The O. Henry Awards: Prize Stories 2000

Series Editor: Larry Dark; Prize Jury: Michael Cunningham, Pam Houston, and George Saunders

Anchor, 412 pp., $13 (paper)

As steady and dependable as a good friend, the new O. Henry anthology arrives each year to serve up the ”best” stories published in magazines and journals from the previous year. Of course, such anthologies are at the subjective mercy of their editors, and for the past few years series editor Larry Dark has been responsible for some stellar assemblages. And though this year’s collection doesn’t feature any stunners on the same level as, say, Lorrie Moore’s “People Like That Are the Only People Here” from a few years back, most of the stories here easily earn their prize distinction. The best attribute of the collection is its variety, both in subject matter and style. Andrea Barrett’s icy poeticism in “Theories of Rain” stands alongside Allan Gurganus’ homespun charm in “He’s at the Office,” while Nathan Englander’s philosophical absurdity in “The Gilgul of Park Avenue” follows Russell Banks’ stark realism in “Plains of Abraham.” But the true standouts are Beth Lordan’s quietly powerful “The Man With the Lapdog,” Keith Banner’s raw “The Smallest People Alive,” and Michael Byers’ ruminative and lovely “The Beautiful Days.” Like a hearty breakfast buffet on a Sunday morning, there are things here to please everyone’s appetite.

This article appears in November 24 • 2000.

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