George Saunders's political novella The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil was published by Riverhead Trade Paperbacks in September 2005. He is also the author of Pastoralia and CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, both New York Times Notable Books, and The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, a New York Times children's bestseller. In 2000, The New Yorker named him one of the "Best Writers Under 40." He writes regularly for The New Yorker and Harper's, as well as Esquire, GQ, and The New York Times Magazine. He won a National Magazine Award for Fiction in 2004 and his work is included in Best American Short Stories 2005. He teaches at Syracuse University.
Nicked (2024) M T Anderson "Anderson is a once-in-a-generation perfect storm of wit, ethical zing, and sheer linguistic power."
Mood Swings (2024) Frankie Barnet "What a wild ride--Frankie Barnet has written a fast, funny, witty, chilling first novel that, while ostensibly about a future or alternative reality, summons up the feeling of living in this reality with startling acuity."
American Spirits (2024) Russell Banks "I learned so much about storytelling and about our country reading these stories, and I finished the book full of gratitude that such a man, and a writer, as Russell Banks could have existed. We'll miss him and, I expect, won't see his like again."
Last Acts (2024) Alexander Sammartino "What a taut, energetic, tender, and wholly original debut novel Alexander Sammartino has written. He knows something deep about the dark heart of America that somehow doesn't stop him from writing about it with genuine, goofy love. Somewhere, Denis Johnson and Saul Bellow are smiling because their lineage--that of honest, highwire, virtuosic writing that summons up the world with all its charms and hazards, has found a worthy heir."
Tomb Sweeping (2023) Alexandra Chang "Alexandra Chang is a riveting and exciting presence in our literature. Her stories are honest, insightful, bold, and full of heart."
Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023) Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah "Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is one of the most exciting young writers in America. His work is urgent, engaging, wildly entertaining, formally bold and politically electrifying. Read one page, any page, and you'll see what I mean."
Shy (2023) Max Porter "Max Porter is one of my favorite writers in the world. Why? Because he's always asking the most important questions and then finding ways - through innovative structures and that inimitable voice -of answering those questions soulfully, with his full attention, in ways that make the world seem stranger and more dear (or more dear because stranger). He gives his readers, in other words, bursts of new vision."
Self-Portrait with Nothing (2022) Aimee Pokwatka "A thrillingly inventive, highly original debut that manages to be both a compelling mystery story and a dazzling meditation on existence. Pokwatka's particular gift is her ability to see a strange concept through to its conclusion."
Mount Chicago (2022) Adam Levin "Adam Levin is one of our wildest writers and our funniest."
All's Well (2021) Mona Awad "A dazzling wild ride of a novel – daring, fresh, entertaining, and magical. Mona Awad is a powerful and poetic storyteller, telling us something new and profound here about the connection between suffering and elation. When I was away from this book, I longed to get back to it."
Afterparties (2021) Anthony Veasna So "A wildly energetic, heartfelt, original debut by a young writer of exceptional promise. These stories, powered by So’s skill with the telling detail, are like beams of wry, affectionate light, falling from different directions on a complicated, struggling, beloved American community."
Alien Stories (2021) E C Osondu "A vital voice in the short story, telling us new truths with deep humanity."
Rest and Be Thankful (2020) Emma Glass "An immensely talented young writer ... Her fearlessness renews one's faith in the power of literature."
The Nickel Boys (2019) Colson Whitehead "[Whitehead] is a splendidly talented writer, with more range than any other American novelist currently working—he can be funny, lyrical, satirical, earnest—whatever is needed by the work."
Goodnight Stranger (2019) Miciah Bay Gault "Somewhere the ghosts of Shirley Jackson and the Henry James of The Turn of the Screw are smiling, because a wildly talented young writer has joined their lineage. What a taut, keenly intelligent, and provocative debut Goodnight Stranger is."
The Mars Room (2018) Rachel Kushner "Kushner is a young master. I honestly don’t know how she is able to know so much and convey all of this in such a completely entertaining and mesmerizing way."
Wait Till You See Me Dance (2017) Deb Olin Unferth "Deb Olin Unferth’s stories are so smart, fast, full of heart, and distinctive in voice - each an intense little thought-system going out earnestly in search of strange new truths. What an important and exciting talent."
American Youth (2007) Phil LaMarche "The most compelling and exciting debut novel in years... LaMarche proves that there are still young geniuses among us."
War Trash (2004) Ha Jin "Ha Jin is one of the finest writers in America: subtle, huge-hearted, possessed of an utterly original, mind-altering vision of the world, and an exquisite, disciplined style. His work never fails to thrill me, and expand my ideas about life, and about the transformative powers of fiction."
Florida (2003) Christine Schutt "Christine Schutt conveys real truths about childhood and longing. She is truly a gifted writer."
Dear Mr. President (2002) Gabe Hudson "Gabe Hudson writes crazed, energetic stories full of mayhem and heart. This collection summons up a funny, troubling image of America the Invader, clumsily enforcing its will with a high-tech army of narcissists and neurotics."
(b.1958)
