One of McSweeney's odder experiments in packaging, this one elaborately folds out to four silk-lined boards and pockets. The main book contains nine stories. A story by Ann Beattie is in a separate booklet. Another pocket holds a grown-up fairy tale printed on a large deck of fifteen cards. The cards can be shuffled so that the story is different according to each card order. The fourth pocket contains a nice pocket comb inscribed with "Timothy." That's right, an actual comb.
Can't say I really recall details of any of the stories, but I do remember it was a joy to open and read. ( )

A little too ribald. ( )

Worth the read for Robert Coover's great, interchangeable card-story alone. And comes with a handy plastic comb, too. ( )

McSweeney's loves to mess with the concept of "book" and they've done an exceptional job in this issue. It's sort of a box that unfolds to reveal:

- A book of short stories. Nine stories,164 pages.
- "Mr. Nobody At All", by Ann Beattie with Harry Matthews, a long short story or short novella in a separate paperback.
- An oversized set of 15 cards, comprising the interactive short story "Heart Suite" by Robert Coover. It's the ace through king cards, plus a joker and one explanatory card. Each card has a few paragraphs of the story. You can shuffle the cards and read a different story each time. It is set in the world of "Alice in Wonderland".
- A comb. (Yes, a comb, as in combing your hair).

Each is securely packaged, and it folds up into a shape like a hardback book, so it fits just fine on your bookshelf.

All the stories are fine, but I particularly like "Mr. Nobody At All." It is set at a memorial service, and you hear one person after another speak about the dearly departed. You get a picture of him, but mainly a picture of all the people around him. It's wonderful. ( )