"Raymond Carver's stories can be counted amongst the masterpieces of American fiction" (New York Times)

"The stories overflow with danger, excitement, mystery and the possibility of life... His eye is so clear it almost breaks your heart" (Washington Post)

"One of America's most original, truest voices" (Salman Rushdie)

"Superb" (Ian McEwan)

'I look at all of Carver's work as just one story, for his stories are all occurences, all about things that just happen to people and cause their lives to take a turn... In formulating the mosaic of the film Short Cuts, which is based on these nine stories and a poem, 'Lemonade', I've tried to do the same thing- to give the audience one look... But it all began here. I was a reader turning these pages. Trying on these lives' - Robert Altman in his introduction.