Disturbing in its honesty, this anthology by Keith Jardim, Near Open Water: Stories (Peepal Tree Press Ltd, $18.95) focuses a sharp yet intimate eye upon the people of the Caribbean. The characters face problems of freedom, history, race, class, violence, entrapment, and morality. Theirs is a region in constant flux, trying to break away from its dehumanizing past while uncertain of how to manage the present and plan for the future. Unflinching in its portrayal of the realities of Caribbean life, these dark short stories also find solace in the natural beauty of the region