The O. Henry Prize Stories 2015

gathers twenty of the best short stories of the year, selected from thousands published in literary magazines. The winning stories span the globe—from the glamorous Riviera to an Eastern European shtetl, from a Native American reservation to a tiny village in Thailand. But their characters are universally recognizable and utterly compelling, whether they are ex-pats in Africa, migrant workers crossing the Mexican border, Armenian immigrants on the rough streets of East Hollywood, or pioneers in nineteenth-century Idaho. Accompanying the stories are the editor’s introduction, essays from the eminent jurors on their favorite stories, observations from the winning writers on what inspired them, and an extensive resource list of magazines.

 

Finding Billy White Feather

PERCIVAL EVERETT

 

The Seals

LYDIA DAVIS

 

Kilifi Creek

LIONEL SHRIVER

 

The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA

MANUEL MUÑOZ

 

A Permanent Member of the Family

RUSSELL BANKS

 

A Ride out of Phrao

DINA NAYERI

 

Owl

EMILY RUSKOVICH

           

The Upside-Down World

BECKY HAGENSTON

 

The Way Things Are Going

LYNN FREED

 

The History of Happiness

BRENDA PEYNADO

 

The Kingsley Drive Chorus

NAIRA KUZMICH

 

Word of Mouth

EMMA TÖRZS

 

Cabins

CHRISTOPHER MERKNER

 

My Grandmother Tells Me This Story

MOLLY ANTOPOL

 

The Golden Rule

LYNNE SHARON SCHWARTZ

 

About My Aunt

JOAN SILBER

 

Ba Baboon

THOMAS PIERCE

 

Snow Blind

ELIZABETH STROUT

 

I, Buffalo

VAUHINI VARA

 

Birdsong from the Radio

ELIZABETH MCCRACKEN

 

For author interviews, photos, and more, go to www.ohenryprizestories.com