"Having stormed mainstream literature from the outskirts, Lethem has won a readership both wide and deep, all of whom appreciate his literary excellence, his mordant but compassionate humor, and the cultish attentiveness of his SF origins. He has earned the right to tread anywhere, and his many admirers are ready to follow. This collection compiles his intensely personal takes on the most interesting and deplorable topics in post-postmodern America. From original new fiction to incites on popular culture, cult and canonical authors, and problem performers. The "Furry-Girl School of American Fiction" is a personal true adventure, as Lethem tries (with the help of a seeming expert) to elbow his way into literary respectability. "The Narrowing Valley" is a brand-new fictional journey into an ominous new unmapped realm. In an intimate encounter with a literary legend, Calvino's Italy and Lethem's Brooklyn meet cute. Stanislaw Lem's Poland and Snowden's Exile both explore courage, art, and the search for truth, with wildly different results. A bibliography is also provided as well as our usual Outspoken Interview"--,Provided by publisher.