Close Encounters by Jen Michalski. (So New Publishing, 148pgs,) $7.46

For years, the champions of print literary magazines have pointed to the dreadful quality of online writing as a reason why print is superior to online literary publishing — an argument that had some bite back in the 90's, but has become the tired, desperate whimper of the defeated in 2009. If one needed proof of the overall quality of writing on the Internet, one need look no further than Close Encounters, the first (and hopefully not the last) short story collection by Jen Michalski.

The thirteen stories contained in this volume were first published in online literary zines and are a shining example of how far the literary scene has evolved over the last decade. From the first tale, "Our Place in This World," you realize you are in the hands of a master storyteller as she presents a layered, poignant tale about a bittersweet encounter between a mentally retarded man and a stripper. Other gems in this collection include "The Weight," a tragic tale of a high school love triangle, the quirky, funny "The Movie Version of My Life," and "Whitney Houston Commencement Speech," as well as "Discount," an odd piece about an elderly schizophrenic woman.

Michalski has a natural talent for creating believable, fully-fleshed characters a reader can empathize with. The author has a subtle touch and trusts her characters to tell their own story. I enjoyed this collection quite a bit and recommend it highly to anyone who appreciates a good short story.