The short story is too often treated like the little brother of its muscular older brother the novel, more often than not in its shadow. The art form has noble origins in the ancient oral storytelling tradition, fables, and parables, and some of the most respected authors of the last few centuries have produced classic short stories that have influenced the literary world.

In spite of this, many authors, readers, and publishers today seem more inclined to reach for the novel, shying away from what they no longer regard as a ‘sure thing’. It takes a special someone to follow their craft down the more difficult road, and bless Mathieu Cailler for doing so. ‘Loss Angeles’ is a collection of fifteen short stories set, as the name suggests, in the City of Angels. There is no glitz and glamour here, just ordinary people facing aching familiar hardships. Some are stories of loss: a man who has lost his wife contemplates suicide. Others are stories of life: a reserved teacher finds new life playing Stanley in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’.

One of the antecedents of the short story, the parable, is defined as a story that illustrates a lesson. There is a unifying theme throughout the stories within ‘Loss Angeles’ that is masterfully crafted. Their stories are unique, but each of Cailler’s protagonists finds his-or-herself in a place where they must be broken down in order to live again. This evokes the image of the mythical phoenix, dying in flames. Whether or not these characters can find something better once the story is done is up to them, but it’s this perfect moment of fire that Cailler captures that is as beautiful as it is sad.

There is a Runyonesque quality to ‘Loss Angeles’. Each story exists individually within its own universe, yet there’s an overall impression that any of them could walk down the street and run into someone else. It’s all Los Angeles, after all, and it’s somehow more compelling to think that these things are happening all at once.

If you haven’t read a short story since high school, start here. Cailler’s characters are relatable, his stories engaging, and you’ll continuously find yourself excited to see what happens in the next story.  If you have read a short story since high school, read this one. You won’t regret it.