Truly great short stories

What's the rule for short stories? At 50 pages it becomes a novella right? Something like that...

Favorites of mine:
HP Lovecraft - The Silver Key, The Dreamquest of Unknown Kadath, The Tomb
Neil Gaiman - Murder Mysteries (very, very clever story)

I also really enjoyed "The Lottery", like a few others here. When we read it in my class pretty much everyone thought it was pointless. Then my teacher talked about how people would always ask Ms Jackson what the meaning of her story was, and she would always say "It was just something I wrote", yet despite that many people think it was a social commentary on how we mindlessly do things just because they're tradition. After having that explained to them, the majority of the kids still thought it was a rather pointless story, though they agreed with it's anti-tradition ideas.

I found myself preferring Jackson's explanation of the story. For some reason, I just preferred the idea of her writing a story that happened to show anti-tradition ideas (perhaps out of some subconscious hatred for tradition). The theme is just too obvious and overtly stated for me to think that it was the sole reason for the story being written.

Sorry for rambling, that just goes through my mind when I see the title of that story.

Two of my favorite would have to be "Cat in the Rain" by Ernest Hemingway and "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

Anything by Raymond Carver:
"After the Denim" and "Call If You Need Me" are two of the best.

Also "In the Cemetary Where Al Jolson is Burried" by Amy Hempell. And, "Taking Care" by Joy Williams.

"The Open Window" was very touching, but not to profound.
"The Necklace."

For something the length of the OLd Man and the Sea, I thought The Bridge of San Luis Rey was the best written that I've read.

Here's another vote for "The Yellow Wallpaper"... or how about "In the Hills, The Cities" by Clive Barker?

there are too many good stories to narrow it down to one, but my favourites are:
"the yellow wallpaper" by charlotte perkins gilman
"the old man and the sea" and "a farwell to arms" by Hemingway
"the black cat" and "the masque of red death" by Poe

The Yellow wallpaper is facinating, how she loses it looking at the same thing over and over and imagining it to be alive. I think it is one of the best short stories of all time.

Another old thread. How come I haven't noticed it before?
The best short stories writer, apart from EAP, is Julio Cortazar. All his works are great but I'd like to recommend his shortest one - Continuity of Parks. It is just a two-page story but it's just amazing. I sometimes wonder how it is possible to write stuff like that.

I'm in the process of doing a paper about "The Lottery". While I don't know if I agree that it's the best one, the reading of it has certainly impacted me deeply .

The Lottery is simply put, one of my favorite short stories for it's impact not it's style of writing or other literary elements which were not that outstanding. How is the paper coming and what are you writing it about?

It's a literary analysis paper, to put it succinctly. You know how it goes, analyze the theme, symbolism, characters, yada yada. I found it a little difficult at first to put the theme into words brief enough to be expressed in a thesis, but once I did that the rest is coming together well. Every time I read the story though, I see some different element that has a fresh impact on me; Tessie running to her death for instance. Are we all that blindly obedient to accepted traditions? Geeeeezzzzzz, how disturbing.

I agree with you though, that the writing style etc. are not necessarily unique or extraordinary, it's the message of the story that is so impactful. I also found it rather amazing that, upon the first reading, I found myself holding my breath waiting for the end even though there's very little reason for feeling such suspense. It's almost as though the very normalcy of the procedure of the lottery is what creates the breathless anticipation. Somehow, one just instinctly knows that this CAN'T be a good thing. In that, I think Jackson was a genuis. She manages to create suspense without the typical tools of suspenseful writing.

Quite right Hummer, she is a genius. Have you read any of her other works, short stories, novels? She wrote the Haunting of Hill House, which has some of hte most interesting dialogue I have read.

I'm embarrased to admit that I haven't. I'm aware of the book, but was not aware until recently that she was the author of it. It's right up at the top of my list though, especially now.

Am I mistaken in remembering that there is also a film loosely based on The Haunting of Hill House?

