The Lightning Within: An Anthology of Contemporary American Indian Fiction

``Faith might be stupid, but it gets us through,'' says Lipsha Morrissey in Louise Erdrich's ``Love Medicine,'' one of the nine outstanding stories by Native Americans in this anthology. Morrissey concocts a magic potion to save the afflicted marriage of his grandparents. Although the potion fails, he stil believes in the strength of the union. N. Scott Momaday's ``Tosomah's Story'' features a self-styled shaman/pastor who invites his congregation to a different kind of faith, advising them to hold fast to their culture and get their share of life's bounty. Rewards and punishment are accepted by the characters in these stories as fingers on the same hand. The young man in ``The Marriage of White Man's Dog,'' by James Welch, studies to become a healer. His love for his wife and his people enables him to pass an agonizing test to achieve his goal. Griever de Hocus, alter ego of his creator Gerald Vizenor in ``Luminous Thighs,'' examines the relationship of religion and popular culture to Native American myths. Other contributors include Michael Dorris, Leslie Silko and Simon Ortiz. (Apr.)