Best English Short Stories 3

Third in an annual series, this assemblage of 25 exceptional stories caters to catholic tastes, eschewing the cryptic or minimalist in favor of well-rounded narratives. Drawing from stories from all English-speaking countries save the U.S., the editors feature many prominent writers, whose works here amply demonstrate their talents. Among these are Nadine Gordimer (her tale, ``A Find,'' stands out even in this company), Alice Munro, Julian Barnes, Rose Tremain and William Trevor. Michael Dibdin's ``A Death in the Family,'' about an Argentinian woman certain that her well-off parents had obtained her via the brutal tactics of the so-called dirty war, reaches another high mark. Newcomer James Waddington offers the startling ``Glob,'' in which ``civilized'' people on a secluded island shed not only their clothes but their morals; but on the whole the editors' selections of lesser-known authors reveal a penchant for rather too tidy construction. The non-U.S. limitation seems arbitrary, especially as several stories were first published in American magazines, and the omissions are strange--not a single Australian is represented--but the collection itself possesses a rare degree of strength. Introduction not seen by PW. (Oct.)