Iguana Dreams: New Latino Fiction

The remarkable diversity of Latino culture and literature is showcased in this excellent new anthology by Poey, a doctoral student at Louisiana State University, and Suarez ( The Cutter ). Represented in the 29 pieces offered here are Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban, Chilean, Chicano and Chicana writers. All of them live in the United States (many were born here). Because of this, many of the stories struggle with the issue of assimilation, and Spanish words rest comfortably in pieces crafted otherwise in English. Rolando Hinojosa-Smith's story of a retreat by UN forces in Korea leading to high civilian casualties becomes a biting and ironic study of cowardice and self-preservation. Ruldolfo Anaya, in only a few brief pages, manages to give readers both a well-formed character and an eloquent meditation on familial ties and death. Elena Castedo, in her simple story of a Hispanic maid, indicts the casual cruelty of racism and the fragmentary bond of employee to employer. Ricardo Pau-Llosa tells the story of an exile's return to a post-Castro Cuba and proves once again that one can never go home. Incredibly rich, this body of literature deserves to be better known in the dominant culture. (Sept.)