Providing a survey of the short story in-depth, the anthology encompasses a rich global and historical mix of the masterpieces of short fiction and presents them in a way readers find accessible, engaging, and relevant. "Author Perspectives" -- short lively statements from 52 authors that discuss the writing process and refer to specific stories in the anthology. This unique feature provides readers with critical reflections and insight into the stories they are reading. "Critical Approaches to Fiction" -- introduces readers to 10 leading schools of critical theory in an accessible way. The Glossary of Literary Terms is the most complete glossary in a short fiction book on the market. For those interested in the short fiction genre.