One of the core authors of the '60s boom in Latin American fiction, Julio Cortazar made a contribution of international importance to the development of the short story as a literary form. This collection spans his writing career and includes "La Noche Boca Arriba" and "Final del Juego" (1956), "Las Babas del Diablo" (1959), "La Isla a Mediodia" (1966), "Recortes de Prensa" and "Queremos Tanto a Glenda" (1981) and "Botella al Mar" (1982). Of the seven stories, some are famous examples of his contribution to the genre of "fantastic" literature, while others demonstrate his social and political concerns. Cortazar can be a challenging and demanding writer. Peter Beardsell's new edition, with its comprehensive introduction and notes to the text, selected vocabulary and discussion section suggests that he is also enjoyable and accessible to readers at all levels.
