Douglas Unger, director of the MFA creative writing international program and director of grants and acquisitions for the International Institute of Modern Letters (see UNLV Magazine Spring 2003), has published a new collection of short stories.

As in his past writing, in Looking for War Unger draws upon his own life experiences, particularly those as a student in South America. Yet, to those who ask the extent to which his work is autobiographical (one of the stories is titled "Autobiography"), Unger replies, "Part of playing with form – in this case, the short story – is to let the reader decide. I think too much exploration of what's 'real,' which is too complex to fit into a short story, and what's 'exaggerated' or 'invented' would undermine the intention to push the boundaries of the form. The desired collage is a mix of forms: traditional tale, realistic fiction, memoir, journalism, belle lettres, biography, autobiography."

The seven short stories and one novella, which carries the volume's title, paint grim pictures of life. "They are intentionally meant to be so, which, hopefully, stimulates thought, active response, and an emotional response," Unger says. "I don't know if I succeed." That he has indeed succeeded is evidenced in the June 13 San Francisco Chronicle, where reviewer Carmela Ciurau says, "Unger's are stories that offer hard truths, and they're probably not for everyone. But those who do appreciate Unger's wrenching stories will have much to savor."