A wide-ranging and assured, surprising, and funny debut collection. Alan DeNiro's gently surreal stories use a toolbox of genres (including science fiction and fantasy) to grapple with issues of identity, family, gender, and politics. (Think Aimee Bender or George Saunders.) Even in the oddest moments, these characters are real people grappling with real relationships and real heartbreaks. The title story was shortlisted for the O. Henry Award.