“The Shortest Distance” is a compilation of stories that represents a bit of a departure from the author's previous publications, not so much in tone or content as in presentation. The pieces are not exactly poetry, nor are they standard prose; they’re certainly not screenplays, but nor are they essays. They can probably best be called a variation on the classic short story -- while they incorporate that format’s required beginning, middle, and end, they reside in a focused moment, rather than the movement of time.