Market of Loss: A Collection by Matt Tighe
Market of Loss: A Collection by Matt Tighe features 32 original and previously published sci-fi and fantasy short stories. It was published by Four Ink Press on June 1, 2026 and weighs in at 248 pages.
As I sit down to write this review, I have a nagging feeling that it’s going to go long. The thoughts and feelings I have about this collection are bubbling up inside my mind and fighting for a chance to be heard, and I believe they need to be shared.
First off, the intro. It hit home. And I want Matt Tighe to know I saw myself, and I appreciate him for sharing his personal thoughts and feelings in his intro, his sweet dedication, and throughout this book which houses an overarching theme that I believe will be able to find a home and nestle into any reader’s heart.
On my own personal note, the themes of parental loss and unselfish dedication and sacrifice—even after death, stirred deep emotion in me. And even though, as a writer myself, I know that crafting compelling stories takes skill and time, the stories felt as if they were merely plucked from Tighe’s soul and dripped onto the pages for readers to consume and contemplate long after they finish reading. Much like the first collection of work I read by Tighe (Drowning in the Dark), this book hit me hard, and I’m not ashamed to say I had to grab a tissue a few times as I read it. Twice I was moved to put down the book to text my husband and kids.
Tighe’s stories are both clever and heartbreaking at the same time. He joked about his ability to write poetry in his intro, but I’m not sure if he realizes how much his stories are woven with a poetic bent that grabs your heart and won’t let go. Not only that, but all the while he dazzles you with bits of magic, space adventures, and a keen sense of the frailty of the natural world. You’ll learn in the About the Author section that Tighe is an environmental scientist and a professor, so he’s knowledgeable as well as skillful at weaving facts into his work to strengthen it and create stories that feel real.
Despite my gushing about the gut punches I so love, there are also stories that will make you smile and even chuckle a bit. Even though the darker stories are the ones that always seem to stick with me the most, I thoroughly enjoyed the more whimsical sci-fi stories in this collection, too. As a speculative fiction author and publisher, Market of Loss checked off a lot of enjoyment boxes for me.
I also wanted to mention, I was at a book-signing event over the weekend with some fellow authors selling our own books, and I got on the subject of loving Australian authors’ works and found myself gushing about Market of Loss. That’s the sign of a good read!
The last time I read a Tighe collection, I mentioned notes about each story. With the size of this collection, I will focus on my Top 10 Stories and share some thoughts I had during and immediately after reading them. They are in order of appearance in the book.
“The Market of Loss” - I’m 3% into the book and this story is going to break me. OMG I’m trying not to cry in public reading this story. The intro got me, and now this. Matt has a way of absolutely exposing my heart and bringing out feelings and relatability! As a mother and as a daughter, I get this on so many levels. Poetic, slightly bizarre, and absolutely brilliant. My heart. I texted my daughter.
“You Don’t Get to Choose Entanglement” - OMG these stories!!! My heart again!!! I need to text my husband immediately! Wow. Matt knows how to dig his fingers into your chest and extract your heart. I texted my husband and kids after reading.
“Ben Builds Boats” - Another emotion-fest! Nostalgia! An absolutely beautiful and touching story about life and what makes us us. Personal reflection and understanding.
“As Brittle as Granite” - Vulnerability. What a deep and meaningful story hidden in such a clever piece. Tighe does such an amazing job entertaining with his prose and subtly giving you a hidden, deep meaning at the same time. This is a touching story that will resonate with readers. Beautiful.
“Maintenance” - Made me cry! These stories will rip out your emotions in the best way!!!
“The Complete and Utter Drag of Becoming the Self-Taught Ghost Poet of Mars” - Melancholy humor. This was so much fun to read, and I love the title!
“Prometheus, Burning” - Fascinating story! Sacrifice.
“Love and Thorns” - Beautifully written braided story about a father and a son. Full circle. Emotional.
“Better World” - Another great sci-fi story!
“The Downloaded Detective and the Swollen Technician” - Another fun title! This one made my science-loving, biology-background heart happy! Action, excitement, and left me thinking about the implications.
If it isn’t obvious, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Market of Loss as well as checking out Tighe’s other works. Below you’ll find 4 links to other reviews I’ve done that include his stories, including his other personal collection.
Who is Matt Tighe?
I am a dad and a husband (he/him). I run most days, especially since I hit 40, and I try to be kind (always trying...). I wrote a few short stories over a decade ago, and came back to it at the end of 2019. I write horror and sci-fi and fantasy, probably in that order. I won the 2021 Australian Shadows Award for short fiction and a 2024 Aurealis Award. I've been shortlisted for several awards as well. I'm also an academic and environmental scientist.
*** taken from Matt Tighe’s website
Here are the three anthology reviews I wrote where I first read Tighe’s work & his debut collection:
Who is Four Ink Press?
Four Ink Press, founded in 2017, is a young Brisbane based micro press dedicated to showcasing short form fiction including anthologies, short story collections, novellas and novelettes.
Our primary focus in is in the speculative fiction genre including, Fantasy, Science fiction, Dark Fiction, Weird Fiction and light horror.
However, Four Ink Press never lets genre get in the way of a good story being shared. As such, we will consider pitches for short form work in all other genres during open submission periods.
*** taken from the Four Ink Press website
