Vila-Matas returns to short stories. Displaying his signature style, a blend of fiction and reality, Vila-Matas explains in "Caf Kubista" that he decided to write short stories when a life-or-death medical intervention turned him into "another person." In "La gota gorda" (The Fat Drop) he vows to write less about writers and more about "normal people, with flesh and bones, blood and liver." He certainly honors the pledge with an array of fresh, vital stories that expand his usual territories. Highly recommended for all bookstores and libraries.