Best Short Stories you've just read

kennyc · 02-03-2013, 04:20 PM

I just read "First, Body" by Melanie Rae Thon in the Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction 1999

Wow! Amazing story in a somewhat different style - a bit surreal, a bit stream of consciousness but definitely plotted and excellently written. I was so impressed I went looking and found another of her stories

Letters in the Snow - Melanie Rae Thon in the 2006 O Henry Award Stories! and it was similar in that it was certainly excellent work from an even more personal narration perspective. I will definitely be looking for more from her.

Another story I'm still infatuated with after reading multiple times over the past few months is "The Prophet from Jupiter" by Tony Earley (from the same Scribner's collection)

Angst · 02-04-2013, 12:39 PM

Re-read The Ransom of Red Chief by O Henry after posing about it in another thread.

Dr. Drib · 02-06-2013, 07:55 AM

I keep re-reading 'Goodbye, My Brother," by John Cheever.

It has one of the most beautiful and poetic last paragraphs of any short story I've ever read.

Don

kennyc · 02-06-2013, 08:03 AM

Yes. That is one excellent story!

Mike L · 02-06-2013, 08:26 AM

I won't mention any particular stories, but my current favourite short story authors are:

O. Henry

Damon Runyan

And I'm just starting to explore Stephen Leacock.

Mike

JoelArnold · 02-06-2013, 09:28 AM

One of my favorite short story writers is Rick Bass.

kennyc · 02-06-2013, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoelArnold

One of my favorite short story writers is Rick Bass.

Yes

Wild Horses
The Fireman

bfisher · 02-06-2013, 06:17 PM

I recently enjoyed Louis de Bernières "Nothwithstanding" - a collection of short stories about characters in an English village, mostly published separately over a number of years.

have you read Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio"?

kennyc · 02-06-2013, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfisher

have you read Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio"?

Yes. "Hands" is incredible!

BenG · 02-08-2013, 12:12 AM

I recently read "Bears Discover Fire" by Terry Bisson. An odd story but I really liked it.
It won the 1991 Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Theodore Sturgeon Award, SF Chronicle Reader Award, Locus Award and Asimov’s Reader Award. The story is just what it says in the title.

I also read Bisson's The Left Left Behind which satirizes the Left Behind books and postulates that the world might possibly be a better place after the Rapture.

WordCountess · 02-08-2013, 12:20 AM

One of my favorites is one that has been passed around online, but I think the author's name was lost along the line- because now it simply states by 'anonymous'. The title is: The Soldier's Second Letter. It's one of the most bittersweet, yet honest modern tales I have ever read.

BenG · 02-12-2013, 12:48 PM

I haven't read him yet but George Saunders is the short story writer getting the most attention these days.

kennyc · 02-12-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

I haven't read him yet but George Saunders is the short story writer getting the most attention these days.

His story "Bohemians" was in the 2005 Best American Short Stories (same year as Kelly Link's Stone Animals). I'm not remembering reading it, but am going to pull it out and see.

Thanks Ben!

kennyc · 02-12-2013, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

His story "Bohemians" was in the 2005 Best American Short Stories (same year as Kelly Link's Stone Animals). I'm not remembering reading it, but am going to pull it out and see.

Thanks Ben!

Read Bohemians, very good story and not a New Yorker type story

I'd give it a 4/5 stars

BenG · 02-13-2013, 12:09 AM

The New Yorker has his story Tenth of December online.
http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/fea...ction_saunders

02-03-2013, 04:20 PM	#1
kennyc Priorities! Priorties! Posts: 29,923 Karma: 36859010 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Galaxy SIII; Xoom; Kindle Fire	Best Short Stories you've just read I just read "First, Body" by Melanie Rae Thon in the Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction 1999 Wow! Amazing story in a somewhat different style - a bit surreal, a bit stream of consciousness but definitely plotted and excellently written. I was so impressed I went looking and found another of her stories Letters in the Snow - Melanie Rae Thon in the 2006 O Henry Award Stories! and it was similar in that it was certainly excellent work from an even more personal narration perspective. I will definitely be looking for more from her. Another story I'm still infatuated with after reading multiple times over the past few months is "The Prophet from Jupiter" by Tony Earley (from the same Scribner's collection) __________________ Kenny A. Chaffin Art Gallery - Print Gallery - Writing&Poetry "Strive on with Awareness" - Siddhartha Gautama

