Short stories by Stuart Dybek

Stuart Dybek is the author of three books of fiction, including I Sailed with Magellan (FSG, 2003), as well as two volumes of poetry. The recipient of many prizes and awards—including the PEN/Malamud Prize, the Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Whiting Writers’ Award, and four O. Henry Prizes—he is the distinguished writer in residence at Northwestern University. Dybek divides his time between Evanston, Illinois, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the Florida Keys.

Listing 3 stories.

Several men become involved in a suspicious gambling ring where secret messages are being anonymously sent out about the race's winners. When one of the men suspects another of cheating, he sends someone to kill him, but the hitman struggles to complete the job as he becomes distracted by drugs and various women.

A scientist reminisces about an old affair while he watches his time-machine lab burn down.

In a missive to his ex-girlfriend, a wistful man remembers the impact of one horrifying night on their sex life and relationship.