Unique and informative, these essays take a hard look at the state of Canadian literature today by exploring independent publishing, the awards culture, and the commercialisation of even the most un-commercial of books. Delving into the political issues driving Canadians, including the tar sands in Alberta and the future of the railway system, this collection also discusses timely topics such as sexuality in the cyber world, the ongoing discoveries in science, and immigration. With contributions from Ryan Bigge, George Fetherling, and Stephen Henighan, this volume is both entertaining and thought provoking.