This month I hope is going to be a two-way thing. I’m going to share some of my favourite short stories and share my exploration of some of the collections on my desk and the stories I find online but I don’t want it to be a one way thing. I’m sticking this post to the top of the blog for the month of May and I’d be chuffed if you could answer the question:
What’s Your Favourite Short Story?
But it doesn’t end there. Have you got any writers that you love seeing stories from? Any writers who should be writing short stories? Any mini-tales you’d like to see of your favourite characters? Charlie Stross, George Mann, Jim Butcher, Neal Asher, Charlaine Harris are all writers who have shorts set in the same universe as their novels and I think they are wonderful. More writers should do them.
On the flip side if you hate short stories please say why! We’ll try and convert you.
The floor is open…
Pingback: Next Read
Pingback: Cara Murphy
Pingback: Paul Smith
Pingback: N. R. Alexander
1 May, 2010 at 12:53 pm
You reminded me of “Chivalry” by Neil Gaiman a few days ago, an incredible, charming and very English little tale, but I can’t be seen stomping on your toes, so… let’s say an old short story by Caitlin R. Kiernan – “Persephone” – or else one or another of China Mieville’s too occasional efforts from “Looking for Jake.”
1 May, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I’ve not read Looking for Jake… I kept looking out for it as one of those books I’d buy if Waterstones (and Borders as was) had it on the shelves but they never did.
Kiernan is one of those names that I think I’ve left behind but not read – I know that sounds off as she’s from the same time as Poppy Z Brite who I’ve placed firmly in my Teenage Years box.
1 May, 2010 at 12:53 pm
You reminded me of “Chivalry” by Neil Gaiman a few days ago, an incredible, charming and very English little tale, but I can’t be seen stomping on your toes, so… let’s say an old short story by Caitlin R. Kiernan – “Persephone” – or else one or another of China Mieville’s too occasional efforts from “Looking for Jake.”
1 May, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I’ve not read Looking for Jake… I kept looking out for it as one of those books I’d buy if Waterstones (and Borders as was) had it on the shelves but they never did.
Kiernan is one of those names that I think I’ve left behind but not read – I know that sounds off as she’s from the same time as Poppy Z Brite who I’ve placed firmly in my Teenage Years box.
1 May, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I love short stories! I tend to read classics (Chekhov and Maupassant are two favorites) and I think I’ll be joining you this month in reading short stories. Thanks for the motivation!
1 May, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Not read either of those and Rob from http://robaroundbooks.com/ is probably going to coming on to tell me off!
Let us know what you read.
1 May, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I love short stories! I tend to read classics (Chekhov and Maupassant are two favorites) and I think I’ll be joining you this month in reading short stories. Thanks for the motivation!
1 May, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Not read either of those and Rob from http://robaroundbooks.com/ is probably going to coming on to tell me off!
Let us know what you read.
1 May, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I’m not sure I can pick any one story that I think is the greatest, there is a lot of excellent short stories out there.
Most of the ones I read are in the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genre. And if you like that there are a lot of collections with great stories.
As for good authors of short stories, Gaiman has already been mentioned, and he’s one of my favourites. And I have to mention H.P.Lovecraft, he’s written the best short horror I’ve had the pleasure to read.
There’s lots of others out there too, and I hope I’ll discover some new ones during “Short Story Month”.
1 May, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I have a couple of Lovecraft collections floating about – though I think he’s better when filtered through other writers. I might have to go back.
I’m hoping that people will direct me to some good online sources.
1 May, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I’m not sure I can pick any one story that I think is the greatest, there is a lot of excellent short stories out there.
Most of the ones I read are in the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genre. And if you like that there are a lot of collections with great stories.
As for good authors of short stories, Gaiman has already been mentioned, and he’s one of my favourites. And I have to mention H.P.Lovecraft, he’s written the best short horror I’ve had the pleasure to read.
There’s lots of others out there too, and I hope I’ll discover some new ones during “Short Story Month”.
