A Discussion.

The intrinsic `properties' of the short story have been in debate for well over a century, often to disparate opinion. Ian Reid however, presents an article that is balanced and unprejudiced, but that simultaneously allows his subtle opinions to be easily ascertained. His views are hospitable and refreshingly broadminded, allowing the reader to derive for himself the right `choice'.

Reid incorporates various opinions and approaches in his chapter concerning the `essential qualities' of shorter fiction writing. He is accommodating to the views of previous generations about the conventions of writing shorter fiction and how they began. The strict regimes pioneered by Brander Mathews and Edgar Allen Poe about 'unity of impression' are granted respect, but are gently revealed to be slightly out of date by today's artistic standards. Such limiting doctrines are neatly contrasted with examples of a more...