The Story Prize

Anthony Doerr, George Saunders, Elizabeth Strout, and 11 others showcase the power of short fiction in this short story collection of award-winning tales.

This anthology of short stories includes one story from 14 of the annual Story Prize collections! Inside you’ll find short stories by some of literature’s brightest talents—introduced by the author’s themselves or by Story Prize judges:

• Edwidge Danticat
• Patrick O’Keffe
• Mary Gordon
• Jim Shepard
• Tobias Wolff
• Daniyal Mueenuddin
• Anthony Doerr
• Steven Millhauser
• Claire Vaye Watkins
• George Saunders
• Elizabeth McCracken
• Adam Johnson
• Rick Bass
• Elizabeth Strout

The founder of The Story Prize, Julie Lindsey, and its director, Larry Dark, created The Story Prize to address the lack of awards specifically for short story collections. Together they choose 3 finalists from the previous year’s publications, which are sent to 3 judges—an author, a bookseller or librarian, and a critic or editor—who, independently of one another, relay their choices.

The prize is then presented at an annual celebration in New York, where the finalists read from their books and then discuss their work. Excerpts from these interviews—or, in a few cases, the judges’ citations—introduce each story featured in in this landmark short story anthology.

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