Urban Voices brings together some of the best contemporary Brazilian writers to offer provocative insights into Brazilian life today. The stories included focus on some aspect of life in the city because it creates a microcosm of life in Brazil, incorporating all the different racial, ethnic, and regional elements, the various social strata, and foreign influences that shape Brazilian society, and serves as a stage for the interaction and conflicts among these different elements. The writers respond to the city in a variety of ways, addressing different aspects of the many conflicts faced by the contemporary urban inhabitant. As a whole, these tales represent the contemporary Brazilian short story and constitute a rich expression of the city voices of Brazil today.