Ambrose Bierce, also known as "Bitter Bierce" (Mencken 107) amongst his peers, is known for his impeccable skill of displaying the harsh reality of man's true reactions to an unbearable situation. The majority of his short stories are about war and the problems that his characters encounter. His characters struggle with the realization that the life of a soldier has fallen short of its pageantry and glory. Bierce is able to give vivid imagery because of his first hand experience on the battlefield. Ambrose gives seamless details that help the reeader visualize the story. This Gothic writer has a great awareness of form. His biting wit captivates the imagination of his audience with plot twists. He also has the ability to describe any situation without filling the pages with tiring details. Critics often say it appears as though Bierce is writing in "the valley of the shadow of death...