience. They highlighted the vivid characters and the detailed historical settings that made each story feel alive. The reviewer appreciated the sense of escape that the stories provided, transporting them to different times and places. They also noted the author's skill in delivering decisive actions and creating a deep emotional connection with the characters.

Quick quotes

    The grand pleasures of fiction are all here: rich, cushioning detail; vivid characters delivering decisive action; and a sense of escape into a ...

    For some reason, I've been considering Mason to be my little secret. He isn't a secret at all: this volume was a finalist for ...

    At times funny and irreverent, always moving and deeply urgent, these stories—among them a National Magazine Award and a Pushcart Prize winner—cap a fifteen- ...

What Cathy Read Next · Cathy · 2020-05-14
absorbing 4.50

The collection is described as a tour de force of imagination, offering rich and satisfying short stories that captivate the reader.

Cathy was thoroughly impressed by this collection, calling it a tour de force of imagination. They found the stories to be absorbing and satisfying, with a depth that kept them engaged throughout. The reviewer particularly enjoyed the vivid characters and the way the stories transported them to different eras and settings. They also appreciated the author's ability to weave rich details into each narrative, making the reading experience both enjoyable and memorable.

Quick quotes

    A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth is a tour de force of imagination and one of the most absorbing and satisfying short story collections I ...

    The grand pleasures of fiction are all here: rich, cushioning detail; vivid characters delivering decisive action; and a sense of escape into a ...

    It's a sensuously immersive book.

Karissa Reads Books · Karissa · 2020-05-06
engaging 4.00

The collection is praised for its eccentric and stylistic storytelling, with a historical setting that feels authentic and engaging.

This reviewer found the collection to be a unique and engaging read. The historical settings and distinctive storytelling style were particularly highlighted as standout features. They appreciated the way each story felt like a journey through different times and places, making the reading experience both immersive and thought-provoking. The reviewer also noted the skillful use of language and the ability to convey deep emotions and human experiences through the narratives.

Quick quotes

    This is an eccentric and stylistic collection of short stories.

    All but one have a historical setting and the voice and style of story-telling feels like they ...

    The writing is so good, and like the great SF writers of old, he never lets the science get in the way of the humanity of the stories.

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