Civilwarland in Bad Decline: Stories and a Novella

n nSince its publication in 1996, George Saunders's debut collection has grown in esteem from a cherished cult classic to a masterpiece of the form, inspiring an entire generation of writers along the way. In six stories and a novella, Saunders hatches an unforgettable cast of characters, each struggling to survive in an increasingly haywire world. With a new introduction by Joshua Ferris and a new author's note by Saunders himself, this edition is essential reading for those seeking to discover or revisit a virtuosic, disturbingly prescient voice. n n Praise for George Saunders and CivilWarLand in Bad Decline n n It's no exaggeration to say that short story master George Saunders helped change the trajectory of American fiction.--The Wall Street Journal n n Saunders's satiric vision of America is dark and demented; it's also ferocious and very funny.--Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times n n George Saunders is a writer of arresting brilliance and originality, with a sure sense of his material and apparently inexhaustible resources of voice. CivilWarLand in Bad Decline] is scary, hilarious, and unforgettable.--Tobias Wolff n n Saunders makes the all-but-impossible look effortless.--Jonathan Franzen n n Not since Twain has America produced a satirist this funny.--Zadie Smith n n An astoundingly tuned voice--graceful, dark, authentic, and funny--telling just the kinds of stories we need to get us through these times.--Thomas Pynchonn