In these disturbing, haunting, yet strangely beautiful stories, the terrible carnage of the Middle East is rendered in unforgettable form. In "An Unwelcome Guest, " a young Jewish settler from New York plays a deadly game of backgammon with a ghostly old Arab while his pregnant wife sleeps unaware. In "The King of the King of Falafel, " a restaurant rivalry ends in apocalyptic violence. And in the brilliant, horrifying title story, a lonely shepherd wanders a broken noman's land, carrying with him the burden of an unspeakable act. A collection of startlig authority and vivid imagination, it heralds the arrival of a masterful new storyteller.- Tragically, the devastating conflicts in the Middle East continue to make international news practically daily, with seemingly no end in sight. This collection couldn't be timelier.- Papernick is an important, fresh voice in American literature.

- The hardcover edition has received terrific reviews and Papernick has been on a widely successful author tour, increasing his visibility.- Hardcover ISBN: 1-55970-619-8.