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The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story

Edited by John Freeman

Edited by John Freeman

Edited by John Freeman

Edited by John Freeman

Edited by John Freeman

Edited by John Freeman

Read by Erin Bennett, Scott Brick, Cassandra Campbell, Frankie Corzo, Ramón de Ocampo, John Freeman, Mark Feuerstein, Kim Mai Guest, Deepti Gupta, Dominic Hoffman, Lisa Renee Pitts and George Saunders
Edited by John Freeman

Read by Erin Bennett, Scott Brick, Cassandra Campbell, Frankie Corzo, Ramón de Ocampo, John Freeman, Mark Feuerstein, Kim Mai Guest, Deepti Gupta, Dominic Hoffman, Lisa Renee Pitts and George Saunders
Edited by John Freeman

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Paperback $17.00

May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9781984877826

Hardcover $28.00

May 04, 2021 | ISBN 9781984877802

Ebook $13.99

May 04, 2021 | ISBN 9781984877819

Audiobook Download $25.00

May 04, 2021 | 1031 Minutes

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      May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9781984877826

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      May 04, 2021 | ISBN 9781984877802

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    About The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story

    A selection of the best and most representative contemporary American short fiction from 1970 to 2020, including such authors as Ursula K. LeGuin, Toni Cade Bambara, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sandra Cisneros, and Ted Chiang, hand-selected by celebrated editor and anthologist John Freeman

    In the past fifty years, the American short story has changed dramatically. New voices, forms, and mixtures of styles have brought this unique genre a thrilling burst of energy. The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story celebrates this avalanche of talent.
     
    This rich anthology begins in 1970 and brings together a half century of powerful American short stories from all genres, including—for the first time in a collection of this scale—science fiction, horror, and fantasy, placing writers such as Ursula K. Le Guin, Ken Liu, and Stephen King next to some beloved greats of the literary form: Raymond Carver, Grace Paley, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Denis Johnson. Culling widely, John Freeman, the former editor of Granta and now editor of his own literary annual, brings forward some astonishing work to be regarded in a new light. Often overlooked tales by Dorothy Allison, Percival Everett, and Charles Johnson will recast the shape and texture of today’s enlarging atmosphere of literary dialogue. Stories by Lauren Groff and Ted Chiang raise the specter of engagement in ecocidal times. Short tales by Tobias Wolff, George Saunders, and Lydia Davis rub shoulders with near novellas by Susan Sontag and Andrew Holleran. This book will be a treasure trove for readers, writers, and teachers alike.

    About The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story

    A selection of the best and most representative contemporary American short fiction from 1970 to 2020, including such authors as Ursula K. LeGuin, Toni Cade Bambara, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sandra Cisneros, and Ted Chiang, hand-selected by celebrated editor and anthologist John Freeman

    In the past fifty years, the American short story has changed dramatically. New voices, forms, and mixtures of styles have brought this unique genre a thrilling burst of energy. The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story celebrates this avalanche of talent.
     
    This rich anthology begins in 1970 and brings together a half century of powerful American short stories from all genres, including—for the first time in a collection of this scale—science fiction, horror, and fantasy, placing writers such as Ursula K. Le Guin, Ken Liu, and Stephen King next to some beloved greats of the literary form: Raymond Carver, Grace Paley, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Denis Johnson. Culling widely, John Freeman, the former editor of Granta and now editor of his own literary annual, brings forward some astonishing work to be regarded in a new light. Often overlooked tales by Dorothy Allison, Percival Everett, and Charles Johnson will recast the shape and texture of today’s enlarging atmosphere of literary dialogue. Stories by Lauren Groff and Ted Chiang raise the specter of engagement in ecocidal times. Short tales by Tobias Wolff, George Saunders, and Lydia Davis rub shoulders with near novellas by Susan Sontag and Andrew Holleran. This book will be a treasure trove for readers, writers, and teachers alike.

    About The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story

    A selection of the best and most representative contemporary American short fiction from 1970 to 2020, including such authors as Ursula K. LeGuin, Toni Cade Bambara, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sandra Cisneros, and Ted Chiang, hand-selected by celebrated editor and anthologist John Freeman

    In the past fifty years, the American short story has changed dramatically. New voices, forms, and mixtures of styles have brought this unique genre a thrilling burst of energy. The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story celebrates this avalanche of talent.
     
    This rich anthology begins in 1970 and brings together a half century of powerful American short stories from all genres, including—for the first time in a collection of this scale—science fiction, horror, and fantasy, placing writers such as Ursula K. Le Guin, Ken Liu, and Stephen King next to some beloved greats of the literary form: Raymond Carver, Grace Paley, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Denis Johnson. Culling widely, John Freeman, the former editor of Granta and now editor of his own literary annual, brings forward some astonishing work to be regarded in a new light. Often overlooked tales by Dorothy Allison, Percival Everett, and Charles Johnson will recast the shape and texture of today’s enlarging atmosphere of literary dialogue. Stories by Lauren Groff and Ted Chiang raise the specter of engagement in ecocidal times. Short tales by Tobias Wolff, George Saunders, and Lydia Davis rub shoulders with near novellas by Susan Sontag and Andrew Holleran. This book will be a treasure trove for readers, writers, and teachers alike.

    About The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story

    A selection of the best and most representative contemporary American short fiction from 1970 to 2020, including such authors as Ursula K. LeGuin, Toni Cade Bambara, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sandra Cisneros, and Ted Chiang, hand-selected by celebrated editor and anthologist John Freeman.

    IN THE PAST fifty years, the American short story has changed dramatically. New voices, forms, and mixtures of genres have brought this unique US genre a thrilling burst of energy. This rich anthology celebrates this avalanche of talent. Beginning in 1970, it culls together a half century of powerful American short stories from all genres, including–for the first time in a literary anthology–science fiction, horror, and fantasy, placing writers such as Usula Le Guin, Ken Liu and Stephen King next to some of the often-taught geniuses of the form–Grace Paley, Toni Cade Bambara, Sandra Cisneros, and Denis Johnson. Culling widely, Freeman, the former editor of Granta and now of his own literary annual, brings forward some astonishing work to be regarded in a new light. Often overlooked tales by Charles Johnson and Toni Morrison will recast the shape and texture of today’s enlarging atmosphere of literary dialogue. Stories by Lauren Groff and Ted Chiang raise the spectre of engagement in ecocidal times. Short tales by Tobias Wolff, George Saunders, and Lydia Davis rub shoulders with near novellas by Susan Sontag and Andrew Holleran. This audiobook will be a treasure trove for listeners and teachers alike.

    Listen to a sample from The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story

    About John Freeman

    John Freeman is the editor of Freeman’s, a literary annual of new writing, and executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf. His books include How to Read a Novelist and Dictionary of the Undoing, as well as Tales of Two Americas, an anthology about income… More about John Freeman

    About John Freeman

    John Freeman is the editor of Freeman’s, a literary annual of new writing, and executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf. His books include How to Read a Novelist and Dictionary of the Undoing, as well as Tales of Two Americas, an anthology about income… More about John Freeman

    About John Freeman

    John Freeman is the editor of Freeman’s, a literary annual of new writing, and executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf. His books include How to Read a Novelist and Dictionary of the Undoing, as well as Tales of Two Americas, an anthology about income… More about John Freeman

    About John Freeman

    John Freeman is the editor of Freeman’s, a literary annual of new writing, and executive editor at Alfred A. Knopf. His books include How to Read a Novelist and Dictionary of the Undoing, as well as Tales of Two Americas, an anthology about income… More about John Freeman

    Product Details

    Category: Literary Collections | Literary Fiction

    Paperback | $17.00
    Published by Penguin Books
    May 03, 2022 | 496 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-7/16 | ISBN 9781984877826

