Short Story Reccomendations

astrangerhere · 03-08-2023, 02:55 PM

I'm trying to read more shorts this year (I have a goal of one a week). To that end, I thought it would be fun to see what everyone's favorite short stories are. Bonus Karma if you can post a link to the story itself (be it text or recording).

I'll start with some of my old favorites:

The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield
A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell
Where is the Voice Coming From by Eudora Welty

Although the start of my list are more "literary" classics (and PLEASE do not descend the thread into a fight over that!), I'm interested in all periods and genres!

ZodWallop · 03-08-2023, 04:39 PM

My Flamboyant Grandson by George Saunders

In the Hills, the Cities by Clive Barker

Dazrin · 03-08-2023, 05:40 PM

Here's a few that I really enjoy:

The Paper Menagerie - Ken Liu - http://io9.com/5958919/read-ken-lius...fantasy-awards
Playing Nice with God's Bowling Ball - N.K. Jemisin - https://www.tor.com/2014/06/30/playi...-bowling-ball/
Pockets - Amal El-Mohtar - http://uncannymagazine.com/article/pockets/
The Road Not Taken - Harry Turtledove - http://www.eyeofmidas.com/scifi/Turt...adNotTaken.pdf
Family Cooking - AnaMaria Curtis - https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/family-cooking/
Meat - Terry Bisson - http://www.terrybisson.com/theyre-made-out-of-meat-2/

Except for The Road Not Taken and Meat, these are all available from the LeVar Burton Reads podcast if you prefer audio versions. He gets some excellent stories.

Uncle Robin · 03-08-2023, 06:46 PM

An Indian author whose work I enjoy published an anthology of shorts that seems apt for International Women's Day
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Stories.../dp/9386702584

gmw · 03-08-2023, 07:18 PM

Exhalation by Ted Chiang, this publication 2014, story written 2008. I am a fan of almost anything by Ted Chiang.

Wooden Feathers by Ursula Vernon (also published under the name T. Kingfisher in a story collection called Jackalope Wives & Other Stories). Again, I am a fan of almost anything by Kingfisher/Vernon, links to more shorts here.

Bookpossum · 03-08-2023, 07:41 PM

Sredni Vashtar by Saki. (Anything by Saki really!)

The Celestial Omnibus by E M Forster.

isarl · 03-08-2023, 08:43 PM

The Last Question, by Isaac Asimov.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

Exhalation by Ted Chiang, this publication 2014, story written 2008. I am a fan of almost anything by Ted Chiang.

Thank you for this, added to my wishlist!

ZodWallop · 03-09-2023, 08:04 AM

So will there be feedback as you read the stories recommended?

astrangerhere · 03-09-2023, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Here's a few that I really enjoy:

The Paper Menagerie - Ken Liu - http://io9.com/5958919/read-ken-lius...fantasy-awards
Playing Nice with God's Bowling Ball - N.K. Jemisin - https://www.tor.com/2014/06/30/playi...-bowling-ball/
Pockets - Amal El-Mohtar - http://uncannymagazine.com/article/pockets/
Family Cooking - AnaMaria Curtis - https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/family-cooking/

I've read all of these and ADORED "Pockets!" I've ever gone wrong with Al-Mohtar and This is How You Lose the Time War is one of my favorite short novels.

I'm hit or miss on both Liu and Jemisin, though I feel like I should like them both more than I do. AnaMaria Curtis is always a wild ride and I love her for it.

astrangerhere · 03-09-2023, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

So will there be feedback as you read the stories recommended?

I don't know that I'll read all of them, but I will certainly comment on the ones I have or will based on the recommendation!

issybird · 03-09-2023, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

Sredni Vashtar by Saki.

A wonderful recommendation!

