Prose Supplements - Shop now
Buy new:
$16.00
FREE delivery Wednesday, March 19 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$16.00
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, March 19 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Tuesday, March 18. Order within 2 hrs 57 mins
In Stock
$$16.00 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$16.00
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$6.11
Very Good - Crisp, clean, unread book with some shelfwear/edgewear, may have a remainder mark - NICE Standard-sized. Very Good - Crisp, clean, unread book with some shelfwear/edgewear, may have a remainder mark - NICE Standard-sized. See less
FREE delivery March 21 - 28. Details
Or fastest delivery March 20 - 25. Details
Only 12 left in stock - order soon.
$$16.00 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$16.00
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by midtownscholarbookstore.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Allegra Hyde
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Of This New World (Iowa Short Fiction Award) Paperback – October 1, 2016

by Allegra Hyde (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$16.00","priceAmount":16.00,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"00","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"N6SLnCQJetB%2BFbdgU5Z52KKCK2p9BLRDG2fB9nNMXzUFUDUBmSg606WZJngJIwqiOl%2FSlbVk7bkjxvPd3K%2FZZc0qRq8uTpS19u042omOyTYEqifH6h%2FFSAOI8kcxGuW4PZv5LWBOguE3zS3%2BujkfSg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$6.11","priceAmount":6.11,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"11","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"N6SLnCQJetB%2BFbdgU5Z52KKCK2p9BLRDML%2FJrL3pmRjHqTrcNVH%2FgyIoMPvMRYiYb%2F6SzT%2BXxVUwieGKLi%2BX93LxkmkFNm4JCGHrsHHCH7WxT0CkZbPOl3WttWWTKcovtmx%2F2LsxTSHzYDUCcNsGdU3N14lVsMMYWkqV95vM86s%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Of This New World offers a menagerie of utopias: real, imagined, and lost. Starting with the Garden of Eden and ending in a Mars colony, the stories wrestle with conflicts of idealism and practicality, communal ambition and individual kink. Stories jump between genres—from historical fiction to science fiction, realism to fabulism—but all ask that fundamental human question: is paradise really so impossible?

Over the course of twelve stories, Hyde writes with a mix of lyricism, humor, and masterful detail. A group of environmental missionaries seeks to start an ideal eco-society on an island in The Bahamas, only to unwittingly tyrannize the local inhabitants. The neglected daughter of a floundering hippie commune must adjust to conventional life with her un-groovy grandmother. Haunted by her years at a collegiate idyll, a young woman eulogizes a friendship. After indenturing his only son to the Shakers, an antebellum vegan turns to Louisa May Alcott’s famous family for help. And in the final story, a former drug addict chases a second chance at life in a government-sponsored space population program. An unmissable debut, the collection charts the worlds born in our dreams and bred in hope. 
 
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    124 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University Of Iowa Press
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1609384431
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1609384432
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details
"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

Frequently bought together

Of This New World (Iowa Short Fiction Award)
This item: Of This New World (Iowa Short Fiction Award)
$16.00
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 19
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Last Catastrophe: Stories
$14.74
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 19
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Eleutheria
$15.26
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 19
Only 13 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Smart, stylish, and surprising, Of This New World is an inventive compendium of paradises lost. Starting with a married couple expelled from a certain unnamed garden, the collection charts the journeys of assorted outcasts, drifters, hippies, and astronauts as they set out to find their personal utopias, whether at an ‘eco-revolution’ boot camp in the Bahamas, a Shaker community in nineteenth-century America, or a colony on Mars. In stories that range fearlessly across space, time, and genre, Allegra Hyde keeps pursuing new variations on the collection’s major theme. The result is an ambitious and memorable debut, in which a dozen different characters, looking for a dozen different paradises, all end up learning some customized version of that ultimate Miltonic lesson: ‘the mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.’”—Bennett Sims, 2016 judge, 2016 John Simmons Short Fiction Award

