Over the past twenty years, the Review of Contemporary Fiction has earned a reputation for being one of the most important journals covering contemporary literature. Through essays, excerpts, and an extensive book review section, the Review is dedicated to the discussion and celebration of innovative fiction, and the most influential authors of the twentieth century are featured in its pages. In the fall of 2006, in lieu of criticism, the Review published short stories by Cuba"s most exciting contemporary writers, providing readers a unique opportunity to view both the life and art of a culture that has been shut off to Americans for almost half a century. The authors collected here write in diverse ways about all aspects of Cuba, from the hectic grind in Havana to the absurdities of a collective farm in the country. Together, they portray a nation and a culture beyond the stereotypes and sound bytes Americans are normally afforded. Wavering between disenchantment and resolve, these writers provide us with a complex vision of life in Cuba.