Florida as symbol, myth and paradox is the subject of this collection of critical essays exploring fiction written by female Floridian authors. In the words of author Karen Russell, the Sunshine State is virtually past-less, seasons are out of the question, and it's built on a primordial park full of monsters. Discussing the state as setting, the essayists--also Floridians--suggest that it is a creation of the stories told about it, its history and its people. Each of the book's 12 chapters covers one author, including a brief biography followed by one to two essays on some of the author's...