Description

In his startling and singular new short story collection, David Foster Wallace nudges at the boundaries of fiction with inimitable wit and seductive intelligence. Among the stories are ‘The Depressed Person’, a dazzling and blackly humorous portrayal of a woman’s mental state; ‘Adult World’, which reveals a woman’s agonised consideration of her confusing sexual relationship with her husband; and ‘Brief Interviews with Hideous Men’, a dark, hilarious series of portraits of men whose fear of women renders them grotesque. Wallace’s stories present a world where the bizarre and the banal are interwoven and where hideous men appear in many different guises. Thought-provoking and playful, this collection confirms David Foster Wallace as one of the most imaginative young writers around. Wallace delights in leftfield observation, mining the ironic, the surprising and the illuminating from every situation. His new collection will delight his growing number of fans, and provide a perfect introduction for new readers.

Publisher Review

Contains longish stretches of genius -- Geoff Nicholson * Independent * Wallace's talent is such that you can't help wondering: how good can he get? * Time Out * As clever and intriguing as Wallace's past work...these strong, sad voices ring powerfully clear * The Time * Exceptionally clever * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY * Endlessly inventive * EVENING STANDARD * His skills as a literary innovator are immense...this is an entertaining and dazzlingly innovative work...a dizzying gallop actoss the wild frontier of contemporary fiction. * DAILY TELEGRAPH *