New Stories from the South 2010: The Year's Best    by Amy Hempel Order:  USA  Can Algonquin, 2010 (2010) Softcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Bob Walch 'There's a lot of human condition in the twenty-five stories that make up this anthology, and the authors go at it in immensely powerful ways,' writes Amy Hempel in her introduction to this collection of short fiction. Of the authors whose work was selected for this annual book of stories, 13 have been featured in the series in the past and 11 of them are appearing for the first time. (If you are wondering about the discrepancy in numbers, Brad Watson had two stories included!) On the old timer's list you'll find Ron Rash, Dorothy Allison and Rick Bass among others, while some of the fresh voices include Wells Tower, Kevin Wilson and Emily Quinlan. Whether it is the tale of a man who wants to provide his son with a pet (Caiman), a child who robs the dead to help his folks (The Ascent), a story about a community moved up into the trees when their neighborhood is flooded (Small and Heavy World) or how flirtations with death revive a couple's erotic life (Drive), these stories will stay with you long after you've finished the book. So get comfortable in your favorite chair and get prepared to meet some very entrancing personalities. Uncle Peach, Gazella, Obie Parker, Zoomer, Secondiglianc, Jiyoon and Kimsey are just a few of the folks who will serve as your guides as you explore some of the South's best recent fiction. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews