The Middle Stories is a collection of 30 stories, first published in 2001 by Anansi in Canada, then by McSweeney's Books in the States. The stories have a fable-like quality to them, are often only several pages long, and the cast of characters in the book include a dumpling that has fallen from a pot and can't get back in, a mermaid in a jar, a plumber in love with a princess, plus many ugly, ordinary people. The book was translated into German, French, Spanish and Dutch. The Middle Stories is being reissued in a new edition by McSweeney's in Fall 2011. Read a few stories. Reviews. Buy.