Unhampered by any predetermined theme or critical mould, Lecker is free to respond to the qualities and idiosyncrasies which make Blaise, Metcalf, and Hood unique. Lecker's introduction discusses the writers' development and traces their impact on the modern Canadian short story. Three diverse readings follow. The first reveals Blaise's tragic view of life; the second focuses on how Metcalf's stories are structured on their protagonists' aesthetic stance; and the third provides a close reading of Hood's “Looking Down From Above.”