Yes I believe there are one or two films based on the book or at least use some of hte ideas loosely. I have seen only one and it was a mediocre horror film by itself that was entertaining, but hardly had the dialogue or the intrigue and complex relationships of the novel.

If you are intersted in Jackson see if you can find her short story collection where she talks about her works, and discussed the phenomenon caused my The Lottery where she actually recieved letter asking where this town was located so they could destroy it. She also talks about her children and that she got the idea for the story while pushing her baby in it's carriage up a hill. She is a very interesting person, I wonder if there is a biography of her somewhere.

I actually just read one a moment ago, and of course closed out the window before I read your post. If I can find it again I'll send you the link. It was not a detailed biography; but fascinating none the less. Apparently, she was another relatively disturbed genius along the same lines as our friend Mr. Poe.

In the interest of answering my own question, I did some research. Apparently, 1999's "The Haunting" starring Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones, among others, was a modern remake of a 1963 film that much more closely followed the Shirley Jackson novel. I saw the '99 version, and was relatively spooked by it. However, not having read the Jackson novel yet, I cannot comment on whether or not it did Jackson justice.

Perhaps another discussion for another time?

Also, in one of the reviews I read, the reviewer said that Ms. Jackson's genius was not in what she said as much as in what she didn't say. She was a minimalist; economical in the words she chose and the way she arranged them. How incredible to still be able to cause us to hold our breaths, waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop.

"The Dead " by James Joyce

"For Esme with Love and Squalor" and "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters" by Salinger

"The Destructors" by Graham Greene

"The Judgement" by Kafka

Hello Everyone

I'm trying to understand the form of the short story better. If you have any favorite stories, please post them here. Also, if you are a writer of short stories, please pass on any knowlege you might have. I'm currently working on rewriting a story of mine, and looking to some of the masters for a little help.

Some of my favorites:

Katina - Roald Dahl
The Birthmark, Wakefield - Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Snows of Kilimanjaro - Hemingway
Hell Screen - Ryunosuke Akutagawa
He Swung and He Missed - Nelson Algren
For Esmé- with Love and Squalor - J.D. Salinger

I don't know about being masters (at least in my case), but we will offer whatever we have. I write some short stories, although my body of work is a little too small to say that I have a definite preference. My best work so far has been in the form of articles and a sole novellette. Length-wise, the upper limit for a short story is a little fuzzy, although I have heard it described as a piece one reads in one sitting.

As for format, the short story is certainly one of the more flexible. Generally, compared to a novel or novella, a short story tends to have a relatively truncated exposition and resolution, although where you cut corners is entirely up to you. Or it may happen that certain ideas or executions have only the right amount of steam in them to generate a short story (as opposed to a novel or novella), in which case you can just have at it and let the length take care of itself.

I must admit that editing is one of my favorite parts of the writing process, especially once you've had a little feedback. As for reading short stories, I have some personal favorites:

"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
"The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe

I'll almost certainly think of more later. Best of luck, and welcome to the LitNet Forums,

RobinHood3000

Just a few I could recommend:

Rain by W. Somerset Maugham
To Build A Fire by Jack London
The Rocking Horse Winner by D. H. Lawrence
Babylon Revisited by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Kneel To The Rising Sun by Erskine Caldwell

I echo your two selections M'Lord and your first star.
Anything by O Henry rivets me. Pierces the heart.

I've always liked "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. Morbid, but I like the way the plot is presented.

"A Rose for Emily" is good too but I can't remember the author right now.

That reminds me..."The Outcasts of Poker Flat" is pretty good.

Here's some off the top of my head:

Hemingway, "The Gambler, the Nun, and The Radio
Crane, "The Blue Hotel" and "The Open Boat"
D.H. Lawrence, "The Woman Who Rode Away"
Joyce, "The Sisters"
Checkov, "The Girl with the Toy Dog" (?) or something like that.
Conrad, "Youth"
Fiztgerald, "Bernice Bobs Her Hair"

Anyway, these are ones that stick out from memory.

