Riga may be over 800 years old as a city, but its status as capital of
an independent Latvia is only a century old, with half of that time
spent under Soviet rule. Despite this, it has established itself as a
vibrant, creative hub, attracting artists, performers, and writers from
across the Baltic region. The stories gathered here chronicle this
growth and on-going transformation, and offer glimpses into the dark
humor, rich history, contrasting perspectives, and love of the mythic,
that sets the city's artistic community apart. As its history might
suggest, Riga is a work in progress; and for many of the characters in
these stories, it is the possibilities of what the city might become,
more than merely what it is now, that drives the imagination of its
people.