[Disclaimer: I got this book via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program]
In this collection of short stories by Ian Creasey there is a common ground: all of them start from a "what if?" thought. Creasey even explains this in the author's comment at the end of each of these. What I like most is that the "if" which is "whatted" is something I never would have thought of. This is really important: I got bored to read variation on the standard SF themes, and from this point of view this collection is really refreshing. Of course some stories are better than other ones: I personally really appreciated After the Atrocity, The Equalisers, No Strangers Any More (even if it is way too British :-) ), The Dunschemin Retirement Home for Repentant Supervillains; The Shapes of Wrath and And Then They Were Gone would instead have won the prize for a good idea which did not go as hoped; An Exercise in Motivation and Shouting Grouse told me absolutely nothing. After all, a nice and well crafted and written book for lovers of short stories.