Further on in the book, if you get that far, there are glossaries, pop quizzes and lots of interviews with the hideous men of the title. Hey, DFW, daring to be different is great, but don't forget to take the reader along with you. Wallace's bleak, cerebral outlook is not an unreasonable reaction to and depiction of modern life. He thought life is pain, relieved only by death. Maybe short-story writers agree, or maybe they're just looking for a little drama to pep up a form that, by its nature, must begin and end in a limited time and space.
Happiness is boring.
Conflict is interesting. Therefore, short stories are full of conflict. But don't believe me. Jeff Baker is The Oregonian's book critic.