Royal Ghosts（ISBN=9780618517497）

　　From an award-winning author whose work has been called "subtle and spiritually complex" (New York Times) and "satisfying . . . accomplished" (Village Voice), The Royal Ghosts features characters trying to reconcile their true desires with the forces at work in Nepali society. Against the backdrop of the violent Maoist insurgencies, which have claimed thousands of lives, these characters struggle with their duties to their aging parents, an oppressive caste system, and the frustrations of arranged marriage. In the end, they manage to find peace and connection often where they least expect itwith those directly in front of them. Upadhyay has been called "a major talent" (Amitav Ghosh) for his stories, which "combine exact details of plot and setting with a reflective tone" (Washington Post Book World). These new stories brilliantly examine not only Kathmandu during a time of political crisis and cultural transformation but also the effects of that city on the individual consciousness.

　　Samrat Upadhyay was born and raised in Kathmandu and came to the United States at age twenty-one. His work has appeared in The Best American Short Stories and The Best of the Fiction Workshops, and his first book, a collection of stories entitled ARRESTING GOD IN KATHMANDU, was published by Mariner Books in August 2001 and won a Whiting Award. He now lives with his wife near Cleveland, where he teaches and writes at Baldwin-Wallace College.