With his extraordinary fiction and gripping television writing, Walter Mosley has proven himself a master of narrative tension. In these 17 short stories, Mosley overturns the stereotypes of black male characters and paints subtle, powerful portraits of unique individuals. Notably, "The Good News Is," a man battles his insecurity about his weight; "Pet Fly" follows a mailroom clerk as he attempts to forge a new connection; and "Almost Alyce" chronicles failed loves, family loss, alcoholism, and a Zen approach to the art of begging that proves surprisingly effective.