02-06-2013, 07:55 AM	#3
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 21,520 Karma: 6904397 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Borja (Lima), Peru Device: Pcktbk 360; Kindle Paperwhite (WiFi)/ Fire HD; nook STR & Col; KoboGlo	I keep re-reading 'Goodbye, My Brother," by John Cheever. It has one of the most beautiful and poetic last paragraphs of any short story I've ever read. Don __________________ “How to Write the First 3 Paragraphs of YOUR Indie Novel” - by Max Waxwelp 1) Always write 3 sentences of exposition; 2) now create some dialogue, preferably no more than 2 sentences; and 3) make certain the dialogue is either inane or humorous. Example: “Bob, I did not know you wore yellow suspenders,” Sally remarked. “Gee, Sally, those are not suspenders. I am wearing yellow underwear today,” Bob revealed. The dialogue above will help produce at least 100 more pages of dialogue.

02-06-2013, 08:03 AM	#4
kennyc Priorities! Priorties! Posts: 29,923 Karma: 36859010 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Galaxy SIII; Xoom; Kindle Fire	Yes. That is one excellent story! __________________ Kenny A. Chaffin Art Gallery - Print Gallery - Writing&Poetry "Strive on with Awareness" - Siddhartha Gautama

02-06-2013, 08:26 AM	#5
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,175 Karma: 2962988 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3	I won't mention any particular stories, but my current favourite short story authors are: O. Henry Damon Runyan And I'm just starting to explore Stephen Leacock. Mike __________________ Currently reading: Why Was Queen Victoria Such a Prude? (David Haviland); Payment Deferred (C.S. Forester)

02-06-2013, 09:28 AM	#6
JoelArnold Evangelist Posts: 447 Karma: 1036864 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Savage, MN Device: Kindle 3	One of my favorite short story writers is Rick Bass. __________________ I write horror and other things: iBooks, Nook, Sony, Kobo, Diesel, Amazon, and Smashwords! My blog: Beneath the Trap Door.

02-04-2013, 12:39 PM	#2
Angst Cannon Fodder Posts: 1,016 Karma: 6630934 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-350, Kindle DX	Re-read The Ransom of Red Chief by O Henry after posing about it in another thread.

02-06-2013, 06:17 PM	#8
bfisher Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 588628 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 45N 75W Device: jetbook lite, Sony PRS-300, Galaxy Discover (Alkido)	I recently enjoyed Louis de Bernières "Nothwithstanding" - a collection of short stories about characters in an English village, mostly published separately over a number of years. have you read Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio"?

02-08-2013, 12:12 AM	#10
BenG Wizard Posts: 3,183 Karma: 39680909 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Triad Device: Paperwhite	I recently read "Bears Discover Fire" by Terry Bisson. An odd story but I really liked it. It won the 1991 Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Theodore Sturgeon Award, SF Chronicle Reader Award, Locus Award and Asimov’s Reader Award. The story is just what it says in the title. I also read Bisson's The Left Left Behind which satirizes the Left Behind books and postulates that the world might possibly be a better place after the Rapture. __________________ Ben Mockingbird by Walter Tevis

02-08-2013, 12:20 AM	#11
WordCountess Member Posts: 24 Karma: 582992 Join Date: Feb 2013 Device: none	One of my favorites is one that has been passed around online, but I think the author's name was lost along the line- because now it simply states by 'anonymous'. The title is: The Soldier's Second Letter. It's one of the most bittersweet, yet honest modern tales I have ever read.

02-12-2013, 12:48 PM	#12
BenG Wizard Posts: 3,183 Karma: 39680909 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Triad Device: Paperwhite	I haven't read him yet but George Saunders is the short story writer getting the most attention these days. __________________ Ben Mockingbird by Walter Tevis

02-13-2013, 12:09 AM	#15
BenG Wizard Posts: 3,183 Karma: 39680909 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Triad Device: Paperwhite	The New Yorker has his story Tenth of December online. http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/fea...ction_saunders __________________ Ben Mockingbird by Walter Tevis

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