A diverse range of stories in this collection, tales of small decisions with momentous consequences, chance meetings and humour, with a little science fiction and magic woven in for good measure. Stories whose action is set as far apart as Lancashire and Arizona. Tales of ordinary folk, and those not so ordinary. A trainspotter, a furniture maker, a clockmaker... Does the Earl of Wigan exist? Is it possible to write a story without the letter "e"?...