Rafael C. Castillo's narrative provides many exciting possibilities for the new generations of Chicano short-story writers interested in craft and the expansion of Chicano themes. Blended with subtle humor, parody, and challenging philosophical concepts (or "games" as Castillo calls them), his short stories explore the inner selves of men and women in an effort to better understand their human complexities. Castillo's work, in particular Distant Journeys (1991), is indicative of the desire of a young generation of Chicano writers to explore a wide range of literary themes without limiting their creativity to the social demands of past Chicano cultural needs.

Essayist, editor, poet, and short-story writer Rafael Cruz Castillo was born on 30 December 1950 in San Antonio, Texas, more specifically in the west side of the city, where he is proud to have lived most of his life. His mother, Rosa, was a housewife, and his father, José, was...