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Best Canadian Stories 2026
“Combines both emerging and established voices for a fascinating glimpse at the most exciting short fiction coming out of this country.”—Open Book
Selected and introduced by Zsuzsi Gartner, the 2026 edition of Best Canadian Stories provides a distinctive sample of the best Canadian short fiction published over the last year. These sixteen stories draw together an expressive range of characters and narratives, from contributors both familiar and new, and appeal to both longstanding readers and those looking for an entry point into Canadian literature.
Shashi Bhat • Julie Bouchard, translated by Arielle Aaronson • Randy Boyagoda • Grant Buday • Petra Chambers • Sophie Crocker • Bill Gaston • Evan J • Aaron Kreuter • Alex Leslie • Erin MacNair • D.F. McCourt • Rishi Midha • Kaitlin Ruether • Margaret Sweatman
Selected and introduced by Zsuzsi Gartner, the 2026 edition of Best Canadian Stories provides a distinctive sample of the best Canadian short fiction published over the last year. These sixteen stories draw together an expressive range of characters and narratives, from contributors both familiar and new, and appeal to both longstanding readers and those looking for an entry point into Canadian literature.
Shashi Bhat • Julie Bouchard, translated by Arielle Aaronson • Randy Boyagoda • Grant Buday • Petra Chambers • Sophie Crocker • Bill Gaston • Evan J • Aaron Kreuter • Alex Leslie • Erin MacNair • D.F. McCourt • Rishi Midha • Kaitlin Ruether • Margaret Sweatman
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 18, 2025
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3 people want to read
About the author
Zsuzsi Gartner
15 books38 followersZsuzsi Gartner is the author of the short fiction collections Better Living Through Plastic Explosives and All the Anxious Girls on Earth, the editor of Darwin’s Bastards: Astounding Tales from Tomorrow, and the creative director of Vancouver Review’s Blueprint BC Fiction Series. Her stories have been widely anthologized, and broadcast on CBC and NPR’s Selected Shorts. Better Living Through Plastic Explosives was shortlisted for the 2011 Giller Prize.
Zsuzsi is a long-time contributing reviewer for The Globe & Mail, and has appeared on CBC’s Canada Reads. A former senior editor at the now-defunct Saturday Night, she has received numerous nominations and awards for her magazine journalism, and a 2007 National Magazine Award for fiction. She has been on faculty for the Banff Centre’s Literary Arts Programs and has been an adjunct faculty member for UBC’s Optional Residency MFA in Creative Writing. Zsuzsi lives in Vancouver.
Author Representation: Westwood Creative Artists
Zsuzsi is a long-time contributing reviewer for The Globe & Mail, and has appeared on CBC’s Canada Reads. A former senior editor at the now-defunct Saturday Night, she has received numerous nominations and awards for her magazine journalism, and a 2007 National Magazine Award for fiction. She has been on faculty for the Banff Centre’s Literary Arts Programs and has been an adjunct faculty member for UBC’s Optional Residency MFA in Creative Writing. Zsuzsi lives in Vancouver.
Author Representation: Westwood Creative Artists
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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January 13, 2026launch so fun, book so fun to read etc
December 13, 2025
A few good stories towards the end, but nothing blew my mind, and many felt unfocused and confusing.
I like Biblioasis though. They put out Richard Kelly Kemick's collection, which was fantastic, and it's noble to be publishing a series like this when the lit scene in Canada is so fragmented.
I like Biblioasis though. They put out Richard Kelly Kemick's collection, which was fantastic, and it's noble to be publishing a series like this when the lit scene in Canada is so fragmented.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews