Delphinium Blossoms: An Anthology

An anthology that heralds the debut of a new publishing venture, this collection of 17 stories and essays is a curious mix. Delphinium Books aims ``to search out and recognize excellence in writing . . . regardless of its potential for commercial success.'' Presented here, then, are touching memories of childhood abuse by Russell Banks, some quite good short fiction by six previously unpublished writers, a thoughtful essay on the Constitution as a text by E. L. Doctorow, poetry by Grace Paley, a commencement address by Vernon E. Jordan Jr., an essay on urban design by Paul Rudolph (which originated as a lecture, clearly) and several other inspired pieces of writing. These pages brim with originality and talent, but the potpourri selections seem to call for a magazine format rather than a hardcover presentation. It's all very well to postulate that this book is for readers who love and appreciate good writing, whatever it may be. Without a unifying theme, however, this scattershot collection satisfies in individual doses but seems a catchall effort. (Oct.)