The master. Rich, real, full of truth and meaning, Chekhov's stories rival Shakespeare, Dickens and Tolstoy for the number of memorable characters introduced to the reader.

Tolstoy's greatness as a novelist has obscured his reputation as a master of the short story. This collection is just a sample of his remarkable accomplishment in the genre.

The horror story, the detective story, the psychological thriller - these are all genres that Poe either invented or perfected. No one has done it better.

London's tales about hard men struggling to survive in a harsh world are vivid, powerful and wonderfully entertaining. To Build a Fire was the first short story I ever read and now, 50 years later, I still get the chills thinking about it.

Although some of his most famous stories seem a bit gimmicky, his best work is unrivaled in power.