Virgin Fiction 2

By Rob Weisbach Books

When we announced our first annual Virgin Fiction contest, hundreds of entries flooded our offices, and the results, published last year, met with resounding acclaim.

Deemed "brilliant...comic...compelling" by Entertainment Weekly, and "wonderful...humorous...a noble, promising start" by Publishers Weekly, Virgin Fiction proved there is an insatiable desire for daring, new, original voices.

Virgin Fiction 2 showcases the twenty winners of 1999's contest. The same rules applied -- all who entered had to be under thirty-five and previously unpublished -- and the results are as varied, surprising, and exceptional as they were the first time around.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688170145
• ISBN13: 9780688170141
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 1.3" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A recommended read for those who like variety and experiment

Virgin Fiction 2 offers a fantastic read for those who enjoy some of the different forms and experiments fiction can assume. Humorously ironic stories like "Conversations with a Moose" and "Tourist Trap" provide an effective contrast with--and context for--the more seriously reflective stories such as "Pretend I've Died" and "Behind Sharp Branches." Very few of the stories in this collection are plot-driven, which is refreshing in my opinion; most pieces focus on careful character development and interaction in which small events can motivate larger character metamorphoses. Skillful examples of this occur in "Family Vacation," "Youthful Offenders," and the most interesting and provocative piece, "Scarecrowed."

A mostly excellent anthology

If this book is any indication, there is hope for the future of writing in America. Though, like most anthologies, this book is somewhat uneven none of the stories here are throwaways. Picks of the litter include the short and haunting "Midnight Trash," and the brillantly spun, fantasy web of an unhappy housewife in "Alice's Ground." At least half of the storys in this book could easily stand toe to toe with any year of the "O'Henry" collection. No doubt some of these writers will soon enough find there way there. A definite must read for fans of the short story.

Some stories right on-target

I really enjoyed this anthology. Some stories really stand out as delivering the next wave of quality writing. Particularly, Lisa Johnson's "Backdated" delivers a powerful emotional impact with smart new narrative style. She and a couple of others in the anthology are defitnitely writers to watch out for! There are a lot of compilations/anthologies out there. I'd say this one is worth buying!

Great collection of talented writers!

This is a great collection of short fiction! The talented writers chosen for this edition shine as most entries are smartly written. Highlights of the book as mentioned in the review above mine are indeed "Midnight Trash" and "Family Vacation," as well as the great look back at childhood by Tom Coyne in his "Behind Sharp Branches. Coyne's story of pain, pride, guilt, and childhood innocence (perhaps lost) is startlingly vivid. In "...Branches," Coyne deftly shows any child's eagerness to emulate their parents while at the same time defy them. Sharply written, including (if not especially) the humorous take on a Catholic school education. Kudos.

An excellent book compiled of extremely talented authors!

the book is great. The short stories are funny, witty and very well written. The authors show their great skill. Very good selections were made out of the 1,500 applicants. Highlights of the book include "Midnight Trash" and "Family Vacation." This book is a must read. It is very entertaining and it is an excellent anthology of short fiction.