Christopher Lukas arranges his wonderful short stories into three sections: "Lust and Love," "Love and Loss," and "At Close of Day." Although the stories are not linked by character or by action leading a progress, the sections suggest such a progression for human experience. We lust for what we wish to have, and, in the process discover love. And, having found love, we find also loss. The separation from love, both tragic and heroic, prepares...