Simple Creatures is a debut collection of twelve stories that explore the heartaches and joys of people who are desperate to uncomplicate their complicated world. It offers an acute, sympathetic portrait of our time and reminds us of the magic of the short story form. Robert McGill is a master of voice and dialogue, character and perspective, and knows everyone's loneliness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2024
Publisher: Coach House Books

Robert McGill's debut collection, Simple Creatures, is a poignant and humorous exploration of the challenges and joys of living with less in the twenty-first century. Set in various locations from the Pacific Northwest to the English coast, the twelve stories in Simple Creatures offer an intimate and compassionate look at the lives of people who are desperate to uncomplicate their complicated world. Through a variety of storytelling techniques, including YouTube monologues, pet-care instructions, school reports, and the unspoken thoughts of a young scholar obsessed with a famous Canadian writer, Simple Creatures reveals the sometimes hilarious, often poignant ways in which our use of language shapes our relationships with others and ourselves. One of the standout stories in Simple Creatures is "The Bigfoot Hunter," which follows a teenager who claims to have discovered a community of Bigfoot in the woods. The story is both hilarious and heartbreaking, as the teenager struggles to navigate the complexities of his newfound fame and the reactions of those around him. Another memorable story is "The Widow of the Endocrinologist," which follows a widow who gains custody of a chimpanzee from her late husband's lab. The story explores the complex relationship between humans and animals, and the ways in which our treatment of them can have profound consequences. "The Boy Who Wanted to Be Leo Gretzky" is a touching story about a boy who is obsessed with the famous hockey player and struggles to find his own identity. The story explores the pressures of fame and the importance of finding one's own path in life. "The Divorcee and the Environmental Pledge" is a poignant story about a divorcee who seeks out the mysterious author of a viral environmental pledge. The story explores the power of words and the impact that they can have on our lives. Overall, Simple Creatures is a remarkable debut collection that showcases Robert McGill's talent for storytelling. With its intimate and compassionate eye, the stories in Simple Creatures offer a unique perspective on the challenges and joys of living with less in the twenty-first century.

FINALIST FOR THE 2025 ATWOOD GIBSON WRITERS TRUST FICTION PRIZE

With an intimate,comic,and compassionate eye,the twelve stories in Simple Creatures consider what it means to live with less in the twenty-first century.

In this debut collection,featuring stories set in locations from the Pacific Northwest and upstate New York to the English coast,Robert McGill explores the heartaches and joys of people who are desperate to uncomplicate their complicated world. Through stories consisting of YouTube monologues,pet-care instructions,school reports,and the unspoken thoughts of a young scholar obsessed with a famous Canadian writer, Simple Creatures also shows us the sometimes hilarious,often poignant ways in which our use of language shapes our relationships with others and ourselves.

Along the way,we meet a teenager who wants to live among a community of Bigfoot that he claims to have discovered in the woods; the widow of a famous endocrinologist after she gains custody of a chimpanzee from his lab; a boy whose fledgling hockey career is troubled by the fact that his name is Leo Gretzky; and a divorcee seeking out the mysterious author of a viral environmental pledge.

Through their lives, Simple Creatures offers an acute,sympathetic portrait of our time.

"Here are people struggling with simple needs and small dramas that nevertheless got entirely under my skin – sublime awe,tender longing,painful anxiety,too. Robert McGills masterful Simple Creatures reminded me of how potent an elixir the short story form can be – the magic of words alchemically transforming within me into raw feeling. The stories in Simple Creatures truly live and breathe."

– Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer,author of Wait Softly Brother

Robert McGill writes hilarious,smart,heart-break.

Robert McGill's debut collection, Simple Creatures, is a poignant and humorous exploration of the challenges and joys of living with less in the twenty-first century. Set in various locations from the Pacific Northwest to the English coast, the twelve stories in Simple Creatures offer an intimate and compassionate look at the lives of people who are desperate to uncomplicate their complicated world. Through a variety of storytelling techniques, including YouTube monologues, pet-care instructions, school reports, and the unspoken thoughts of a young scholar obsessed with a famous Canadian writer, Simple Creatures reveals the sometimes hilarious, often poignant ways in which our use of language shapes our relationships with others and ourselves.

One of the standout stories in Simple Creatures is "The Bigfoot Hunter," which follows a teenager who claims to have discovered a community of Bigfoot in the woods. The story is both hilarious and heartbreaking, as the teenager struggles to navigate the complexities of his newfound fame and the reactions of those around him. Another memorable story is "The Widow of the Endocrinologist," which follows a widow who gains custody of a chimpanzee from her late husband's lab. The story explores the complex relationship between humans and animals, and the ways in which our treatment of them can have profound consequences.

"The Boy Who Wanted to Be Leo Gretzky" is a touching story about a boy who is obsessed with the famous hockey player and struggles to find his own identity. The story explores the pressures of fame and the importance of finding one's own path in life.

"The Divorcee and the Environmental Pledge" is a poignant story about a divorcee who seeks out the mysterious author of a viral environmental pledge. The story explores the power of words and the impact that they can have on our lives.

Overall, Simple Creatures is a remarkable debut collection that showcases Robert McGill's talent for storytelling. With its intimate and compassionate eye, the stories in Simple Creatures offer a unique perspective on the challenges and joys of living with less in the twenty-first century.

Dimension: 209 x 133 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781552454930