1 May, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I have a couple of Lovecraft collections floating about – though I think he’s better when filtered through other writers. I might have to go back.
I’m hoping that people will direct me to some good online sources.
1 May, 2010 at 5:37 pm
My favorite short story of all time is Isaac Asimov’s The Last Question. I love most anything that deals with entropy on vast scales. My favorite ss writer, however, is Ted Chiang, for his amazing ability to explore ideas past their logical conclusions. Others I love are Thomas Ligotti, JG Ballard, China Mieville, HP Lovecraft, and more recently, Robert Reed. Viva la Short Forms!
1 May, 2010 at 5:37 pm
My favorite short story of all time is Isaac Asimov’s The Last Question. I love most anything that deals with entropy on vast scales. My favorite ss writer, however, is Ted Chiang, for his amazing ability to explore ideas past their logical conclusions. Others I love are Thomas Ligotti, JG Ballard, China Mieville, HP Lovecraft, and more recently, Robert Reed. Viva la Short Forms!
1 May, 2010 at 12:53 pm
You reminded me of “Chivalry” by Neil Gaiman a few days ago, an incredible, charming and very English little tale, but I can't be seen stomping on your toes, so… let's say an old short story by Caitlin R. Kiernan – “Persephone” – or else one or another of China Mieville's too occasional efforts from “Looking for Jake.”
1 May, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Favorite short stories: “Call Me Joe” by Poul Anderson and “Sandkings” by George R. R. Martin. I have other favorites, but those are the two I always go back to.
Favorite writers who do shorts (today): Paul Melko, Tananarive Due, Jason Sanford, and some others.
Writes who should do shorts (if they don’t already): Iain Banks, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Edward Willett, and some others.
That’s all I’ve got. I’m not much for mini adventures with my favorite characters, unfortunately. I like original work
1 May, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Favorite short stories: “Call Me Joe” by Poul Anderson and “Sandkings” by George R. R. Martin. I have other favorites, but those are the two I always go back to.
Favorite writers who do shorts (today): Paul Melko, Tananarive Due, Jason Sanford, and some others.
Writes who should do shorts (if they don’t already): Iain Banks, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Edward Willett, and some others.
That’s all I’ve got. I’m not much for mini adventures with my favorite characters, unfortunately. I like original work
1 May, 2010 at 6:37 pm
The Boogeyman by Stephen King
2 May, 2010 at 8:42 am
At some point I’ve read it as I’ve just found my copy of Night Shift and the bookmark is on Grey Matter, the next story. Will have to go back and reread!
4 May, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Yes….reread The Boogeyman……for some reason, that story sticks with me til this day.
I think I read it first back in 1983 or so.
Troy
1 May, 2010 at 6:37 pm
The Boogeyman by Stephen King
2 May, 2010 at 8:42 am
At some point I’ve read it as I’ve just found my copy of Night Shift and the bookmark is on Grey Matter, the next story. Will have to go back and reread!
4 May, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Yes….reread The Boogeyman……for some reason, that story sticks with me til this day.
I think I read it first back in 1983 or so.
Troy
1 May, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I love short stories! I tend to read classics (Chekhov and Maupassant are two favorites) and I think I'll be joining you this month in reading short stories. Thanks for the motivation!
1 May, 2010 at 1:54 pm
I've not read Looking for Jake… I kept looking out for it as one of those books I'd buy if Waterstones (and Borders as was) had it on the shelves but they never did.
Kiernan is one of those names that I think I've left behind but not read – I know that sounds off as she's from the same time as Poppy Z Brite who I've placed firmly in my Teenage Years box.
1 May, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I'm not sure I can pick any one story that I think is the greatest, there is a lot of excellent short stories out there.
Most of the ones I read are in the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genre. And if you like that there are a lot of collections with great stories.
