I Bring Sorrow and Other Stories of Transgression

At 16 pages, “Um Peixe Grande,” in which a Maine fisherman makes an unusual catch, is the longest of the 25 stories in this sparkling collection from Edgar-finalist Abbott (Shot in Detroit). Abbott can also pack an emotional punch in just three pages, as shown in “What Baghdad Did to Us,” in which a U.S. Army soldier uses her marksmanship skills against an unexpected enemy, and “Burned the Fire,” about a physically scarred woman whose long career in a dangerous profession comes to an ironic end. Other highlights include “Scrapped,” in which a stubborn old woman refuses to leave her Detroit home as the neighborhood disintegrates, and “Pox,” about the harrowing attempt of a woman infected with smallpox to save her children. Abbott shifts locations, genres, and time periods with ease. Female androids face a moral test in the futuristic “The Annas.” Cutting humor drives “Ten Things I Hate About My Wife.” A famous opera tenor visiting New York plays a surprising role in “The Cape.” This brilliant collection is sure to boost the author’s reputation as a gifted storyteller. (Mar.)