"Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" generated the largest volume of mail ever received by The New Yorker after its appearance there in 1948: responses ranged from "a little masterpiece" and "powerful and haunting" to "horrible" and "cancel my subscription." In subsequent years it has continued to spark controversy and inspire admiration - and terror - becoming perhaps the most famous short story of our time, required reading for many students,...

"From one of the most accomplished writers of our time comes another brilliant collection of short fiction. Artful, agile, and inventive; Lydia Davis' newest collection of stories delves into topics ranging from marriage to tiny insects. These stories are a celebration of language and careful observation that once again confirms Davis' sincere love and mastery of the form." --

"A delightfully creepy collection of tales about everything from a Jekyll/Hyde homeroom teacher to a boiler-room ghoul to a kid's wobbly "baby eye," woven between excerpts from a central story about a girl whose favourite horror author is stealing children's nightmares for his books."--

"Celebrated for her powerful short fiction, Claire Keegan now gifts us three exquisite stories together forming a brilliant examination of gender dynamics and an arc from Keegan's earliest to her most recent work. In "So Late in the Day," Cathal faces a long weekend as his mind agitates over a woman with whom he could have spent his life, had he acted differently; in "The Long and Painful Death" a writer's arrival at the seaside home of Heinrich Bl̲l...

A companion to the inspirational classic The Alchemist is filled with timeless stories of reflection and rediscovery. From one of the greatest writers of our age comes a collection of stories and parables unlocking the mysteries of the human condition. Gathered from Paulo Coelho's daily column of the same name, Maktub, meaning it is written,invites seekers on a journey of faith, self-reflection, and transformation. As Paulo Coelho explains, Maktub...

"Brilliant, dark stories of women's lives by "a very major talent" (Joseph O'Connor, Irish Times) In these visceral, stunningly crafted stories by the author of the much-acclaimed Trespasses, women's lives are etched by deprivation-material, emotional, sexual-but also splashed by beauty, sometimes even joy, as they search for the good in the cards they've been dealt. A wife is abandoned by her new husband in a derelict housing estate. An expectant...

"In the much-anticipated follow-up to the bestselling and beloved The Travelling Cat Chronicles, seven cats weave their way through their owners' lives, climbing, comforting, nestling, and sometimes just tripping everyone up in this uplifting collection of tales by international bestselling author Hiro Arikawa. Against the backdrop of changing seasons in Japan, we meet Spin, a kitten rescued from the recycling bin, whose playful nature and simple...

"What do a bear, a boy and his dog, two trees, a prince, and a pelican have in common? They do the right thing! "Grizzlies Win" is the story of Tobey, a ten-year-old bear who wants to make friends with the kids in his class. When he is ridiculed on the football field, he is determined to find another way to fit in. "What if the Stars Could Speak?" is a story of wonder and curiosity. Billy admires a magnificent oak tree, which is hundreds of years...

"Three interlocking stories focusing on the residents of a rural New York town called Sam Dent,and the shocking headlines that become their local mythologies." --

A collection of short stories about the trials and triumphs of girls in sports. Every athlete knows what it takes to win. But for teen female players, the stakes are so much higher. In this anthology, the voices of these athletes come alive, highlighting the ferocity of those who are often shunted to the side. From navigating rampant misogyny to forging a sisterhood through sweat or just reveling in the love of the game, the stories in Out of Our...