Twenty-four short stories by Toby Olson are collected here for the first time. They move effortlessly from depictions of American working-class and suburban life to wondrous and sometimes grotesque surrealism, but always with an undertone of humanity and humour. This selection, spanning Olson's career, forms a fine introduction to the work of this noted contemporary novelist and poet. The edition includes an introduction by British scholar Ian Brinton, setting the work in context.