THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2024

Nearly all of these 20 stories are better heard than read. Guest editor Lauren Groff vied for "rawer, meaner, spikier" stories that have their own "weird logic." Her choices are striking and unpredictable but tend to ramble over stretches of time without much suspense or dramatic resolution. This diverse ensemble brings variety, contrast, and narrative vigor that is mostly lacking on the page. The standout is Christina Delaine, who narrates seven stories, the foreword, and the introduction and as an AI shopper assistant in Suzanne Wong's outstanding "Mall of America," delivers a stellar performance. The other narrators all contribute some degree of dramatic flair. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]