As for good authors of short stories, Gaiman has already been mentioned, and he's one of my favourites. And I have to mention H.P.Lovecraft, he's written the best short horror I've had the pleasure to read.
There's lots of others out there too, and I hope I'll discover some new ones during “Short Story Month”.
1 May, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I have a couple of Lovecraft collections floating about – though I think he's better when filtered through other writers. I might have to go back.
I'm hoping that people will direct me to some good online sources.
1 May, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Not read either of those and Rob from http://robaroundbooks.com/ is probably going to coming on to tell me off!
Let us know what you read.
1 May, 2010 at 5:37 pm
My favorite short story of all time is Isaac Asimov's The Last Question. I love most anything that deals with entropy on vast scales. My favorite ss writer, however, is Ted Chiang, for his amazing ability to explore ideas past their logical conclusions. Others I love are Thomas Ligotti, JG Ballard, China Mieville, HP Lovecraft, and more recently, Robert Reed. Viva la Short Forms!
1 May, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Favorite short stories: “Call Me Joe” by Poul Anderson and “Sandkings” by George R. R. Martin. I have other favorites, but those are the two I always go back to.
Favorite writers who do shorts (today): Paul Melko, Tananarive Due, Jason Sanford, and some others.
Writes who should do shorts (if they don't already): Iain Banks, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Edward Willett, and some others.
That's all I've got. I'm not much for mini adventures with my favorite characters, unfortunately. I like original work
1 May, 2010 at 6:37 pm
The Boogeyman by Stephen King
2 May, 2010 at 8:26 am
I’m a big fan of George R.R. Martin’s short stories. In fact I think some of his best work is short form. I’m not sure if I can pick a favourite but Skin Trade, A Song for Lya and Sandkings are all excellent.
Paolo Bacigalupi has also made an impact on me with his short fiction. A particularly strong story is The People of Sand and Slag.
A third author who’s short fiction I usually enjoy is Nancy Kress. She written an awful lot of short fiction I haven’t read but of the ones I have I guess Inertia is a favourite.
2 May, 2010 at 8:26 am
I’m a big fan of George R.R. Martin’s short stories. In fact I think some of his best work is short form. I’m not sure if I can pick a favourite but Skin Trade, A Song for Lya and Sandkings are all excellent.
Paolo Bacigalupi has also made an impact on me with his short fiction. A particularly strong story is The People of Sand and Slag.
A third author who’s short fiction I usually enjoy is Nancy Kress. She written an awful lot of short fiction I haven’t read but of the ones I have I guess Inertia is a favourite.
2 May, 2010 at 8:26 am
I'm a big fan of George R.R. Martin's short stories. In fact I think some of his best work is short form. I'm not sure if I can pick a favourite but Skin Trade, A Song for Lya and Sandkings are all excellent.
Paolo Bacigalupi has also made an impact on me with his short fiction. A particularly strong story is The People of Sand and Slag.
A third author who's short fiction I usually enjoy is Nancy Kress. She written an awful lot of short fiction I haven't read but of the ones I have I guess Inertia is a favourite.
2 May, 2010 at 8:42 am
At some point I've read it as I've just found my copy of Night Shift and the bookmark is on Grey Matter, the next story. Will have to go back and reread!
2 May, 2010 at 2:56 pm
i like saki and maughams short stories ,modern writers vanns legend of suicide was great
2 May, 2010 at 2:56 pm
i like saki and maughams short stories ,modern writers vanns legend of suicide was great
2 May, 2010 at 2:56 pm
i like saki and maughams short stories ,modern writers vanns legend of suicide was great
Pingback: Next Read
Pingback: Sam Missingham
3 May, 2010 at 8:43 pm
One of my favorite short stories that I only recently discovered is Stephen King’s “All That You Love Will Be Carried Away.” It’s absolutely perfect.
3 May, 2010 at 8:43 pm
One of my favorite short stories that I only recently discovered is Stephen King’s “All That You Love Will Be Carried Away.” It’s absolutely perfect.
