Rating: 
Summary: "The Sun the Moon and the Stars"
Review: If nothing else, the story by J. Diaz makes it worth your money to buy the anthology. I enjoyed it, and although I haven't yet read the entire collection, it's definitely on my list of things to do!
Rating: 
Summary: A choice compilation
Review: This years "Americas Best Short Stories" is an interesting mix of humor, wit and drama. While many books of this series in the past have had a "hit or miss" quality, every story in this book has, at its core, strong charachters and a believable narrative. Among my favorites would be "The Beautiful Days" aboout a young man who comes to grips with his own vision of self, and how it can change due to the manipulations of others and "Black Elvis", an interesting short that comes to life with vivid charachterization and realistic dialouge. If you are looking for a variety of quality short fiction, you can't go wrong with this book.
Rating:
Summary: A choice compilation
Review: This years "Americas Best Short Stories" is an interesting mix of humor, wit and drama. While many books of this series in the past have had a "hit or miss" quality, every story in this book has, at its core, strong charachters and a believable narrative. Among my favorites would be "The Beautiful Days" aboout a young man who comes to grips with his own vision of self, and how it can change due to the manipulations of others and "Black Elvis", an interesting short that comes to life with vivid charachterization and realistic dialouge. If you are looking for a variety of quality short fiction, you can't go wrong with this book.
Rating:
Summary: Average
Review: Yes, this seems to be an average year. 1999's edition was much better. In fact, I think the best story in the book was the introduction by Amy Tan! Doctorow's intro this year was pretty lame.If you're looking for something more exciting, grab the Best New American Voices 2000.
Rating:
Summary: Average
Review: Yes, this seems to be an average year. 1999's edition was much better. In fact, I think the best story in the book was the introduction by Amy Tan! Doctorow's intro this year was pretty lame. If you're looking for something more exciting, grab the Best New American Voices 2000.
Rating: 
Summary: Stale
Review: You know you're in trouble when the best story in the book is by Raymond Carver, now deceased for over a decade. Too much reliance on well-known names and very little writing that is fresh and exciting. Perahps this points to an editor long out of date; perahps it points to the need to read stories without names; perhaps it's just coasting. Whatever it is, it is a disappointment.
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