3 Comments for PEN/ O. Henry Prize Stories 2009

• 1. Taban  |  October 23rd, 2009 at 8:39 am

  BOOKLIST REVIEW

  The PEN/O.Henry Prize Stories, 2009
  Furman, Laura (Editor) May 2009. 464 p. Anchor, paperback, $15.00. (978030780350).

  The 90th anniversary edition of this prestigious collection is a must-read for both aspiring writers and devoted short story readers. Selected from among short stories originally written in English and published in an American or Canadian periodical during the past year, this year’s prizewinners reflect the increasingly robust, diverse, and international flavor of the genre in general. While familiar literary stalwarts like Paul Theroux (“Twenty-two Stories”), Nadine Gordimer (“A Beneficiary”), Graham Joyce (An Ordinary Soldier of the Queen”), and John Burnside (“The Bell Ringer”) are included, the collection is distinguished, as always, by an array of fresh-voiced newcomers such as Caitlin Horrocks (“This Is Not Your City”), L.E. Miller (“Kind”), Manuel Munoz (“Tell Him about Brother John”),and Mohan Sikka (“Uncle Musto Takes a Mistress”). Most illuminating are the authors’ own reflections on their stories and incisive essays by jurors A.S. Byatt, Anthony Doerr, and Tim O’Brien on their favorites.

  –Margaret Flanagan

  KIRKUS REVIEW (March 15, 2009)

  Furman, Laura-Ed.THE PEN/O. HENRY PRIZE STORIES 2009

  The 90th-anniversary edition of the annual prize awarded in recognition of short stories published in the United States and Canada.Time was, and not so long ago, that the story writers had to be American or Canadian, but the prize has since opened to those writing in English elsewhere. The present collection is broadly multicultural, with a particularly strong showing by Asian and Asian American writers such as Ha Jin, who turns in a smart, fugitive piece about the sex trade; Mohan Sikka, who traverses from light family comedy to bittersweet drama; and Paul Yoon and Viet Dinh, who write, respectively, about the wars in Korea and Vietnam. Indeed, perhaps as a marker of the zeitgeist, many of the pieces touch on war. The strongest of them, selected by two of the three volume judges, Tim O’Brien and A.S. Byatt, opens the book; written by the British novelist Graham Joyce, “An Ordinary Soldier of the Queen” is an attention-getting but never showy blend of rigorous military realism with fantasy–but fantasy of the darkest sort. Says the narrator of that story, who has been to the Falklands, Bosnia and now the Persian Gulf: “War is normal. That’s why it’s a paid job…You don’t argue with the Queen. You form up. Move out. Press on.” So it is, and with memorable results. None of the other pieces in the book quite matches the power of “Ordinary Soldier,” which Byatt likens to the work of Rudyard Kipling. There is a pleasing mix of familiar and emerging voices, with particularly strong showings by the stately Nadine Gordimer and Junot Díaz and, among the latter group of writers, a sensitive piece by Manuel Muñoz on belonging and longing.A solid collection of interest to general readers but especially to aspiring short-story writers, thanks to the judges’ end-of-book notes on their choices.

• 2. Gallia  |  October 23rd, 2009 at 9:05 am

  Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

  I have been reading short stories since middle school and that means close to 40 year. So I obviously enjoy them. Living in Austin, once a hometown for O’Henry, is one reason this book caught my eye. The range of subjects and themes is quite broad and several of the stories completely mesmerized me! I highly recommend this book – it is available on Kindle so they are perfect for on the go reading, including reading from an iPhone. Thank you Laura Furman!

• 3. Ryder  |  October 23rd, 2009 at 10:50 am

  Twenty works of fiction, not one of which disappoints, including “Twenty-two [very short] Stories” by my favorite author, Paul Theroux. Added bonus of three essays by seasoned authors A.S. Byatt, Anthony Doerr, and Tim O’Brien on their favorite stories. Most of the chosen writers also penned insights on their own works and sometimes generously offered tips to writers. There is a comprehensive list of American and Canadian periodicals at the back. Congratulations to the editor, Laura Furman, on choosing, presenting and further strenghtening the art of the short story AND her brief history of the Pen/O. Henry Prize Stories included within.

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