Zach Roe

These eleven stories by Joshua Ferris, many of which were first published in The New Yorker, are at once thrilling, strange, and comic. The modern tribulations of marriage, ambition, and the fear of missing out as the temptations flow like wine and the minutes of life tick down are explored with the characteristic wit and insight that have made Ferris one of our most critically acclaimed novelists.

Bored with city life and the proper behavior it requires, Mr. Tiger has a wild idea that leads him to discover his true nature.

"James and Danny are on a mission: to get the little silver race car out of the gumball machine at Mr. Wright's store. Only very, very lucky people get both gumballs and the silver racer. It's a good thing that one of James's quarters is a Canadian quarter, which just so happens to be very, very lucky. But is it lucky enough to get him that silver racer? Bing! Bang! Kaboom! He's about to find out!"--Provided by publisher.

Batcat loves being all alone in their home on Spooky Island, spending time playing videogames and watching TV. But, when they find themself being haunted by an annoying, ice cream-stealing ghost, they visit the local Island Witch for a spell to remove their ghostly guest permanently.

Batcat and Al the Ghost are great roommates -- Batcat even shares their eye scream occasionally -- but sometimes Batcat still craves solo them time. When Batcat visits the Mermaid Lagoon for a relaxing day of reading all by themselves, they discover the local mermaids in hysterics all over the beach -- so much for quiet day on the sand! It appears that something has drained the color from all the mermaid's tails, and they won't leave Batcat alone...