Eighteen writers—Kathy Acker, Paul Auster, Peter Cameron, Leslie Epstein, Albert Goldbarth and Ann Patchett among them—garner 20-page essays covering biography, analysis, and commentary, ending with a selected but sizeable bibliography. There are now more than 200 writers treated in this series, proved by the 250 pages of cumulative index. The targeted audience is college, and the set is valuable, especially for students wanting that extra something in the classroom. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR