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A critique of Mary Wilkins Freeman's short fiction works and how they tackle the concept of rebellion is presented. Topics discussed include how single women rebel against their environments that prevent them from living independently in Freeman's short stories "A Mistaken Charity" and "A Church Mouse," the form in which the character of Louisa Ellis' rebellion took shape in the short fiction "A New England Nun" and how Freeman's writings reflect rural New England, U.S. during the 19th century.

A critique of the science fiction short stories "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut and "Repent Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman" by Harlan Ellison is presented. Topics discussed include the ways in which the short stories deal with social and stylistic rebellion, the similarities in the writing styles of Ellison and Vonnegut and the strategies employed by the authors to show how artistry can be used to rebel against conformity.

A critique of two short story collection books by Deborah Eisenberg titled "Under the 82nd Airborne" and "All Around Atlantis" is presented. Topics discussed include the method employed by Eisenberg to show the connection between epistemological concerns and politics through her short fiction work, the ways in which the main characters of the short story "The Robbery" deal with the discrepancy between reality and their privilege and the function of utopian ideas central to Eisenberg's fiction.

The article critiques the fiction of Costa Rican author Anacristina Rossi. It explores how Rossi sought to expose and challenge her country's social norms through her novels and short stories. The relationship between her fictions and their readers is discussed, as well as the themes of her works, including gender relations, racial and class divisions, political corruption and environmentalism.

The article discusses the flash fiction of U.S. short story writer and novelist Mary Robison. It describes several hallmarks of her fiction which include brevity and brief and minimal exposition and descriptions. It mentions her use of a rigorous approach to editing that involves in-depth re-writes that restores craftsmanship to her approach. The article also cites her use of multiplication in her works, like families that include many twins and siblings.

The article examines the formal and thematic progression of the work of U.S. novelist and short story writer Lydia Davis. It discusses the manner in which flash fiction had held her creative interest and how her innovative fiction continues to affect her readers. Information is also presented on her writing schedule which influences how she manages her stories in both long and short forms.

The article analyzes the flash fiction work of Swiss writer Robert Walser and Bohemian Jewish novelist Franz Kafka in an attempt to counter criticisms against short fiction and peoples' attention spans. It discusses the rejection of length as the only factor that drives the rising popularity of flash fiction as flash fiction suggests more than the language alone states. It also argues that peoples' attention spans have become fragmented, not shortened, to suit modern lifestyles.

The article examines the flash fiction of U.S. author Kate Chopin in relation to flash fiction theory. It discuss Chopin's brief tales that include "Emancipation. A Life Fable" and "The Story of an Hour." It also explores various themes and methods that characterize Chopin's career as a flash fiction writer.

The article explores the relationship between flash fiction and fabulism. It discusses the important role played by fabulism and a sense of the unreal in flash fiction due to word-limit constraints, character development, and setting. The article also examines the commonalities between flash fiction and a much older genre of flash, the fable, which has been historically associated with the author named Aesop.

The article discusses the emergence of a growing number of scholarly and critical articles aimed at discovering the nature, characteristics, and cultural, historical, and theoretical significance of the flash fiction literary genre. It cites several characteristics for the short story suggested by U.S. novelist and literary critic Austin Wright, including dealing with character and action. Other unique characteristics of flash fiction are also discussed, such as brevity and subtraction.

A subject and personal name index for the issue is provided.

A list of short stories and short story collection by American immigrant authors is provided which includes works by Joseph Geha, Mark Slouka, and Jhumpa Lahiri.

A literary analysis is presented for the short stories "Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter" by Chitra Banerjee and "The Thing Around Your Neck" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It looks at how the epistolary motifs used in both stories reflect the authors' reworking of conventional immigrant success stories. Particular attention is also given to the theme of disillusionment and both authors' use of irony.

An introduction is presented which discusses the issue's theme of contemporary short fiction by immigrant writers in the United States.

The article examines the process of reading short stories and how to make serious meaning out of such brief works of literature. It looks at the process of building a narrative supported by details and often the title. The author goes on to suggest that readers look for uses of irony when attempting to comprehend the seriousness of a short story.