The King Is Dead

This collection highlights Walter Tevis’s mastery of short fiction, featuring both previously unpublished stories and his trademark perceptiveness and empathy. Spanning genres and settings—including poolhalls, a prison yard, and elements of chess—Tevis’s stories explore human nature and complex relationships with engaging depth. Richly varied and insightful, the collection reaffirms Tevis’s reputation as a talented and compassionate storyteller.