The mini-fictions and micro-dramas in this collection from the inimitable Margaret Atwood will amuse, enchant, and enlighten readers. Similar in format and conception to Good Bones and Simple Murders, THE TENT contains a broad range of topics and an amazing variety of literary forms-from parodies to playlets, from monologues and meditations to mock epics.

In pieces ranging in length from a mere paragraph to several pages, Atwood gives a sly pep talk to the ambitious young; writes about the disconcerting experience of looking at old photos of ourselves; gives us Horatio's real views on Hamlet; and examines the boons and banes of orphanhood. "Bring Back Mom: An Invocation" explores what life was really like for the "perfect" homemakers of days gone by, and in "The Animals Reject Their Names," she runs history backward, with surprising results.

Chilling and witty, prescient and personal, delectable and tart, THE TENT is vintage Atwood. Enhanced by the author's delightful drawings, it is perfect for Valentine's Day, and any other occasion that demands a special, out-of-the-ordinary gift.