"How to Talk to Girls at Parties" is both the title of Gaiman's story and a serious problem for protagonist, Enn. He watches with envy as his buddy Vic glides uninvited into a house full of beautiful girls, plucks the prettiest from the lot, and makes her his date. The only advice lady-killer Vic can give Enn on girls is to talk to them, then listen to what they say. Enn takes this advice to heart- and the girls start jabbering away, making even less sense than girls usually do. This story was taken from Gaiman's most recent book, Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders
, though all the references to stars throughout the story may bring to mind another Niel Gaiman title, Stardust
, which editor Gordon Van Gelder reminds us is coming out in film this March."X-Country" by Robert Reed describes the Gatsby-esque character, Kip Logan. Kip's origins are uncertain, his aptitudes moderate, he's good looking, and liked by both men and women. His only outstanding achievement was constantly beating protagonist Don at all the local running events. Then one day Kip left town, traveled the world, and came back rich enough to buy a mansion and fancy sports car with cash. The details of where he went and how he made his money are, like most things in Kip's past, very sketchy. Now fifty-three years old, both Don and Kip are back competing in races- Kip winning, as per usual. Then two very interesting things happen. Don suffers a hip injury that threatens to end his running career and his active lifestyle for good. Kip decides to sponsor his own X-country race- not cross-country- Kip is very adamant about that. Just what this X-country race might be is a mystery to Don and the entire town, but the prizes Kip is offering make it worth while to run.
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