"In Bookends, Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Chabon offers a compilation of pieces about literature--age-old classics as well as his own--that presents a unique look into his literary origins and influences, the books that shaped his taste and formed his ideas about writing and reading"-- Publisher's description.

Meta-introduction --Intros -- The Wes Anderson collection / Matt Zoller Seitz -- Trickster makes this world / Lewis Hyde -- The long ships / Frans G. Bengtsson -- Superheroes: fashion and fantasy / Andrew Bolton -- Julius Knipl, real estate photographer / Ben Katchor -- Herma / MacDonald Harris -- Casting the runes and other ghost stories / M. R. James -- Brown sugar kitchen / Tanya Holland -- Monster man / Gary Gianni -- The sailor on the seas of fate / Michael Moorcock -- American Flagg! / Howard Chaykin -- D'Aulaires' Norse myths / Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire -- "The rocket man" / Ray Bradbury -- John Carter of Mars: warlord of Mars / Marv Wolfman, Gil Kane et al. -- The escapists / Brian K. Vaughan -- Summerland -- Fountain city, excerpt -- Outros -- Fountain city, excerpt -- The mysteries of Pittsburgh -- Gentlemen of the road -- The phantom toolbooth / Norton Juster -- Wonder when you'll miss me / Amanda Davis -- Appendix: liner notes -- 1980-1996, carsickness -- Uptown special vinyl edition / Mark Ronson.