This exciting new collection celebr ates the richness and variety of th e Spanish short story, from the nineteenth century to the present day. Featuring over fifty stories selected d by revered translator Margaret J ull Costa, it blends old favorites and hidden gems - many of which h ave never before been translated into English - and introduces reade rs to surprising new voices as well as giants of Spanish literary cultur e, from Emilia Pardo Bazán and Le opoldo Alas, through Merce Rodor eda and Manuel Rivas, to Ana Mari a Matute and Javier Marías.

小時候我們會幻想各種各樣奇怪的問題， 我們往往會希望從對手口中得到一個確實而讓自己滿意的答案———縱使得到的答案往往都只有符合後者。 比起一般的科學書籍， 門羅作品的這部作品則是著重探討類似上述所講，充滿幻想風格（同時莫名其妙讓人頭痛）的奇怪問題： 「我們有辦法利用機關槍的後座力進行飛行嗎？」 「要從高將牛排丟下來才能令牛排在著地時煮熟？」 等等。 屬於一部不論小孩、亦或是經過社會洗禮的大人們皆能從中得到樂趣的有趣作品。