Set in Greece, the Caribbean, Manhattan, a white collar prison, and outer space, these nine stories are a mesmerizing introduction to Don DeLillo's iconic voice, from the rich, startling, jazz-infused sentences of his early work to the spare, distilled, monastic language of the later stories. In ;Creation, ; a couple at the end of a cruise somewhere in the West Indies can't get off the islandflights canceled, a dysfunctional economy, unconfirmed reservations. In ;Human Moments in World War III, ; two men orbiting the earth, charged with gathering intelligence and reporting to Colorado Command, hear the voices of American radio, a half century ago. In the title story, Sisters Edgar and Gracie, nuns working the violent streets of the south Bronx, confirm the neighborhood's miracle, the apparition of the dead child, Esmeralda. Nuns, astronauts, athletes, terrorists, and travelers, the characters in The Angel Esmeralda propel themselves into the world and define it. DeLillo's sentences are instantly recognizable, as original as the splatter of Jackson Pollock or the luminous rectangles of Rothko. These nine stories describe an extraordinary journey of one great American writerand are a perfect introduction to the author whose prescience about world events and ear for American language changed the literary landscape. ;A beautiful book&.His entire long and brilliant career is encapsulated here, intensely, movingly. ; Jonathan Franzen, on Point Omega ;DeLillo has achieved a precision and economy of language that any writer would envy. ; The Washington Post Book World

Growing up, Cassie Waters spent every waking moment of every summer at her swim club (which was conveniently located at the end of her street). These days, Cassie lives in the suburbs of New Jersey, writing and editing books, hanging out with friends, and having lots of fun. Over the years, Cassie has written dozens of books, but the Pool Girls series is nearest and dearest to her heart. She doesn’t make it to the pool nearly as often as she would like these days, but she is still very good friends with the girls she used to hang out with at her swim club.