SHORT STORIES that CBR recommends?

[Albert1981]

Hello folks,

When it comes to reading, I've mostly stuck to full-length novels. And I've really enjoyed them. But now I want to focus a little bit more of my time on SHORT STORIES. I have read the Lottery by Shirley Jackson, the Sniper by Liam O'Flaherty, and the Bet by Anton Chekhov. Those were great. But I want to read more. Are there any that people here would recommend? Right now I'm reading the Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury, and it's been so much fun. Any recommendations would be welcome.

[Riv86672]

So good...:

[Albert1981]

So good...:

Thanks for the recommendation! I didn't know Neil Gaiman wrote short stories!

[Riv86672]

Thanks for the recommendation! I didn't Neil Gaiman wrote short stories!

He has this collection...



...which has “Snow, Glass, Apples” in it.
Lots of good stories in there.

[Mister Mets]

If you liked Chekhov, I would highly recommend Richard Pevear and Larissa Volkohnosky's translation of his short stories. They also have an excellent translation of Tolstoy with The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Short Stories.

He has this collection...



...which has “Snow, Glass, Apples” in it.
Lots of good stories in there.

Study in Emerald is fantastic. It's Neil Gaiman's Sherlock Holmes encountering Lovecraft mythos.

[Albert1981]

He has this collection...



...which has “Snow, Glass, Apples” in it.
Lots of good stories in there.

Ah, sounds very magical in nature. Looks like fun! Thank you.

[Albert1981]

If you liked Chekhov, I would highly recommend Richard Pevear and Larissa Volkohnosky's translation of his short stories. They also have an excellent translation of Tolstoy with The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Short Stories.



Study in Emerald is fantastic. It's Neil Gaiman's Sherlock Holmes encountering Lovecraft mythos.

I can't believe Gaiman married the two together. How unconventional and unique. Thank you so much for the recommendation there. Sadly, my experience with Chekhov is limited to the Bet. I know he was a wonderful playwright though. Your suggestions appear very interesting!

[Kieran_Frost]

I'm a huge, huge fan of short stories. Because of plays, I find reading books quite a burden. But short stories work for me:
- the Circus in Winter by Kathy Day. A collection of interlocking short stories set around historically real photos about a circus in the late 19th century. Each one unique and enthralling.
- after the quake by Murakami. 8 short stories intertwined with the overall theme of the Kobe earthquake, where the fantastic and magical gets that little more real with each story.
- anything by M.R. James. The grandfather of ghost-stories. All chillingly wonderful.

[kjn]

There is a semi-established subgenre of Lovecraftian Sherlock Holmes stories, though I readily admit that most of them are not written by writers of Gaiman's calibre.

Anyway, most of this will have a slant towards sf and fantasy, because that is the genre I know best.

The Hugo and Nebula awards generally list works of good to very high quality, and can be a good source to explore both old and recent sf and fantasy. This is especially interesting because a win there gives a rather high chance of the story remaining in print via anthologies. Some excellent short-story writers are Michael Swanwick, Lucius Sheperd, Charles de Lint, Theodore Sturgeon, Tanith Lee, James Tiptree jr (a pseudonym for Alice Sheldon). Among current writers you have names like Naomi Kritzer, NK Jemisin, and Ursula Vernon. If you're on the lookout for the short-short type of stories, I can recommend Robert Sheckley, together with the already mentioned Michael Swanwick.

If you haven't read Tim O'Brien, he is excellent.

[Albert1981]

I'm a huge, huge fan of short stories. Because of plays, I find reading books quite a burden. But short stories work for me:
- the Circus in Winter by Kathy Day. A collection of interlocking short stories set around historically real photos about a circus in the late 19th century. Each one unique and enthralling.
- after the quake by Murakami. 8 short stories intertwined with the overall theme of the Kobe earthquake, where the fantastic and magical gets that little more real with each story.
- anything by M.R. James. The grandfather of ghost-stories. All chillingly wonderful.

I'm interested in your recommendations. Very contemporary!

[Albert1981]

There is a semi-established subgenre of Lovecraftian Sherlock Holmes stories, though I readily admit that most of them are not written by writers of Gaiman's calibre.

Anyway, most of this will have a slant towards sf and fantasy, because that is the genre I know best.

The Hugo and Nebula awards generally list works of good to very high quality, and can be a good source to explore both old and recent sf and fantasy. This is especially interesting because a win there gives a rather high chance of the story remaining in print via anthologies. Some excellent short-story writers are Michael Swanwick, Lucius Sheperd, Charles de Lint, Theodore Sturgeon, Tanith Lee, James Tiptree jr (a pseudonym for Alice Sheldon). Among current writers you have names like Naomi Kritzer, NK Jemisin, and Ursula Vernon. If you're on the lookout for the short-short type of stories, I can recommend Robert Sheckley, together with the already mentioned Michael Swanwick.

If you haven't read Tim O'Brien, he is excellent.

Oh yes, I appreciate the Hugo and Nebula awards references and your suggestions! They are most helpful.

[Albert1981]

Just finished the Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. Some of the best literature I have ever read. The Rocket Man is such a poignant, moving story.

[numberthirty]

While you are going to have to be able to accept Brown's style, some of the stuff in the collection Facing The Music is pretty solid.

"Kubuku Rides" and "Leaving Town" stick out in my memory.

[Albert1981]

While you are going to have to be able to accept Brown's style, some of the stuff in the collection Facing The Music is pretty solid.

"Kubuku Rides" and "Leaving Town" stick out in my memory.

Thank you so much for the recommendations. I didn't know about Brown's debut here. I heard this work was particularly well-received. Will take a look!

[Albert1981]

Just wanted to let folks know that PBS will be airing a documentary on noted American short story author Flannery O'Connor from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Looks interesting!