If these are the top short story authors in the United States and Canada, we are in bad shape. Most of these stories simply aren't very interesting--I found the characters to be generally unsympathetic losers, and very little actually happens in most of the stories.One story, by Margaret Atwood, has some punch. Why don't you just lean against the shelf in the bookstore and read that one, then put the book back? You'll save some money that way, and you won't miss a thing.