Sudden Fiction, a term that embodies the thrill and brevity of storytelling in a minimalistic fashion, is championed by Robert Shapard, an author whose work distills vast narratives into potent, bite-sized tales. With a career deeply embedded in this genre, Shapard’s editorship of the W.W. Norton Sudden Fiction anthologies has positioned him as a pivotal figure in its popularity and growth. These anthologies compile exemplary works that encapsulate moments with precision, prompting readers to savor the essence of storytelling distilled to its purest form. Beyond curation, Shapard’s own stories coax readers into worlds drawn with a few deft strokes, each piece a masterclass in economy of language and the power of the implied. His skill in suggesting a universe beyond the visible text is at the heart of sudden fiction’s allure.