stone arabia published by scribner and this year's award goes to eat it perlman. edith perlman.[applause] binocular vision, the great list of human mysteries which includes construction of pyramid and persistent use of styrofoam as a packing material. why isn't the death perlman famous? it is a mystery but binocular vision will change things. this collection of short stories, 21 drawn from across her career makes the convincing case that she is among the finest writers. around the globe new england, latin america, israel and russia the stores are both surprising and exquisitely controlled. perlman is as adept with young characters as old ones with women and men. the collection's final story bars the title from emerson and on a wooded pond. the main character, a woman whose cancer has return is not looking for transcendence. what she finds is what all her stories lead up to in their tenderly but frankly drawn characters, in their stories of death and love and memories. a moment of grace. [applause] a i did bring a piece of paper. i thought of 5 won i would probably change -- fain