    Category: Literary Collections | Literary Fiction

    Hardcover | $28.00
    Published by Penguin Press
    May 04, 2021 | 496 Pages | 6-1/8 x 9-1/4 | ISBN 9781984877802

    Category: Literary Collections | Literary Fiction

    Ebook | $13.99
    Published by Penguin Books
    May 04, 2021 | 496 Pages | ISBN 9781984877819

    Category: Literary Collections | Literary Fiction | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $25.00
    Published by Penguin Audio
    May 04, 2021 | 1031 Minutes | ISBN 9780593458730
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    Praise

    “Freeman’s excellent introduction to this new anthology of modern short stories will be useful to readers who are unfamiliar with the format; for students of the short story, it’s a refreshing overview . . . a short story for any mood. . . . This anthology sets itself apart by providing an inclusive starting point for readers interested in discovering the power of the short story; it is golden for those who already recognize that power.” —Library Journal (starred)

    “A well-selected anthology of short fiction, ranging from long to flash, representing the last half-century . . . A fresh gathering that highlights the work of mostly well-known story writers through their lesser-known works.” —Kirkus

    Table Of Contents

    CONTENTS

    Introduction by John Freeman ix

    THE LESSON • Toni Cade Bambara, 1972 1

    A CONVERSATION WITH MY FATHER • Grace Paley, 1972 10

    THE ONES WHO WALK AWAY FROM OMELAS • Ursula K. Le Guin, 1973 17

    BICYCLES, MUSCLES, CIGARETTES • Raymond Carver, 1973 25

    THE FLOWERS • Alice Walker, 1973 36

    GIRL • Jamaica Kincaid, 1978 38

    THE RED CONVERTIBLE • Louise Erdrich, 1981 40

    THE REENCOUNTER • Isaac Bashevis Singer, 1982 51

    TAKING CARE • Joy Williams, 1982 58

    STORY • Lydia Davis, 1983 69

    CHINA • Charles Johnson, 1984 73

    PET MILK • Stuart Dybek, 1984 96

    THE WAY WE LIVE NOW • Susan Sontag, 1986 102

    SALVADOR LATE OR EARLY • Sandra Cisneros, 1986 123

    THE THINGS THEY CARRIED • Tim O’Brien, 1986 125

    RIVER OF NAMES • Dorothy Allison, 1988 146

    EMERGENCY • Denis Johnson, 1991 157

    STICKS • George Saunders, 1994 170

    FIESTA, 1980 • Junot Díaz, 1996 172

    SILENCE • Lucia Berlin, 1998 188

    THE TWENTY- SEVENTH MAN • Nathan Englander, 1998 201

    BULLET IN THE BRAIN • Tobias Wolff, 1998 221

    THE HERMIT’S STORY • Rick Bass, 1998 227

    A TEMPORARY MATTER • Jhumpa Lahiri, 1998 242

    THE PENTHOUSE • Andrew Holleran, 1999 262

    THE FIX • Percival Everett, 1999 292

    WATER CHILD • Edwidge Danticat, 2000 310

    THE AMERICAN EMBASSY • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 2003 322

    THE CONDUCTOR • Aleksandar Hemon, 2005 334

    ST. LUCY’S HOME FOR GIRLS RAISED BY WOLVES • Karen Russell, 2007 354

    THE LAST THING WE NEED • Claire Vaye Watkins, 2010 373

    THE PAPER MENAGERIE • Ken Liu, 2011 389

    THE DUNE • Stephen King, 2011 405

    DIEM PERDIDI • Julie Otsuka, 2011 419

    THE GREAT SILENCE • Ted Chiang, 2015 432

    THE MIDNIGHT ZONE • Lauren Groff, 2016 437

    ANYONE CAN DO IT • Manuel Muñoz, 2019 449

    About the Contributors 467

    Credits 477

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