Although William Harrison may be best known as the author of the 1974 short story "Roller Ball Murder," which was made into a critically acclaimed 1975 movie starring James Caan, he has written many well-received novels and short stories. His work features a wide variety of characters and settings that transcend time and place. His short stories, like his novels, center on nonconformist individuals who challenge the customs and beliefs of their society. He has written two short-story collections, Roller Ball Murder (1974) and The Buddha in Malibu: New and Selected Stories (1998), which Paula Friedman of The New York Times (12 July 1998) referred to as a work of "spare, understated prose" that "heightens our sense of horror at the flagrantly decaying lives" of the characters. This assessment reflects the essential elements of Harrison's short fiction. He employs straightforward, concise language to document the harsh realities of modern life as he focuses on...