3 May, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Some classics:
Death and the Compass, by Jorge Luis Borges is genius.
The Kiss, by Angela Carter. It’s lovely and lyrical and just demands to be read aloud.
The Yellow Wallpaper, of course.
The Nameless City by Lovecraft – I think of this as one of his more quietly hysterical pieces. There’s a lot going on, though.
Just this last month, Red Hairs by Paul Jessup (from his Glass Coffin Girls collection). A little like the Carter piece, in that what I mostly like about it is the mood that it invokes.
3 May, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Some classics:
Death and the Compass, by Jorge Luis Borges is genius.
The Kiss, by Angela Carter. It’s lovely and lyrical and just demands to be read aloud.
The Yellow Wallpaper, of course.
The Nameless City by Lovecraft – I think of this as one of his more quietly hysterical pieces. There’s a lot going on, though.
Just this last month, Red Hairs by Paul Jessup (from his Glass Coffin Girls collection). A little like the Carter piece, in that what I mostly like about it is the mood that it invokes.
3 May, 2010 at 8:43 pm
One of my favorite short stories that I only recently discovered is Stephen King's “All That You Love Will Be Carried Away.” It's absolutely perfect.
3 May, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Some classics:
Death and the Compass, by Jorge Luis Borges is genius.
The Kiss, by Angela Carter. It's lovely and lyrical and just demands to be read aloud.
The Yellow Wallpaper, of course.
The Nameless City by Lovecraft – I think of this as one of his more quietly hysterical pieces. There's a lot going on, though.
Just this last month, Red Hairs by Paul Jessup (from his Glass Coffin Girls collection). A little like the Carter piece, in that what I mostly like about it is the mood that it invokes.
4 May, 2010 at 7:02 am
My favourite sf short stories are: ‘Aye, And Gomorrah’, Samuel R Delany; ‘And I Awoke And Found Me Here On The Cold Hill Side’, James Tiptree Jr.; ‘A Little Something For Us Tempunauts’, Philip K Dick; ‘Air Raid’, John Varley; ‘The Gernsback Continuum’, William Gibson; ‘The Brains Of Rats’, Michael Blumlein; ‘A Gift From The Culture’, Iain M Banks; ‘Forward Echoes’, Gwyneth Jones; ‘FOAM’, Brian Aldiss; ‘The Road To Jerusalem’, Mary Gentle
Not sure about mainstream short fiction – I’ve not read as much of that. But I do like ‘Heavy Weather’ by Helen Simpson a lot.
4 May, 2010 at 7:02 am
My favourite sf short stories are: ‘Aye, And Gomorrah’, Samuel R Delany; ‘And I Awoke And Found Me Here On The Cold Hill Side’, James Tiptree Jr.; ‘A Little Something For Us Tempunauts’, Philip K Dick; ‘Air Raid’, John Varley; ‘The Gernsback Continuum’, William Gibson; ‘The Brains Of Rats’, Michael Blumlein; ‘A Gift From The Culture’, Iain M Banks; ‘Forward Echoes’, Gwyneth Jones; ‘FOAM’, Brian Aldiss; ‘The Road To Jerusalem’, Mary Gentle
Not sure about mainstream short fiction – I’ve not read as much of that. But I do like ‘Heavy Weather’ by Helen Simpson a lot.
4 May, 2010 at 7:02 am
My favourite sf short stories are: ‘Aye, And Gomorrah’, Samuel R Delany; ‘And I Awoke And Found Me Here On The Cold Hill Side’, James Tiptree Jr.; ‘A Little Something For Us Tempunauts’, Philip K Dick; ‘Air Raid’, John Varley; ‘The Gernsback Continuum’, William Gibson; ‘The Brains Of Rats’, Michael Blumlein; ‘A Gift From The Culture’, Iain M Banks; ‘Forward Echoes’, Gwyneth Jones; ‘FOAM’, Brian Aldiss; ‘The Road To Jerusalem’, Mary Gentle
Not sure about mainstream short fiction – I've not read as much of that. But I do like 'Heavy Weather' by Helen Simpson a lot.
