Abstract

This fictional work is a collection of short stories that revolves around characters wrestling with complex personal relationships. Straining to overcome their cynicism and not be merely "clever" about love and friendship, they find themselves caught in self-conscious quests, which, in turn, leave them dizzy with options, scared, and to some extent paralyzed by what they perceive to be ambiguous situations. The stories are set in large Canadian cities, and these settings play an important yet subtle role in the lives of the characters, who struggle with issues of alienation and urban decay.