London: Andre Deutsch, (1991) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - A collection of 13 short stories, each followed by a brief epitaph - another even shorter story - by one of the most extraordinary of contemporary writers. Steven Moore in reviewing his books in the Washington Post described his books as' tower[ing] over the works of his contemporaries by virtue of their enormous range, huge ambition, stylistic daring, wide learning, audacious innovation and sardonic wit...' SIGNED on the title page. While Vollmann, one of the most fascinating and interesting of modern writers, had long been a cult favorite, in 2005 he received the prestigious National Book Award for fiction. This UK edition was the true first, preceding the US edition, and reportedly in a very small print run of only 1000 copies. 318 pp. ISBN: 0-679-404392.