Michal HVORECKÝ is a prize-winning short-story writer, whose work has also appeared in German, Hungarian, Polish, Spanish, Slovenian and English. His second book, Hunters & Gatherers (2001), was the prose bestseller of the year in Slovakia, garnering considerable media attention; it was published in a Czech translation in 2003 by Odeon, followed by a German edition. His third book, the novel, The Final Hit, appeared last year. He is participating courtesy of the Department of State.