A GRANFALLOON, according to Kurt Vonnegut's book, Cat's Cradle, is a "group or association of people who think they influence God's will upon the universe, but do not."

GRANFALLOON is the fourth Antelope Valley Anthology. It is dedicated to the memory of Kurt Vonnegut, and the literary talent inside this book is amazing. Once more we have authors and poets of every age and as many points of view as there are contributors. We have fiction examining everything from bird flu that kills off the dinosaurs, to the urge to risk one's life in a foolish adventure just to feel more at home, to the chance to go back in time and give some advice to your younger self. We have essays about family stretching from Eastern Europe to right here in the Antelope Valley. We have a true tale of young people fighting to take a mountain man back to his beloved mountains a hundred and fifty years after his death. We have poetry filled with elation and regret, and emotions that let the reader look into the poets' hearts and find that they share something human. And all of this is written by people who might be your next door neighbors.

Perhaps this anthology is misnamed. Perhaps this gathering of authors is not a Granfalloon after all. Perhaps we do influence the universe--or at least our little corner of the high desert. Give us a read and decide for yourself.