The Best American Short Stories 2004Since its inception in 1915, the Best American series has become the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. For each volume, a series editor reads pieces from hundreds of periodicals, then selects between fifty and a hundred outstanding works. That selection is pared down to twenty or so very best pieces by a guest editor who is widely recognized as a leading writer in his or her field. This unique system has

dark cocoa powder (big scoops)

Batstone tells readers what they can do to stop this modern slavery

he is accused of treason by his friends and learns the true nature of loyalty and betrayal

Pat Frank's writing and sense of detail takes readers back to a time of intrigue and uncertainty

rapidly approaching Earth

A haunting debut literary noir about a former pastor’s search to find a missing woman in the toxic

Confused and wary

he'd have a go at anything and could always be found at the centre of the action

“A beautiful reminder that you are not alone

For years she walked the safe

and joy are a lesson for all Americans

Florence is missing