Black Glass: Short Fictions,New

Product DescriptionFifteen ferociously imaginative and provocative stories was how Kirkus presciently welcomed this early work of PEN/Faulknerwinning, Man Bookershortlisted author Karen Joy Fowler. First published in 1998 to high praise, and now reissued with the addition of a prefatory essay, Black Glass showcases the extraordinary talents of this prizewinning author. In fifteen gemlike tales, Fowler lets her wit and vision roam freely, turning accepted norms inside out and fairy tales upside downpushing us to reconsider our unquestioned verities and proving once again that she is among our most subversive writers. So, then: Here is Carry Nation loose again, breaking up discos, smashing topless bars, radicalizing women as she preaches clean living. And here is Mrs. Gulliver, her patience with her longvoyaging Lemuel worn thin. And what of Tonto, the everfaithful companion, turning forty without so much as a birthday phone call from that masked man? It is a book full of great themes and terrific storiesbut it is the way in which Fowler tells the tale, develops plot and character, plays with time, chance, and reality that makes these pieces so original.ReviewPraise for Black Glass Fifteen wickedly inventive tales featuring some of the most original female protagonists in recent fiction. . . . Every story showcases Fowlers rascally wit. Michael Magras,Chicago Tribune Highly imaginative . . . In fineedged and discerning prose, [Fowler] manages to recreate both lifes extraordinary and its ordinary magic. The New York Times Book Review A splendid book, displaying a dazzling range of style, tone, and odd, true insights. Fowler is one of a kind. Minneapolis StarTribune Arresting . . . each piece puts us on notice in its own way that an intriguing intelligence is at work. The Boston Globe Black Glass, Fowlers longest story, is one of those marvels that defeat criticism . . . Its a piece of bravura virtuosity, which Fowler also manages to make extremely funny. You reread the story, intent on discovering how she did it, and end up losing yourself again to wonder and enjoyment. The Washington Post [An] astonishing narrative voice . . . at once lyric and ironic, satiric and nostalgic . . . Fowler can tell stories that engage and enchant. San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle [A] literary wonder whose work is comparable to writers like Anne Tyler and Louise Erdrich. The Des Moines Register Fifteen ferociously imaginative and provocative new stories . . . Accomplished, risktaking, exciting new work from one of our most interesting writers. Kirkus Reviews (starred review) [A] stunning collection . . . carefully intertwines the ordinary with the extraordinary [so] that what should seem incredible is fully believable . . . [A]t the core [the stories] are about human relationships and all the more startling for their insight from seemingly unrelated points . . . Highly recommended. Library Journal [In] elegant and witty prose, [Fowler] cultivates the eye of a curious alien and, along the way, unfolds eccentric plots that keep the pages turning. Publishers Weekly Karen Joy Fowler [is] one of the most accomplished and most adroit fiction writers in America. Los Angeles Review of BooksAbout the AuthorKaren Joy Fowler is the author of six novels and three short story collections. Her most recent novel, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, won the PEN/Faulkner Award and the California Book Award, and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. She lives in Santa Cruz, California.Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.It was a Wednesday afternoon in the Senate Bar.Schilling, the proprietor, stood behind the curved counter, stroking the shot glasses with a towel.Every part of the bar was reflected in the mirror wall behind him: the marble and black onyx floor, the oiled cherrywo