The Best in the Country

About this book

"The Best in the Country" is a short story by Walter Tevis, originally published in Esquire in 1954. It tells the story of a young pool hustler named Johnny from Las Vegas who seeks to challenge and defeat Ned Bayles, the best player in the country. The story is a precursor to Tevis's more famous novel The Hustler, which also features a pool player aiming to become the best.