A tribute to the art of the short story and an anthology of some of today's most exciting writers, this tenth anniversary volume brings together one story from each of the twenty-one winners of the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction.

The Flannery O'Connor Award was established to encourage gifted young writers by bringing their work to the attention of readers and reviewers. The first volume in the series was published in 1983 to critical acclaim, and the award has since become an important proving ground for new writers.

Including some of the most memorable stories published in this country during the last decade, The Flannery O'Connor Award is a showcase for the talent and promise that have brough about a resurgence in the short story, as well as testimony to the vitality of the genre.