The Gospel According to Blindboy in 15 Short Stories

Book excerpt: The Gospel According to Blindboy is a surreal and genre-defying collection of short stories and visual art exploring the myths, complacencies and contradictions at the heart of modern Ireland. Covering themes ranging from love and death to sex and politics, there's a story about a girl from Tipp being kicked out of ISIS, a van powered by Cork people's accents and a man who drags a fridge on his back through Limerick. Whip-smart, provocative and animated by the author's unmistakably dark wit, it is unlike anything else you will read this year. 'Mad, wild, hysterical, and all completely under the writer's control – this is a brilliant debut.' Kevin Barry 'There is genius in this book, warped genius. Like you'd expect from a man who for his day job wears a plastic bag on his head but something beyond that too. Oddly in keeping with the tradition of great Irish writers.' Russell Brand 'One of Ireland's finest and most intelligent comic minds delivers stories so blisteringly funny and sharp your fingers might bleed.' Tara Flynn 'Essential, funny and disturbing.' Danny Boyle