Pingback: Next Read
4 May, 2010 at 5:12 pm
I think someone could probably argue that the single greatest (most influential/powerful/imaginative) piece of SF/F/Horror writing is a short story – Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu”.
Granted, it’d be a hell of an argument (and not really one that anyone could ever finish), but that’s a pretty damn big gun.
I mean, beyond that, short stories were *where it was at* for a half-century of genre fiction. From Weird Tales to the Golden Age, that’s where the talent / imagination / diversity was… the rise of the novel didn’t happen until the 1960′s, when (basically) paper got cheap. [That there's some bastardized history, but, whatever.]
(Anyway, my favorite? The Repairer of Reputations by Robert Chambers).
4 May, 2010 at 5:12 pm
I think someone could probably argue that the single greatest (most influential/powerful/imaginative) piece of SF/F/Horror writing is a short story – Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu”.
Granted, it’d be a hell of an argument (and not really one that anyone could ever finish), but that’s a pretty damn big gun.
I mean, beyond that, short stories were *where it was at* for a half-century of genre fiction. From Weird Tales to the Golden Age, that’s where the talent / imagination / diversity was… the rise of the novel didn’t happen until the 1960′s, when (basically) paper got cheap. [That there's some bastardized history, but, whatever.]
(Anyway, my favorite? The Repairer of Reputations by Robert Chambers).
4 May, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Yes….reread The Boogeyman……for some reason, that story sticks with me til this day.
I think I read it first back in 1983 or so.
Troy
4 May, 2010 at 5:12 pm
I think someone could probably argue that the single greatest (most influential/powerful/imaginative) piece of SF/F/Horror writing is a short story – Lovecraft's “The Call of Cthulhu”.
Granted, it'd be a hell of an argument (and not really one that anyone could ever finish), but that's a pretty damn big gun.
I mean, beyond that, short stories were *where it was at* for a half-century of genre fiction. From Weird Tales to the Golden Age, that's where the talent / imagination / diversity was… the rise of the novel didn't happen until the 1960's, when (basically) paper got cheap. [That there's some bastardized history, but, whatever.]
(Anyway, my favorite? The Repairer of Reputations by Robert Chambers).
5 May, 2010 at 2:03 pm
M John Harrison’s Gifco.
5 May, 2010 at 2:03 pm
M John Harrison’s Gifco.
5 May, 2010 at 3:15 pm
My all time favourite (so far) is A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury, it has haunted me since I read it over fifteen years ago. I love his short stories. Thanks for the great question, I now have a list of other stories to seek out
5 May, 2010 at 3:15 pm
My all time favourite (so far) is A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury, it has haunted me since I read it over fifteen years ago. I love his short stories. Thanks for the great question, I now have a list of other stories to seek out
5 May, 2010 at 2:03 pm
M John Harrison's Gifco.
5 May, 2010 at 3:15 pm
My all time favourite (so far) is A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury, it has haunted me since I read it over fifteen years ago. I love his short stories. Thanks for the great question, I now have a list of other stories to seek out
6 May, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I think I’d have to choose pretty much anything and everything by Ray Bradbury. The master of the short story, point ends.
6 May, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I think I’d have to choose pretty much anything and everything by Ray Bradbury. The master of the short story, point ends.
6 May, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I think I'd have to choose pretty much anything and everything by Ray Bradbury. The master of the short story, point ends.
