The word for this is tragicomic. It's a good word and one everyone knows. Yet it really isn't enough to convey the emotion intensity of these stories, every last one of which will make you laugh in addition to tearing up a little maybe, or needing a mint to sort of deal with the overwhelming nausea. The characters are all exquisite, perfect and totally human. The plots are varied, with a few tending toward light science fiction. The stories themselves simply start and stop-- no introductions, no denouements and sometimes no climax. Yet the stories themselves are almost nourishing with confrontational emotion. Very, very recommended for all. This book really deserves a long and thinky review with many paeans to Saunders talent, but screw that. Just read it.