The Design: A Short Horror Story

China Miéville

Feb 2020 · Come Join Us By the Fire Book 35 · Nightfire · Narrated by Gerard Doyle

39 reviews

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1 hr 15 min

Unabridged

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About this audiobook

"The Design" is a short horror story by award-winning author China Miéville, one of 35 entries in the audio anthology Come Join Us by the Fire.

An anatomy student cuts open a cadaver to discover impossibly intricate designs carved into a corpse’s bones—designs clearly present from birth, bearing mute testimony to . . . what?

Come Join Us by the Fire, edited by Theresa DeLucci, is an audio-only horror anthology of 35 short stories from Nightfire Books, a horror imprint of Tor Books. The collection showcases the breadth of talent writing in the horror genre today, with contributions from a wide range of bestselling genre luminaries including China Miéville, Chuck Wendig, Richard Kadrey, and Victor LaValle; Shirley Jackson Award winners Paul Tremblay, Priya Sharma, and Sam J. Miller; Nebula Award winners Brooke Bolander, Alyssa Wong, Kij Johnson; and many, many more.

"The Design" is a short horror story by award-winning author China Miéville, one of 35 entries in the audio anthology Come Join Us by the Fire. An anatomy student cuts open a cadaver to discover impossibly intricate designs carved into a corpse’s bones—designs clearly present from birth, bearin...

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Ratings and reviews

39 reviews

Carol McDougall

February 5, 2026

Intriguing horror story a la Poe. Satisfaction in a half hour for 30 min sitcom attention span. Particularly good for both wannabe Artists, medical and funeral parlor students who have to handle these actual parts. I was fearful we were heading toward necromancy however it was better than that.

C. Janaye Medina

January 16, 2020

Interesting story and concept. Would have liked to understand the relationship more, but overall a wonderful story.

Miss N Kennedy

May 23, 2020

dont like his voice

About the author

China Miéville is the author of numerous books, including This Census-Taker,Three Moments of an Explosion, Railsea, Embassytown, Kraken, The City & The City, and Perdido Street Station. His works have won the World Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, and the Arthur C. Clarke Award (three times). He lives and works in London.

China Miéville is the author of numerous books, including This Census-Taker,Three Moments of an Explosion, Railsea, Embassytown, Kraken, The City & The City, and Perdido Street Station. His works have won the World Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, and the Arthur C. Clarke Award (three times). He li...

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