donaldbarthelmesnewbookofstories,greatdays,isperhapsmostnotableforthepresenceofsevenformallyrelateddialogues,thecrisis,theapology,thenewmusic,morning,onthestepsoftheconservatory,theleap,andgreatdays,whichintroduceanewaspectofhiswork.intheserestless,possibility-hauntedcolloquies,strippedofeverythingsavevoices,changingpairsofwomenandpairsofmenrangeanemotionalterrainwhosepolesarehopeandmemory.extravagant,profane,andcomic,thedialoguesareaconsiderableachievement,testingthepossibilitiesofformandextendingourengagementwiththeworld.inotherstoriesbarthelmeexploresthetragic,ambiguousrelationshipbetweencortésandmontezuma,uncoversunitsoftheswedisharmyonmaneuversinmanhattan,offersacountry-musicversionofmozartsabductionfromtheseraglio,describesaheroiccuttingcontestbetweenakingofjazzandayoungchallenger,andprovidesanaccountofagroupofzombiesoutonawife-buyingexpedition.asphilipstevickwroteinthenation,donaldbarthelmesstoriesstandastouchstonesfornarrativeartofthelasttwodecades.greatdaysisanimportantadditiontoanalreadyimpressivebodyofwork.