Oh, I love Bernice Bobs her Hair,

But what about Raymond Carver?
Tiger, Tiger,(I like your username) almost anything by him.

Everyday Use, Alice Walker
Taking Care, Joy Williams
The Horse Dealer's Daughter, DHL
The Lady with the Pet Dog, Chekhov
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love/A Small Thing - Raymond Carver
The Chrysanthemums, John Steinbeck
I Stand Here Ironing, Tillie Olsen
Blue Winds Dancing, Tom Whitecloud
A Worn Path, Eudora Welty
Soldier's Home, Hemingway
A&P, Updike

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Originally Posted by Riesa

Oh, I love Bernice Bobs her Hair,

But what about Raymond Carver?
Tiger, Tiger,(I like your username) almost anything by him.

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I was trying to think of a Carver story, but I couldn't remember any titles. There was a particular story that sticks out of a blind man. Anyone recall that one?

Correction from me:

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Checkov, "The Girl with the Toy Dog" (?) or something like that.

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I knew it wasn't quite right.

From byquist:

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The Lady with the Pet Dog, Chekhov

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Thanks.

But you say

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The Chrysanthemums, John Steinbeck

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Wasn't that a D.H. Lawrence story? Or do they both have one with the same title?

Cathedral, By Raymond Carver. That's the one about the blind man.

As one who has dabbled in the great art of short story writing many times now, I believe that length is turly the least important thing about the short story. A short story should focus on style just as much as a novel does. In fact, the spearation between a short story and a novel (and this can be seen by comparing short stories and novels of the same author) is simply that a short story contains less events. Although less time consuming, a short story should be written in the same frame of mind as a novel; in terms of structure, character development and such. The primary goal of the short story however, should be to entertain the reader quicker than you could in a novel. But other than that, a short story requires just as much planning and thought.

Personally, my favourite is "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde

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Originally Posted by Riesa

Cathedral, By Raymond Carver. That's the one about the blind man.

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Thanks Reisa, you're right. That was a very moving story. I've have to reread it, if I could find it. You know, in my 44 years of life, I've almost never thrown any book out. It feels sacriligous to do so.

don't know , but maybe these should fit
The Withered arm by Thomas Hardy
The bottle Imp by Robert Louis Stevenson
The kiss by Antov chekhov
Keeping his Promise by Algernon Blackwood

Irish writer Frank O'Connor wrote a book of literary analysis on the short story; it's called The Lonely Voice. It's a pretty interesting read if you can get your hands on a copy.

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Thanks Reisa, you're right. That was a very moving story. I've have to reread it, if I could find it. You know, in my 44 years of life, I've almost never thrown any book out. It feels sacriligous to do so.

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I'm right there with you Virgil. My mom recently sent some of my books she found in a box of my stuff from my childhood. It's so wonderful to pass them along to my children. I remember them so well even thouht I haven't seen them for years and years. My husband thinks I'm nuts, that I should use the library, It's just not the same, is it.

you are completely right dear Riesa. the books from our childhood with all our thoughts and dreams invisibly covering each page is magic to the next generation if we help them have eyes to see. Some of them have become very politically incorrect but I don't give a fig about that . I merely explain what has changed and let my children enter in to that time and space and judge for themselves. I kept certain toys as well.
This Christmas baby Hasia will wear a beautiful dress that belonged to a family member twenty years ago. It fits her like a glove and when you compare the two pictures of the two girls there is such a connection. Also I make dolls, soft ones that can bend etc and I sew each strand of hair on seperately so the child can do things with the hair and never see a bald spot. when these are passed down it is a part of me that will watch over that new little one and kiss him/her with kisses of love.
I think you are a SPLENDID mother Riesa. As for your dear husband - give him a kiss on his dear head , perhaps it will stimulate his brain cells so he will see what you see and learn something.

