Best Canadian Stories 07.

R. Gordon Moyles is professor emeritus of English at the University of
Alberta, co-author of Imperial Dreams and Colonial Realities: British
Views of Canada, 1880–1914, and author of The Salvation Army and the
Public.

“Y. That perfect letter. The wishbone, fork in the road, empty wineglass. The question we ask over and over. Why?” So begins one of the best stories in this collection of “best” stories written by Canadians in 2007 (at least “best” in the eyes of the editor who chose them). And there is no doubt, Marjorie Celina’s “Y” —the story of the baby whose life begins at the Y— is a treat to read: ingenious in its conception (forgive the pun), perfectly modulated in tone, gently infused with humour, not an extraneous thought or word, and wholly enjoyable. That is perhaps not surprising, for, though there are several compilations of this sort, all claiming to be the “best” (and making us wary of the word), John Metcalfe’s tastes are impeccable and every story here is well worth reading. We should, of course, expect as much from such stalwarts as Mary Borsky, Leon Rooke, Bill Gaston, Terry Griggs, Keath Fraser, and Clarke Blaise, and they do not disappoint. In fact, we must highlight Clarke Blaise’s “The Quality of Life”: it is one of his finest stories, revealing the subtle ironies, the emotional stresses of opposing allegiances in an immigrant’s life, and should be read by all Canadians. And, finally, the name omitted from above, Steven Heighton, whose “The Stages of J. Gordon Whitehead” lays such a claim to originality, and is so absorbing in its characterization, that it, too, like Marjorie Celina’s “Y,” again establishes Best Canadian Stories 07 as a magnificent showcase of current Canadian writing.