The Masterpiece and Other Stories (2011)

“Memorable stories of Fear and Loathing in Iceland … Throughout these superb stories, there is a certain desolation, of the heart as well as of the landscape.”

“The novel has received almost unanimously good reviews, both in Iceland and abroad. It paints a very clear and interesting picture of Iceland´s and Reykjavík´s growing pains as the Icelandic society rapidly changed and the capital transformed from town to city. The story of Sigurbjörn is an epic tale of one man´s downfall, and his fate follows a universal theme that could surely be translated and understood in any culture. ... Bottom line: A vivid picture of Iceland´s growing pains in the 1950´s.”

“Gunnarsson is a born raconteur … he entertains, provokes thought and leaves a little bit of a chill in the soul. Cruelty, humour and complete mastery of the form.”

“[Gunnarsson] is an expert in this form. He handles it incredibly well … his descriptions of peoples’ interrelations and confrontations are spot on … he succeeds in creating tension.”

“The Thaw [is] a total masterpiece. One of the best Icelandic short stories I have ever read.”

FOUR STARS OUT OF FIVE POSSIBLE “The author manages to draw the characters clearly, invest them with life despite the brevity of his stories, and to arouse the reader’s sympathy with them.”

FOUR STARS OUT OF FIVE POSSIBLE “The areas of conflict revolve as often as not about love interest, the dialogues are believable and devoid of the melodramatic nonsense so many revert to – here we have short stories that are pithy and well thought out.”