Here are animated crows, a criminal monkey, an ice man, as well as the dreams that shape us and the things we might wish for. Whether in a chance reunion in Italy, a romantic exile in Greece, a holiday in Hawaii or in the grip of everyday life, Murakami's characters confront loss, or sexuality or the glow of a firefly, or the impossible distance between those who ought to be closest of all. Following the success of Kafka on the Shore comes a collection that gives full rein to Murakami's inventive mastery. From the surreal to the mundane, these stories exhibit his ability to transform the full range of the human experience in ways that are instructive, surprising and relentlessly entertaining. "More insights into life, death, memories, love and kangaroos that one has a right to expect in any single volume" Daily Express "An intimate pleasure" The Times "Literature's answer to David Lynch" Times Literary Supplement "These stories are rich in Murakami magic... a collection that all readers will enjoy" Independent "Sharp but humane observation...as unforgettable as it is untypical" New Statesman