South by Southwest: 24 Stories from Modern Texas

This collection of short stories explores Texas as a state of mind, a region unto itself. Comprising a diversity of themes and styles, they range from William Humphrey's tale of a bank robbery in a small Texas town in the 1920s (""A Voice from the Woods'') to Peter LaSalle's very modern story of disappointment and alienation experienced by people who hope to realize their dreams by moving to the rapidly growing cities of the Southwest (``Life in the Sunbelt''). Some tales have a traditional Southern tone; others have a distinctly Southwestern flavor; and some use experimental modes of language and storytelling (one is set in the future). This is an intriguing assortment that reflects the myriad desires and lifestyles that form the identity of the Lone Star State. (June)