Following Like Youœd Understand, Anywayawarded the Story Prize and a finalist for the National Book AwardJim Shepard returns with an even more wildly diverse collection of astonishingly observant stories. Like an expert curator, he populates the vastness of human experiencefrom its bizarre fringes and lonely, breathtaking pinnacles to the hopelessly mediocre and desperately below averagewith brilliant scientists, reluctant soldiers, workaholic artists, female explorers, depraved murderers, and deluded losers, all wholly convincing and utterly fascinating.

Minotaur -- The track of the assassins -- In cretaceous seas -- The Netherlands lives with water -- Happy with crocodiles -- Your fate hurtles down at you -- Low-hanging fruit -- Gojira, king of the monsters -- Boys Town -- Classical scenes of farewell -- Poland is watching.