This is a compilation of stories seeing print for the first time!

"Engaging and knowledgeable…brings magical light and clarity to veiled martial arts history. In a cocoon shell, a man 'tis not a mantis til Fusco's faithful rendering of true life hero Wong Long bugs the Shaolin elders into accepting the teachings and virtues of the world's most dynamic insect…the praying mantis.--Dr. Craig D. Reid, Martial Arts Historian"

Tsering Döndrup is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed authors writing in Tibetan today. In a distinct voice rich in black humor and irony, he describes the lives of Tibetans in contemporary China with wit, empathy, and a passionate sense of justice. The Handsome Monk and Other Stories brings together short stories from across Tsering Döndrup’s career to create a panorama of Tibetan society. With a love for the sparse yet vivid language of traditional Tibetan life, Tsering Döndrup tells tales of hypocritical lamas, crooked officials, violent conflicts, and loyal yaks. His nomad characters find themselves in scenarios that are at once strange and familiar, satirical yet poignant. The stories are set in the fictional county of Tsezhung, where Tsering Döndrup’s characters live their lives against the striking backdrop of Tibet’s natural landscape and go about their daily business to the ever-present rhythms of Tibetan religious life. Tsering Döndrup confronts pressing issues: the corruption of religious institutions; the indignities and injustices of Chinese rule; poverty and social ills such as gambling and alcoholism; and the hardships of a minority group struggling to maintain its identity in the face of overwhelming odds. Ranging in style from playful updates of traditional storytelling techniques to narrative experimentation, Tsering Döndrup’s tales pay tribute to the resilience of Tibetan culture.

Strange little creature. Strange pale eyes, so full of fear. Strange little monk, his habit black as nightmares, his surplice grubby as spilt milk. Strange little boy shaped like a question mark, who are you?

This book of stories follows LT Thomas Medici, NILO Ha Tien, through the Vietnam wars years, before and after, encompassing his work on Capitol Hill, in naval service, and his work rebuilding Cambodias legal system after the Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese occupations of that country.

Two completely different stories by the inimitable César Aira The Little Buddhist Monk is a story of Asian invention gone wild, as a diminutive Korean Buddhist monk acts as a tour guide to an increasingly distraught French couple on a working vacation in the Far East. The Proof brings us quickly back to the West, where two punks, plus a new recruit (“Wannafuck?” is the opening line as the two punk lesbians accost the chubby and shy Marcia on a quiet street in Buenos Aires), take control of a local supermarket with dire consequences for the hostages. These two Aira works are as different as night and day. Nevertheless, sex, identity, and modern day economics figure deeply in both of these fast-paced, edgy fictions.

Urt was born in a Buddhist country, Thailand. When Urt's uncle returns home after being a monk, Urt decides that he too will become a monk. Let's follow Urt as he prepares and undertakes the tradition of Bu-urt, living as a monk in the temple. Come and learn about the Buddhist country of Thailand and its unique customs and way of life.

"The Black Monk" is a poignant quick story by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. This narrative explores the delicate balance between fact and imagination, delving into the mental complexities of human thoughts. The tale revolves around Andrey Vasilievich Kovrin, a talented and bold scholar who isolates himself in a geographical region to focus on his work. As Kovrin becomes more and more absorbed in his studies, he starts to enjoy bright hallucinations and dreams related to a mysterious black monk. This enigmatic figure serves as a manifestation of Kovrin's heightened highbrow and creative aspirations. As the road between reality and imagination blurs, Kovrin's intellectual kingdom unravels. The tale unfolds as a mental drama, examining the satisfactory line between genius and madness. Chekhov skillfully explores themes of creativity, the pursuit of understanding, and the dangers of unchecked ambition. "The Black Monk" is well known for its nuanced portrayal of the human psyche and its exploration of the thin boundary between inspiration and intellectual instability. Chekhov's storytelling prowess shines through as he crafts a narrative that invites readers to reflect on the difficult interaction of dreams, truth, and the toll of intellectual pursuit on the fragile material of the mind.