The Jaguar Hunter — Lucius Shepard

Winner of the 1988 World Fantasy and Locus Awards for Best Story Collection, The Jaguar Hunter brings together some of the 1980s' finest speculative fiction. From the battlegrounds of near-future Latin America, to spirit-haunted Nepal, to the ecosystem on the body of a giant dragon, the stories vividly evoke both real-world and fantastic locales with thorough credibility. Shepard's attention to character development and cultural detail are especially remarkable, and reflect his extensive world travels. Featured in the collection, "Salvador" won the Locus Award in 1985 and "R & R" the Nebula and Locus Awards in 1987.