"In the Ravine" by Chekhov is a must read
"Three Strangers" by Thomas Hardy
"The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe

"The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" by Dostoevsky, even though he was not a short story writer, may be my favorite short story.

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Originally Posted by rachel

you are completely right dear Riesa. the books from our childhood with all our thoughts and dreams invisibly covering each page is magic to the next generation if we help them have eyes to see. Some of them have become very politically incorrect but I don't give a fig about that . I merely explain what has changed and let my children enter in to that time and space and judge for themselves. I kept certain toys as well.
This Christmas baby Hasia will wear a beautiful dress that belonged to a family member twenty years ago. It fits her like a glove and when you compare the two pictures of the two girls there is such a connection. Also I make dolls, soft ones that can bend etc and I sew each strand of hair on seperately so the child can do things with the hair and never see a bald spot. when these are passed down it is a part of me that will watch over that new little one and kiss him/her with kisses of love.
I think you are a SPLENDID mother Riesa. As for your dear husband - give him a kiss on his dear head , perhaps it will stimulate his brain cells so he will see what you see and learn something.

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Rachel, You have a heart-stopping way of putting things. I'm in awe of your beautiful way with words.

I have a picture of my mom holding me as a newborn, I'm wearing this little red dress. My mom kept the dress all of these years so when my daughter was born, I put her in the same dress and we recreated the picture. My hair is a little less bouffant, but the similarity is there. I've kept this dress along with a couple of Daphne's other baby dresses so maybe someday this tradition can continue. As for my dear husband, he collects tools, and I give him the same 'is it really necessary' look. We kiss each other tolerantly on the forehead often!

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:D OH Yes, Short stories:

You may think they are for adolescents but some of my favorite short stories are by Ray Bradbury. He deserves mention.

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Originally Posted by Shea

I've always liked "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. Morbid, but I like the way the plot is presented.

"A Rose for Emily" is good too but I can't remember the author right now.

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I agree that "The Lottery" is a great story, and "A Rose for Emily" is by Faulkner. Here are some of my recommendations:

Anything by O. Henry (especially "The Furnished Room")
"A Worn Path" - Eudora Welty
"The Destructors" - Graham Greene
"Miss Brill" - Katherine Mansfield
"The Lesson" - Toni Cade Bambara
"Eveline" or "The Dead" - James Joyce
"Once upon a Time" - Nadine Gordimer
"Welcome to the Monkey House" - Kurt Vonnegut

I will join those who recommend O'Henry.

The Garden Party and other Stories by Katherine Mansfield

Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson is an interesting collection, which consists of interconnected stories about the inhabitants of a small town.

Also The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories is a very good collection; well worth having in one's personal library.

I don't believe that Flannery O'Conner has been mentioned.

and

Sandra Cisneros has some excellent stories as well.

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Originally Posted by TigerTiger

Hello Everyone

I'm trying to understand the form of the short story better. If you have any favorite stories, please post them here. Also, if you are a writer of short stories, please pass on any knowlege you might have. I'm currently working on rewriting a story of mine, and looking to some of the masters for a little help.

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A good short story doesn't have wasted words. There is plenty of room in a novel to make a mistake and have it blend into the work, as a whole, but short stories don't grant the luxury. Don't think of short stories as novels of small length, although some short stories are just that. Depending on the type of story it is, there are many writers that you might look at as models. Poe was one to the best, but his style look somewhat antiquated now, unless one wants to characterize through language. The others that people have mentioned wrote good short stories. To those I would add Guy de Maupassant, C.M. Kornbluth, L. Sprague deCamp, H.P. Lovecraft, and there are others.

Borges writes nice short stories. And Italo Calvino as well. Angela Carter maybe, also. And of course Julio Cortazar and G.G. Marquez.
Favourites from them: "The Garden of Forking Paths", "The Sign in Space", "The Snow Child", "Continuity of Parks", "Eyes of a Blue Dog". :D