Introducing the fascinating and perplexing trickster figure / William J. Hynes and William G. Doty -- Historical overview of theoretical issues : the problem of the trickster / William G. Doty and William J. Hynes -- Mapping the characteristics of mythic tricksters : a heuristic guide / William J. Hynes -- A lifetime of trouble-making : Hermes as trickster / William G. Doty -- The myth of the trickster : the necessary breaker of taboos / Laura Makarius -- The shaman and the trickster / Mac Linscott Ricketts -- The exception who proves the rules : Ananse the Akan trickster / Christopher Vecsey -- West African tricksters : web of purpose, dance of delight / Robert D. Pelton -- A Japanese mythic trickster figure : Susa-no-o / Robert S. Ellwood -- Saint Peter : apostle transfigured into trickster / William J. Hynes and Thomas J. Steele -- The moral imagination of the Kaguru : some thoughts on tricksters, translation and comparative analysis / T.O. Beidelman -- Inhabiting the space between discourse and story in trickster narratives / Anne Doueihi -- Inconclusive conclusions : tricksters -- metaplayers and revealers / William J. Hynes.