Congratulations to Sharon Solwitz, whose story “Gifted” (NER 36.2) was selected by Junot Díaz and Heidi Pitlor for Best American Short Stories 2016!

We’re also thrilled to see a handful of others recognized as “Other Distinguished Stories.”

Rav Grewal-Kök, “The Bolivian Navy” (36.4)

Mateal Lovaas Ishihara, “Crossing Harvard Yard” (36.4)

Carla Panciera, “The Kind of People Who Look at Art” (36.2)

Michael X. Wang, “Further News of the Defeat” (36.2)

As Díaz says in his introduction, a passionate fan letter to the short story itself, “I am as much in awe of the form’s surpassing beauty as I am bowled over by its extraordinary mutability and generativity… the short story’s colossal power extends from its brevity and restraint.” Indeed.