Fiction. Phil Condon's NINE TEN AGAIN won the Elixir Press 2008 Fiction Award. He is the author of three previously published books of fiction: Clay Center, Montana Surround, and River Street. RT Smith, judge of the Elixir Press 2008 Fiction Award, had this to say: "[NINE TEN AGAIN is] a spellbinding gathering of narratives in which people in difficult circumstances face moments of decision and revelation, while the shadow of the United States' military involvements abroad often fall heavily over them. Whether the protagonists pursue forgiveness, revenge, growth or justice, the stories feature an unflinching realism but still manage to unfold surprisingly and eloquently. A manipulated office worker, a religious bricklayer, a cheerleader, a homeless veteran--memorable characters provide the driving force behind Condon's beautifully efficient stories."