Prize Stories 1990

“Widely regarded as the nation’s most prestigious awards for short fiction”—The Atlantic Monthly
 
The O. Henry Prize Stories 1990 gathers 20 of the best short stories of the year, selected from thousands published in literary magazines.

Stories include:
Leo E. Litwak “The Eleventh Edition” (first prize)
Peter Matthiessen “Lumumba Lives” (second prize)
Lore Segal “The Reverse Bug” (third prize)
Joyce Carol Oates “Heat”
Carolyn Osborn “The Grands”
James P. Blaylock “Unidentified Objects”
Jane Brown Gillette “Sins Against Animals”
Julie Schumacher “The Private Life of Robert Schumann”
Joanne Greenberg “Elizabeth Baird”
Alice Adams “1940: Fall”
T. Coraghessan Boyle “The Ape Lady in Retirement”
Marilyn Sides “The Island of the Mapmaker’s Wife”
David Michael Kaplan “Stand”
Meredith Steinbach “In Recent History”
Claudia Smith Brinson “Einstein’s Daughter”
Felicia  Ackerman “The Forecasting Game”
Reginald McKnight “The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas”
Bruce Fleming “The Autobiography of Gertrude Stein”
Devon Jersild “In Which John Imagines His Mind as a Pond”
Janice Eidus “Vito Loves Geraldine”
 
“One of the most welcome signs of the literary spring is the appearance of the annual O. Henry Awards collection.”—Los Angeles Times

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs