Another brief review

John Collier's "Fancies and Goodnights" might be the most perfect beach book ever written. The slightly macabre undertow creates a perfect counterpoint to the idyllic and peaceful beach environment. The stories are well-structured, amusing, architecturally simple, memorable, and, best of all, short -- giving plenty of breaks to go in the water or toss a football with your kids. There may be better short story writers, but I have never found one as perfectly suited to the langorous rhythms of a Sunday beach.