Profiles more than four hundred authors of short fiction from around the world, presenting biographical and bibliographic information and summaries of major works. Also includes a reference volume with a chronology; a bibliography; lists of major award winners; twenty-nine essays on short-fiction history, theory, and world cultures; and three indexes.

V. 1. A-Car.-- v. 2. Car-Dub.-- v. 3. Dun-Hom.-- v. 4. Hug-Mis.-- v. 5. Mor-Sha -- v. 6. Sil-Wol. -- v. 7. Woo-Z.

An examination of the development and writers of short fiction from its beginning to the present.