Pierre Lawrence · 03-09-2023, 12:02 PM

A Rose for Emily

Uncle Robin · 03-09-2023, 12:18 PM

Here's another anthology I enjoyed from a desi writer
https://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Withou.../dp/1910858102

astrangerhere · 03-09-2023, 12:53 PM

I should caveat - i was looking for individual stories, not any collections I'd need to purchase.

hildea · 03-09-2023, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

Sredni Vashtar by Saki. (Anything by Saki really!)

Oh, yes! My favourite is Tobermory.

A couple others:

Sarah Gailey: Stet - a story about morals and algorithms, told in editor notes to an article about self-driving cars

Jim C. Hines: Goblin Lullaby (Audio version here) - a darkly funny story about, um, nobility and fate and dirty diapers

03-08-2023, 02:55 PM	#1
astrangerhere Professor of Law Posts: 3,755 Karma: 68428716 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Libra H20, Kobo Aura One, KoboMini	Short Story Reccomendations I'm trying to read more shorts this year (I have a goal of one a week). To that end, I thought it would be fun to see what everyone's favorite short stories are. Bonus Karma if you can post a link to the story itself (be it text or recording). I'll start with some of my old favorites: The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell Where is the Voice Coming From by Eudora Welty Although the start of my list are more "literary" classics (and PLEASE do not descend the thread into a fight over that!), I'm interested in all periods and genres!

03-08-2023, 05:40 PM	#3
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,735 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	Here's a few that I really enjoy: The Paper Menagerie - Ken Liu - http://io9.com/5958919/read-ken-lius...fantasy-awards Playing Nice with God's Bowling Ball - N.K. Jemisin - https://www.tor.com/2014/06/30/playi...-bowling-ball/ Pockets - Amal El-Mohtar - http://uncannymagazine.com/article/pockets/ The Road Not Taken - Harry Turtledove - http://www.eyeofmidas.com/scifi/Turt...adNotTaken.pdf Family Cooking - AnaMaria Curtis - https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/family-cooking/ Meat - Terry Bisson - http://www.terrybisson.com/theyre-made-out-of-meat-2/ Except for The Road Not Taken and Meat, these are all available from the LeVar Burton Reads podcast if you prefer audio versions. He gets some excellent stories. Last edited by Dazrin; 03-08-2023 at 06:59 PM. Reason: Double checked and corrected a couple links

03-08-2023, 07:41 PM	#6
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,146 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	Sredni Vashtar by Saki. (Anything by Saki really!) The Celestial Omnibus by E M Forster. Last edited by Bookpossum; 03-08-2023 at 07:43 PM.

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03-08-2023, 04:39 PM	#2
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,499 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	My Flamboyant Grandson by George Saunders In the Hills, the Cities by Clive Barker

03-08-2023, 06:46 PM	#4
Uncle Robin Diligent dilettante Posts: 3,662 Karma: 52758936 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: in my mind Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour	An Indian author whose work I enjoy published an anthology of shorts that seems apt for International Women's Day https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Stories.../dp/9386702584

03-08-2023, 07:18 PM	#5
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Exhalation by Ted Chiang, this publication 2014, story written 2008. I am a fan of almost anything by Ted Chiang. Wooden Feathers by Ursula Vernon (also published under the name T. Kingfisher in a story collection called Jackalope Wives & Other Stories). Again, I am a fan of almost anything by Kingfisher/Vernon, links to more shorts here.

03-09-2023, 08:04 AM	#8
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,499 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	So will there be feedback as you read the stories recommended?

03-09-2023, 12:02 PM	#12
Pierre Lawrence Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 2600000 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: New Jersey Device: kindle, nook	A Rose for Emily

03-09-2023, 12:18 PM	#13
Uncle Robin Diligent dilettante Posts: 3,662 Karma: 52758936 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: in my mind Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour	Here's another anthology I enjoyed from a desi writer https://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Withou.../dp/1910858102

03-09-2023, 12:53 PM	#14
astrangerhere Professor of Law Posts: 3,755 Karma: 68428716 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Libra H20, Kobo Aura One, KoboMini	I should caveat - i was looking for individual stories, not any collections I'd need to purchase.