"This varied sampler of the American literary scene revels in life's little absurdities, captures timely personal and cultural challenges, and ultimately shares subtle insight and compassion. In "The View from Castle Rock," the short story master Alice Munro imagines a fictional account of her Scottish ancestors' immigration to Canada in 1818. Nathan Englander's case of young characters in "How We Avenged the Blums" confronts a bully dubbed "The Anti-Semite" to both comic and tragic ends. In "Refresh, Refresh," Benjamin Percy takes a forceful, heart-wrenching look at a young man's choices when his father - along with most of the men in his small town - is deployed to Iraq. Yiyun Li's "After a Life" reveals secrets, hidden shame, and cultural change in modern China. And in "Tatooizm," Kevin Moffett weaves a story full of humor and humanity about a young couple's relationship that has run its course."--BOOK JACKET.

Once the shore / Paul Yoon Awaiting orders / Tobias Wolff The ambush / Donna Tartt Secret / Maxine Swann Dominion / Mark Slouka So much for Artemis / Patrick Ryan Refresh, refresh / Benjamin Percy Self-reliance / Edith Pearlman The view from Castle Rock / Alice Munro Tattooizm / Kevin Moffett

Cowboy / Thomas McGuane The dog / Jack Livings After a life / Yiyun Li The conductor / Aleksandar Hemon Today I'm yours / Mary Gaitskill How we avenged the Blums / Nathan Englander Grandmother's nose / Robert Coover A new gravestone for an old grave / David Bezmozgis The casual car pool / Katherine Bell Mr. Nobody at all / Ann Beattie and Harry Mathews.