SOURCE: "The Decline of the Magazine Short Story," in The Literary Criticism of Frank Norris, edited by Donald Pizer, University of Texas Press, 1964, pp. 27-8.

In the following essay, which was first published in the magazine The Wave in 1897, Norris decries established short story authors as writing safe and dull fiction.

Is it possible that the short story—the American short story—is on the decline? And if so is it because the authors have ceased to produce work of a high standard, or because the public—that particular circle of the public for whom the magazines cater—have ceased to demand it?

Four years ago the name of Richard Harding Davis was in everybody's mouth. Now he is writing syndicate articles for the daily press on "special topics," and Gallegher Travers and Cortlandt Van Bibber are fast fading from the public's memory. Is Mr. Davis a type...