The Vanishing Point: Stories

From the bestselling novelist, travel writer, and “master of the short story” (NPR) comes a brilliant new collection.

The stories in Paul Theroux’s fascinating new collection are both exotic and domestic, their settings ranging from Hawaii to Africa and New England. Each focuses on life’s vanishing points—a moment when seemingly all lines running through one’s life converge, and one can see no farther, yet must deal with the implications. With the insight, subtlety, and empathy that has long characterized his work, Theroux has written deeply moving stories about memory, longing, and the passing of time, reclaiming his status, once again, as a master of the form.

"Theroux is a master of the short story. The form is perfectly suited to Theroux’s skills; the journalist’s eye for detail and the novelist’s sense of drama are enhanced by his gifts as a pure storyteller....Theroux's stories recall those of de Maupassant or O. Henry, complete with a twist ending. Each bears Theroux’s unmistakable adventurous curiosity and philosophical musings." - Booklist (starred review)