The 24th edition of the Journey Prize Stories once again brings together the best stories published in Canada’s many literary journals and magazines in the past year, or at least fourteen of the best. Based on the evidence here the three member selection panel must have both enjoyed their task and struggled to limit it to the number chosen.

There are no weak stories in this collection, but of course there will be some that stand out for individual readers. For me, Kevin Hardcastle’s “To Have to Wait” showed immense poise and tempered emotion that stayed with me despite it being the first in the collection. Martin West’s “My Daughter of the Dead Reeds” is haunting. Andrew Hood’s “Manning” is grotesquely funny, but with a heart. And Kris Bertin’s “Is Alive and Can Move” was brutally real.

Always a pleasure to sample the best of Canada’s short story output. ( )