Critical Survey of Short Fiction

Focusing on short fiction, including works of writers better known for full-length novels, this impressive 10-volume resource contains full critical entries on the short fiction of 625 authors in volumes organized by region, with four volumes devoted to American writers, two to non-American English-language writers, one volume each on European and world writers, a volume of topical essays, and a volume containing the cumulative index. Each author entry features an initial list of the author's principal short fiction, a brief description of other writing, a list of awards and achievements, and a biographical sketch. The bulk of each entry is devoted to analysis, first of the character of the author's writing, and then in critical summaries of a selection of their short works. The entry concludes with a list of other major works and an annotated bibliography. Containing revised and updated versions from the earlier edition and the addition of 145 new writers--with a focus on increasing the number of women writers and writers working in languages other than English--the reference also includes 24 new essays in the topical essays section, with attention to non-English speaking regions, including the Middle East, Wales, Southeast Asia, and Russia. The volume of overview essays is noteworthy as a resource, containing chapters on the critical theory of short fiction, its history from the Middle Ages and later centuries, its many genres, including fables and sagas, and individual chapters on the genre in the world's many cultures. Online access is included, and the volumes or subsets (such as the 4-volume American Writers) are also available separately. With entries written by academics based mainly in North America, glossaries, timelines, bibliographies and other resources, and a rigorous attention to the quality of writing and clarity of organization, this fine reference will be an asset to college and public libraries, one that is sure to enliven students' love of reading. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)