Pingback: Silence Is Golden « Everything Is Nice
12 May, 2010 at 12:52 am
OK, here goes – some of my all-time faves:
“Nine Hundred Grandmothers” and “The Six Fingers of Time” by R.A. Lafferty
“I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream” by Harlan Ellison
“The Nine Billion Names of God” by Arthur C. Clarke
“We Can Get Them For You Wholesale”, “Murder Mysteries”, “October in the Chair”, “Troll Bridge”, “Chivalry” and “Sunbird” by Neil Gaiman
“Westwind”, “A Cabin on the Coast”, “Death of the Island Doctor”, “The Fifth Head of Cerberus” (technically a novella), “The Eyeflash Miracles” and “Seven American Nights” by Gene Wolfe
12 May, 2010 at 12:52 am
OK, here goes – some of my all-time faves:
“Nine Hundred Grandmothers” and “The Six Fingers of Time” by R.A. Lafferty
“I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream” by Harlan Ellison
“The Nine Billion Names of God” by Arthur C. Clarke
“We Can Get Them For You Wholesale”, “Murder Mysteries”, “October in the Chair”, “Troll Bridge”, “Chivalry” and “Sunbird” by Neil Gaiman
“Westwind”, “A Cabin on the Coast”, “Death of the Island Doctor”, “The Fifth Head of Cerberus” (technically a novella), “The Eyeflash Miracles” and “Seven American Nights” by Gene Wolfe
12 May, 2010 at 12:52 am
OK, here goes – some of my all-time faves:
“Nine Hundred Grandmothers” and “The Six Fingers of Time” by R.A. Lafferty
“I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream” by Harlan Ellison
“The Nine Billion Names of God” by Arthur C. Clarke
“We Can Get Them For You Wholesale”, “Murder Mysteries”, “October in the Chair”, “Troll Bridge”, “Chivalry” and “Sunbird” by Neil Gaiman
“Westwind”, “A Cabin on the Coast”, “Death of the Island Doctor”, “The Fifth Head of Cerberus” (technically a novella), “The Eyeflash Miracles” and “Seven American Nights” by Gene Wolfe
12 May, 2010 at 9:22 am
There’s no question that my favourite short story in the world ever is still Night Surf by Stephen King. Found in King’s short story collection Night Shift, I first read this beautiful story when I was 16 and it’s been with me ever since. I was so haunted by it that I was compelled a couple of years later to write a homage titled The Beach (thankfully no copies exists now) but I can see echoes of its influence in much of my writing.
12 May, 2010 at 9:22 am
There’s no question that my favourite short story in the world ever is still Night Surf by Stephen King. Found in King’s short story collection Night Shift, I first read this beautiful story when I was 16 and it’s been with me ever since. I was so haunted by it that I was compelled a couple of years later to write a homage titled The Beach (thankfully no copies exists now) but I can see echoes of its influence in much of my writing.
12 May, 2010 at 9:22 am
There's no question that my favourite short story in the world ever is still Night Surf by Stephen King. Found in King's short story collection Night Shift, I first read this beautiful story when I was 16 and it's been with me ever since. I was so haunted by it that I was compelled a couple of years later to write a homage titled The Beach (thankfully no copies exists now) but I can see echoes of its influence in much of my writing.
12 May, 2010 at 10:22 am
There's no question that my favourite short story in the world ever is still Night Surf by Stephen King. Found in King's short story collection Night Shift, I first read this beautiful story when I was 16 and it's been with me ever since. I was so haunted by it that I was compelled a couple of years later to write a homage titled The Beach (thankfully no copies exists now) but I can see echoes of its influence in much of my writing.
25 May, 2010 at 4:52 pm
“Journey into the Kingdom” by M. Rickert. Readers of F&SF may remember this story in the May 2006 issue; I was a mere 17 (not that I’m that much older now, obviously) at the time, and I remember finishing the story and thinking, “This is it. This is what I want to write.” Interestingly, I’ve gone back and read it again since then, and while I still think it’s a great story, I’ve probably read better ones–but the way it resonated with me so strongly has etched it into my memory.
Other favorites: “Aunt Granny Lith” by Chris Offutt, “Mule Killers” by Lydia Peelle, “Some Zombie Contingency Plans” by Kelly Link, pretty much any story from Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut.
