Topics About Which I Know Nothing

Patrick Ness is the author of seven novels and a short-story collection. His five novels for teenagers have won the Carnegie Medal twice, the Costa Children's Fiction Prize, and has been shortlisted for the LA Times Book Prize and the Arthur C Clarke Award. His first adult novel, ‘The Crash of Hennington’, and short story collection, ‘Topics About Which I Know Nothing’, are being proudly reissued by HarperCollins. Patrick's works have been translated into 25 languages and have sold over a million copies worldwide. Born in America, he lives in London.

'This collection of short stories goes off in myriad directions, each wild conceit different, each one executed with the deceptive ease of a catchy song. All of them are sprinkled with humour and zest but none are inconsequential.' Arena 'Ness's first collection brims with inventiveness and creative audacity.' Daily Telegraph 'Ness's take on the absurd and offbeat is sharp, intelligent and funny.' Time Out 'An utterly compelling account of a young man out in the world ! A truly remarkable fictional character' The Times 'Remarkable, an extraordinary, yet utterly convincing creation' The Scotsman 'Sparkling humour ! Ness has a wonderful imagination: creative, unpretentious and pleasingly bonkers.' Metro (London) 'Very, very funny ! a unique comic manifesto from a very talented newcomer.' Daily Express Praise for THE CRASH OF HENNINGTON: 'A wholly original, hugely enjoyable first novel! Interweaving gorgeously fresh characters and a wagonload of parallel plots, this is the product of a heart-warmingly deranged new voice.' Guardian 'Patrick Ness recreates the world as we know it, infusing it with a charm and whimsy that brings to mind Calvino and, of course, the Ionesco of "Rhinoceros". This is a true changeling of a book, both funny and subversive.' T.C. Boyle 'I can't remember reading a novel in such a compulsive, leave-me-in-peace way since Tales from the City. More please!' Patrick Gale 'Menages a trois, miracles and thwarted love -- this is a very humane and entertaining tale' Observer 'A very funny novel, with its own indefinable flavour' Time Out 'A fun and intriguing read! Ness is a refreshingly big-hearted writer in these days of easy cynicism and cleverness.' Toronto Star 'Rich, complex, surprisingly wise! I'm eager to learn where Patrick Ness's imagination will take us next.' Toronto Globe & Mail