In the past 50 years, the American short story has changed dramatically. New voices have brought this distinctly US genre a thrilling burst of energy. This rich anthology celebrates an avalanche of talent. It culls together a half century of powerful American short stories from all genres including science fiction, horror, and fantasy, placing writers such as Usula Le Guin, Toni Morrison, Ken Liu, and Stephen King next to some of the often-taught geniuses—Grace Paley, Toni Cade Bambara, Sandra Cisneros, and Denis Johnson.