Tenth of December: Short Epics

As various people published their year-end lists of the best literature of 2013, I kept seeing one name: Tenth of December by George Saunders. A collection of American short stories is usually not something I'd find appealing. But halfway through the first story, Victory Lap, I was hooked. I devoured the rest of the stories and now I encourage you to follow suit.

It is so difficult to construct a compelling short story. Oftentimes they become mere musings, snatches of time and moments that feel too ephemeral to be memorable. But the stories in Tenth of December feature fully-realized characters and compelling, nail-biting narratives that make you turn the pages with urgency and give you a sense of fulfillment as you uncover their secrets. Each story feels like a novel in its scope and yet is told in a few pages. It's a bewildering and bewitching feat.

I simply cannot discuss the stories in detail because you must discover their joys for yourself. All I can say is that some are set in ordinary American life that is turned upside-down in startling fashion. Others feature beguiling futuristic elements that are woven so intricately into the narrative that you don't realize you're not reading about the present day until you suddenly discover what the characters have actually been talking about all this time. 

Tenth of December is a true literary masterpiece. It is not some collection of indulgent prose; it is storytelling of the highest order, filled with humor, drama, and an uncanny understanding of human beings. If you think you are not a short story person, this is the collection that will open your eyes to what this genre can accomplish in the hands of a master. Pick up this book and prepare to lose yourself in a brave new world.