The Best American Short Stories 2007In his introduction to this volume, Stephen King writes, Talent does more than come out; it bursts out, again and again, doing exuberant cartwheels while the band plays 'Stars and Stripes Forever' . . . Talent cant help itself; it roars along in fair weather or foul, not sparing the fireworks. It gets emotional. It struts its stuff. In fact, thats its job. Wonderfully eclectic, The Best American Short Stories 2007 collects stories by writers of

Poirot wonders how many more letters of this sort have been sent in his name

For Alan Banks

More than a century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite

the ones who nearly pushed the species over the edge

Circumstances keep pulling them together

In this beautiful

In an endless winter

There’s something about Julia that doesn’t ring quite true

and his “less is more” philosophy animates suppers like flash-seared scallops on caramelized onions and chicken cooked under a brick with a sauce of rosé wine

and Elizabeth George herself—Two of the Deadliest showcases work from an impressive array of exceptional newcomers

the nonfiction biographies in the VIP series are fun and appealing

and make us lose the good we oft might win