Book excerpt: The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction. This special edition contains selections from the following 2014 editions: The Best American Short Stories edited by Jennifer Egan The Best American Essays edited by John Jeremiah Sullivan The Best American Mystery Stories edited by Laura Lippman The Best American Science and Nature Writing edited by Deborah Blum The Best American Travel Writing edited by Paul Theroux The Best American Sports Writing edited by Christopher McDougall Each volume’s series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites. The special guest editor then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected – and most popular – of its kind.