Gosh, I love Stuart McLean, and I look for to see if he's put out a new book every time I cross the border. Sometimes I'll have a Vinyl Cafe marathon and listen to all the latest episodes on CBC in one sitting. They are just precious characterizations of Canada and all its glory

Stuart McLean's work absolutely counts!!!! He is a national treasure - so funny!!! Dave and Morley are such great characters.

Hmm, does Stories from the Vinyl Cafe count? I love reading Stuart McLean's work because they are short and so funny.

Open by Lisa Moore

Yann Martel's The facts behind the Helsinki Roccamatios is worth a read
Any of the anthologies by Alan Maitland (from CBC's As It Happens) are wonderful. They feature selected short stories from Canada's best. I am currently reading Front Porch Al

A Bird in the House - Margaret Laurence

I read it in highschool on recommendation from my 10th grade English teacher. It was the first book of short stories that I ever read and remains one of my favorites.

My Own Devices, Corey Frost

Andrew wrote: "Well, My White Planet. Intensity of language it has, in spades.

Other than that..."

Never looked at The Box Social, I'll search it out.

I admired "Pleased To Meet You" by Caroline Adderson.

Well, My White Planet. Intensity of language it has, in spades.

Other than that, The Box Social & Other Stories by James Reaney kind of leaps out at me when I scan my bookshelves.

I want to say Once by Rebecca Rosenblum, but I don't have a copy yet, so I'd be lying ... but from what I've read from her so far, this one is high on my list to buy.

What are your top Canlit short fiction collections? (more recent and classics)

Mine would include:
Play The Monster Blind -- Lynn Coady
My White Planet -- Mark Anthony Jarman
Wilderness Tips -- Margaret Atwood (but largely because of "The Age of Lead")
one last Good Look -- Michael Winter
Marine Life - Linda Svendsen

I read short stories more for intensity of language & form/structure than anything else. This isn't a complete list, there're so many...

What do people think? Looking forward to seeing you lists.

alex