A Different Plain

"In this fine new anthology, Ladette Randolph. . . . an accomplished short story writer herself, assembles a strong collection of stories all bound together by that familiar place on the national map that we call Nebraska. . . . There are some real gems in this book. . . . Taken in its entirety, A Different Plain reminds readers that there is a whole other American literature that is often overlooked by those on either coast."—Bloomsbury Review
"Here is a collection of short stories that shows promise to the avid reader of fiction. . . . The authors and stories presented in A Different Plain should be appreciated not only for their relation to Nebraska but also for their relation to American contemporary fiction in general. . . . What becomes most important about A Different Plain is its abillity to show just how diverse, complicated, and dramatic the Great Plains really are."—North Dakota Quarterly
"Beyond Willa Cather. That seems to be the current of thought running through A Different Plain: Contemporary Nebraska Fiction Writers, an absorbing collection of short stories from gifted authors (other than the most famous one) with Cornhusker connections. . . . It's a stellar Nebraska writing cast. . . . These stories sparkle with pure entertainment value. . . . Modern short stories tend to lean toward esoteric writer's workshop head games. These, we're happy to report, go against that grain. You'll feel you know these writers because they tell stories as the neighbors do—complete with sometimes explicit details that make us squirm in our comfy worlds. As a whole, they all illuminate our Midwest, helping us make sense of this complicated corner of paradise we call home."—Midwest Living