A short-story collection may be unified to a greater or lesser extent. At one end of the spectrum is the story cycle, in which the stories are tightly connected through a common theme, character or setting; at the other is the collection in which a motif provides symbolic links in otherwise disparate stories.
Structurally and stylistically, Optique by Clayton Bailey and Bang Crunch by Neil Smith are dramatic contrasts. Bailey’s stories are all connected through a motif—photography and photographs—while only two of Smith’s tales are related, the link being made through character. The collections also present striking differences in the handling of language and narrative.
The 16 stories in Optique are set in various periods, and all involve photographs in some way. Most protagonists are affected somehow by a family member’s or friend’s photograph; some are themselves photographers or their assistants. Bailey’s stories offer a...
Allan Weiss is a short-story writer living in Toronto. He is a professor of English and humanities at York University, specializing in fantastic literature. His story cycle Living Room appeared in 2001 (Bohème Press). His website is <www.allanweiss.com>.
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