* Philip K. Dick Award finalist (2002)
* Locus Recommended Reading

Here are 33 weird, wonderful stories concerning men, women, teleportation, wind-up cats, and brown paper bags. By turns whimsical and unsettling — frequently managing to be both — these short fictions describe family relationships, bad breakups, and travel to outer space.

Vukcevich's loopy, fun-house mirror take on everyday life belongs to the same absurdist school of work as that of George Saunders, David Sedaris, Ken Kalfus, and Victor Pelevin, although there is no one quite like him. Try one of these stories, it won't take you long, but it will turn your head inside out.

Contents:

  • By the Time We Get to Uranus
  • The Barber's Theme
  • Beatnicks with Banjoes
  • Finally Fruit
  • Pretending
  • Mom's Little Friends
  • No Comet
  • There is Danger
  • Pink Smoke
  • Season Finale
  • The Sweater
  • Home Remedy
  • A Breath-Holding Contest
  • Fancy Pants
  • In the Refrigerator
  • The Perfect Gift
  • Message in a Fish
  • Catch
  • The Finger
  • Rejoice
  • My Mustache
  • We Kill a Bicycle
  • A Holiday Junket
  • Giant Step
  • Quite Contrary
  • Doing Time
  • The Next Best Thing
  • Beastly Heat
  • Ceremony
  • Poop
  • White Guys in Space
  • Whisper
  • Meet Me in the Moon Room
Published
2001

Reader discussions

What did you think of this book? Start the conversation.

No account required to participate.

Start a discussion
Where to find this book
External links open a book search at the selected retailer. Availability may vary.
Risingshadow

Be the first reviewer

Sign in and write the first reader review.

Risingshadow

Readers Also Enjoyed