Book excerpt: Masterpieces of some of the finest writers ever to make words come alive on paper, the stories in this volume have been selected to represent the full spectrum of the storyteller's art. Here are works of chilling mystery, far-out fantasy, superb humor, highly charged symbolism, and enthralling human drama. Given sharpened focus through insightful editorial commentary, each of these tales stands distinctive in style and vision - and all are totally memorable reading experiences.