25 May, 2010 at 4:52 pm
“Journey into the Kingdom” by M. Rickert. Readers of F&SF may remember this story in the May 2006 issue; I was a mere 17 (not that I’m that much older now, obviously) at the time, and I remember finishing the story and thinking, “This is it. This is what I want to write.” Interestingly, I’ve gone back and read it again since then, and while I still think it’s a great story, I’ve probably read better ones–but the way it resonated with me so strongly has etched it into my memory.
Other favorites: “Aunt Granny Lith” by Chris Offutt, “Mule Killers” by Lydia Peelle, “Some Zombie Contingency Plans” by Kelly Link, pretty much any story from Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut.
25 May, 2010 at 4:52 pm
“Journey into the Kingdom” by M. Rickert. Readers of F&SF may remember this story in the May 2006 issue; I was a mere 17 (not that I'm that much older now, obviously) at the time, and I remember finishing the story and thinking, “This is it. This is what I want to write.” Interestingly, I've gone back and read it again since then, and while I still think it's a great story, I've probably read better ones–but the way it resonated with me so strongly has etched it into my memory.
Other favorites: “Aunt Granny Lith” by Chris Offutt, “Mule Killers” by Lydia Peelle, “Some Zombie Contingency Plans” by Kelly Link, pretty much any story from Neil Gaiman's Smoke and Mirrors, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut.
26 May, 2010 at 3:28 am
I’ve seen several of my favorites in the SF/F vein, but wanted to flag a few other classics that I love: “Rautavaara’s Case” by Philip K. Dick; “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” by Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore (writing as “Lewis Padgett”); “That Only a Mother” by Judith Merril; “The Screwfly Solution” by Alice Sheldon (writing as “Raccoona Sheldon” rather than “James Tiptree, Jr.” for a change).
There are tons of recent short stories that I adore; Ted Chiang and S.P. Somtow and Kelly Link are names that will make me buy an anthology.
Two Sherlockian pastiches I’ve really loved lately were Neil Gaiman’s “A Study in Emerald” (Doyle gone Lovecraft) and Barbara Hambly’s “The Lost Boy” (Holmes meets Peter Pan).
As for mainstream/literary shorts, you can’t beat Alice Munro these days. She is a wonder.
26 May, 2010 at 3:28 am
I’ve seen several of my favorites in the SF/F vein, but wanted to flag a few other classics that I love: “Rautavaara’s Case” by Philip K. Dick; “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” by Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore (writing as “Lewis Padgett”); “That Only a Mother” by Judith Merril; “The Screwfly Solution” by Alice Sheldon (writing as “Raccoona Sheldon” rather than “James Tiptree, Jr.” for a change).
There are tons of recent short stories that I adore; Ted Chiang and S.P. Somtow and Kelly Link are names that will make me buy an anthology.
Two Sherlockian pastiches I’ve really loved lately were Neil Gaiman’s “A Study in Emerald” (Doyle gone Lovecraft) and Barbara Hambly’s “The Lost Boy” (Holmes meets Peter Pan).
As for mainstream/literary shorts, you can’t beat Alice Munro these days. She is a wonder.
26 May, 2010 at 3:28 am
I've seen several of my favorites in the SF/F vein, but wanted to flag a few other classics that I love: “Rautavaara's Case” by Philip K. Dick; “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” by Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore (writing as “Lewis Padgett”); “That Only a Mother” by Judith Merril; “The Screwfly Solution” by Alice Sheldon (writing as “Raccoona Sheldon” rather than “James Tiptree, Jr.” for a change).
There are tons of recent short stories that I adore; Ted Chiang and S.P. Somtow and Kelly Link are names that will make me buy an anthology.
Two Sherlockian pastiches I've really loved lately were Neil Gaiman's “A Study in Emerald” (Doyle gone Lovecraft) and Barbara Hambly's “The Lost Boy” (Holmes meets Peter Pan).
