Contemporary storytelling has its roots in the oral and literary traditions. Performances are often judged according to the aesthetics of print, theater, or music - even television and film. In the last two decades, the storytelling movement has gained momentum, both as an educational tool and as engaging form of entertainment. But the revival is so young that there is no common vocabulary for discussing it. What are the aesthetics of storytelling? These ten essays provide models to think with. Most of the contributors are storytellers; they are also anthropologists, writers, folklorists, musicians, and teachers and librarians. Provocative, challenging, and robust, these essays address critical issues in an increasingly potent movement.