“Of This New World is the right title for a collection that’s so witheringly deadpan and compassionate about who we are now. From Adam and Eve to an uprooted flower child to a maimed veteran to a Mexican domestic to a hapless glue-sniffing colonist on Mars, these protagonists are runaways and spirit-seekers who know the power of mystery and license and desire, and believe in resistance and in living the solution and the willingness to dream, even as they confront their own unfulfilled promise. Having learned detachment as a survival strategy, they acknowledge a love that always stops short of fulfillment but remains exhilarating nonetheless.”—Jim Shepard, author, The Book of Aron

“With rare style, refined mischief, and a fearless spirit of philosophic and scientific inquiry, the twelve stories in Allegra Hyde’s Of This New World brilliantly orbit our longing for paradise, our ache for some elusive perfection within the human community. Whether these utopian yearnings are miscarried into outer space, nearly extinguished by the stringent rules of a nineteenth-century Shaker community, or demoralized by an eco-experiment on an island named after the Greek word for freedom, each fragile, idealized construct shares a common hope for harmony, as well as a doomed instinct to replace the anxiety of existence with an illusion of immaculate form.”—Melissa Pritchard, author, Palmerino and A Solemn Pleasure: To Imagine, Witness, and Write

“Allegra Hyde is a talented ventriloquist, gifting each of her stories its own compelling voice, full of history and science, myth and folklore, humor and heart. But behind every façade lie Hyde’s unmistakable talent, her inventive imagination and her joyful play with language. This is a great debut, not to be missed.”—Matt Bell, author, Scrapper

“These extraordinary stories illuminate our hunger for utopias both earthly and transcendent, and the sometimes dangerous lure of love. In Of This New World, Allegra Hyde writes with a genius scientist’s impassioned inquiry, and a poet’s lyrical, exquisite precision.”—Tara Ison, author, Ball: Stories

About the Author

Allegra Hyde's debut collection, Of This New World, won the Iowa Short Fiction Award. She is the recipient of three Pushcart Prizes, in addition to having her work anthologized in Best American Travel Writing, Best of the Net, and Best Small Fictions. Her stories and essays have appeared in Tin House, American Short Fiction, Kenyon Review, New England Review, The Threepenny Review, among other venues. Her honors include fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, The Elizabeth George Foundation, the Lucas Artist Residency Program, and the U.S. Fulbright Commission. She currently teaches creative writing at Oberlin College. 

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University Of Iowa Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 124 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1609384431
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1609384432
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Allegra Hyde

Allegra Hyde

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Allegra Hyde's first book, OF THIS NEW WORLD (University of Iowa Press, 2016), won the John Simmons Iowa Short Fiction Award. Her stories and essays have appeared in New England Review, Gettysburg Review, The Missouri Review, and many other venues. She is the recipient of three Pushcart Prizes, as well as fellowships and grants from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, The Virginia G. Piper Center, the National University of Singapore, the Jentel Artist Residency Program, The Island School, and the U.S. Fulbright Commission. For more, visit www.allegrahyde.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
23 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers praise the book's descriptive language and adroit writing. They find it an enjoyable read with memorable stories about humanity. The author is described as one of the best new writers they have read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Language qualityReadabilityStory quality
6 customers mention "Language quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's language quality. They praise the descriptive language, good command of language, and understanding of the concept. The adroit writing pulls them in and leaves them hooked until the story ends.

"...The descriptive language is really really good and the use of humor just made some of these stories unforgettable...." Read more

"This new author has great understanding and depth and it is obvious that she has been exposed to many persons and places in her young life...." Read more

"...There were times the adroit writing just stopped me in my tracks...." Read more

"Hyde is a world builder unlike any other I’ve read. She pulls you in in a sentence and when the story ends the characters will remain on your mind." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it a delightful read and say it's a gem from one of the best new authors they have read.

"Simply put, this book is a gem. The collection of stories in this book are charming, witty, alarming but mostly they are memorable...." Read more

"A delightful read! Each story leads into the next effortlessly while the language flows with grace and the precision of a scientist...." Read more

"Excellent book. I highly recommend it. One of the best new authors I have read." Read more

"Must read. Allegra Hyde has important and beautiful stories of humanity to share..." Read more

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories memorable. They describe them as beautiful and important, with witty and alarming moments.

