The book is intended for courses in introduction to literature or composition in English at university and college. The new, brief edition of The Art of Short Fiction is more than just a reduction of the successful bigger edition; it is in many ways a significant departure in approach and coverage. Professor Geddes has pared down the number of stories and has honed the international focus and centred the book more firmly on reading the short story. There is still a broad selection of critical writing: "Writers on Writing," and each piece of fiction is still prefaced by the very informative notes on the author, all of which have been updated for this edition. The Instructor's Manual, available to adopters, contains more discussion notes that will enrich each class.