As for mainstream/literary shorts, you can't beat Alice Munro these days. She is a wonder.
30 May, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I really enjoyed Short Story Month and have rediscovered the joy of reading short stories again, so thanks!
One story I read this month really stood out, and that was Darwin’s Anathema by Stephen Baxter…
“It is set in a London where a hidebound Catholic Church reigns supreme and the Inquisition puts Charles Darwin’s bones on trial for heresy. Given the current attacks on evolutionary theory (and evidence) by the Creationist movement, the story has particular resonance today. One particular line made me laugh at it’s irony…
“We prefer not to use that word [Inquisition],” he said evenly. “The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, newly empowered under Cardinal Ratzinger…”
mainly because it is actually true in our world, up until he became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. While the story is set in 2009, the technology is still mainly steam and coal powered and indicates how the resistance of the Church towards free-thinking has hindered the progress of science, with all that this entails. A fascinating story with a surprising conclusion.”
31 May, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I’m really chuffed you got so much out of it!
The Baxter story is from The Mammoth Book of Alternate Histories, right?
I’m looking forward to reading more Baxter – not as dry as I thought he would be. Stone Spring and Ark are both looking at me atm so sooner rather than later.
But interesting subject for him to tackle. Going to wait for a few of the collections I’ve ordered to arrive and then order that one I think
Thanks for taking part and glad it’s lit a flame.
30 May, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I really enjoyed Short Story Month and have rediscovered the joy of reading short stories again, so thanks!
One story I read this month really stood out, and that was Darwin’s Anathema by Stephen Baxter…
“It is set in a London where a hidebound Catholic Church reigns supreme and the Inquisition puts Charles Darwin’s bones on trial for heresy. Given the current attacks on evolutionary theory (and evidence) by the Creationist movement, the story has particular resonance today. One particular line made me laugh at it’s irony…
“We prefer not to use that word [Inquisition],” he said evenly. “The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, newly empowered under Cardinal Ratzinger…”
mainly because it is actually true in our world, up until he became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. While the story is set in 2009, the technology is still mainly steam and coal powered and indicates how the resistance of the Church towards free-thinking has hindered the progress of science, with all that this entails. A fascinating story with a surprising conclusion.”
31 May, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I’m really chuffed you got so much out of it!
The Baxter story is from The Mammoth Book of Alternate Histories, right?
I’m looking forward to reading more Baxter – not as dry as I thought he would be. Stone Spring and Ark are both looking at me atm so sooner rather than later.
But interesting subject for him to tackle. Going to wait for a few of the collections I’ve ordered to arrive and then order that one I think
Thanks for taking part and glad it’s lit a flame.
30 May, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I really enjoyed Short Story Month and have rediscovered the joy of reading short stories again, so thanks!
One story I read this month really stood out, and that was Darwin's Anathema by Stephen Baxter…
“It is set in a London where a hidebound Catholic Church reigns supreme and the Inquisition puts Charles Darwin’s bones on trial for heresy. Given the current attacks on evolutionary theory (and evidence) by the Creationist movement, the story has particular resonance today. One particular line made me laugh at it’s irony…
“We prefer not to use that word [Inquisition],” he said evenly. “The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, newly empowered under Cardinal Ratzinger…”
mainly because it is actually true in our world, up until he became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. While the story is set in 2009, the technology is still mainly steam and coal powered and indicates how the resistance of the Church towards free-thinking has hindered the progress of science, with all that this entails. A fascinating story with a surprising conclusion.”
31 May, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I'm really chuffed you got so much out of it!
The Baxter story is from The Mammoth Book of Alternate Histories, right?
I'm looking forward to reading more Baxter – not as dry as I thought he would be. Stone Spring and Ark are both looking at me atm so sooner rather than later.
But interesting subject for him to tackle. Going to wait for a few of the collections I've ordered to arrive and then order that one I think
Thanks for taking part and glad it's lit a flame.