"...really good and the use of humor just made some of these stories unforgettable...." Read more

"...of stories in this book are charming, witty, alarming but mostly they are memorable...." Read more

"A gem of a short story collection--all the stories have something to do with utopias, but the way the author uses this concept is incredible...." Read more

"Must read. Allegra Hyde has important and beautiful stories of humanity to share..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Steban
    5.0 out of 5 stars Award winner for a reason
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I grab a book of short stories when I have too much going on in my life to start another novel..this collection blew me away and I'm still thinking about some of the characters. For the most part I found the stories evoked some sort of emotion in me -sometimes I could relate personally -other times I felt like I knew the people but I was always drawn into the story. The descriptive language is really really good and the use of humor just made some of these stories unforgettable.

    You can tell this young new writer has plenty up there in her head that will keep us entertained for a long time.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Nancy Stearns
    4.0 out of 5 stars This new author has great understanding and depth and it is obvious that she ...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This new author has great understanding and depth and it is obvious that she has been exposed to many persons and places in her young life.A great command of language and understanding.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Cas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Collection
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Simply put, this book is a gem. The collection of stories in this book are charming, witty, alarming but mostly they are memorable. There were times the adroit writing just stopped me in my tracks. I found myself rereading favorite phrases, laughing out loud or stunned at the sudden and succinct way a passage brought me to discover something. I wanted to savor this book but could not. I devoured these short stories and the only saving grace is I can revisit them again and again and I have. Only one question for the author... What next and how soon can you get it to us?
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kay Levriero
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read. Allegra Hyde has important and beautiful stories of humanity to share
    Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Hyde is a world builder unlike any other I’ve read. She pulls you in in a sentence and when the story ends the characters will remain on your mind.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Bakerman
    5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a short story collection--all the stories have ...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A gem of a short story collection--all the stories have something to do with utopias, but the way the author uses this concept is incredible. Hyde is an author to watch.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Timothy J. Bazzett
    3.0 out of 5 stars Clever and entertaining, but pretty thin stuff
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2016
    Allegra Hyde's debut story collection, OF THIS NEW WORLD, is a clever mix of the dystopian, utopian, feminist, and futuristic fantasy, with generous dollops of tongue-in-cheek humor thrown in here and there. From the first story, "After the Beginning," with its snarky feminist take of Eve doing all the work while Adam lies around feeling sorry for himself following their expulsion from the Garden, to the final story, "Americans on Mars!," portraying a carefully chosen colony of 'breeders' on the red planet, Hyde pulls her seemingly disparate tales together under an umbrella of wishing and hoping for - and maybe even experiencing - a better world with better lives.

    In "VFW Post 1492" Hyde gives us a maimed veteran of the Iraq war visiting the local VFW (with a post number reminding us of the year Columbus first set foot in the New World) and finding "something airtight about the room ... As if even time is trapped there." A sealed refuge for the veterans gathered there.

    Or in "Delight" a peep into a perfect (trademarked) community, with a narrator who proposes "a BigWhitePicketFence" be built around the town, a la the Trump BigWall between the U.S. and Mexico, "sealing our borders and protecting our Bright'N'ShiningFuture ... this wall that is too thick to punch through, too deep to tunnel under, and, most importantly, TooTallToSeeOut."

    There are thirteen stories here, and they are all clever, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and yes, they are all loosely tied together by that "new world" theme. Hyde is a good writer. In fact "clever" is the word that most often came to mind as I read these brief tales. Sadly, "clever" just doesn't do it for me. While I admire a facility with the language and a witty phrase as much as the next person, I prefer some substance to my fiction, some characters that stay with you after you close the book. This is pretty thin stuff. Hence, I suppose, my ho-hum reaction. I would call this book "an entertainment, " but hardly serious fiction. (three and a half stars)

    - Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sarah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A delightful read! Each story leads into the next effortlessly while the language flows with grace and the precision of a scientist. Highly recommended!
    Helpful
     Report
  • GordonS
    5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding book
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book. I highly recommend it. One of the best new authors I have read.
    Helpful
     Report