Short Stories
- The Rocking-Horse Winner by D. H. Lawrencewww.classicshorts.com The Rocking-Horse Winner--D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930)
This Web site is dedicated to the wonderful world of the short story and to all who enjoy reading shorts stories as I do. I will try to add a few short stories every month.
One of the greatest stories I've ever read. If you love a psychoanalytical story or supernatural fiction, give it a go!
- A thorough examination of the common cadaver animatum(a short zombie piece I wrote a few months ago)
Since the outbreak of ZP-98 in August of 1998 the number of cadaver animatum had risen to over 180 million members at its peak. However today in 2027 the majority have died off while the remaining captive instances numbering 4,500 are in government custody and a further 2,000 are in private collections. A unknown number of wild instances inhabit several destroyed island nations and although the UN IIE (islands in exile) committee requested a peacekeeping operation be deployed to reclaim their lands this request has been denied by the security council until at least 2035.
A cadaver animatum Is the result of a human which has been infected with ZP-98 and was not dispatched by medical staff or others within 35 minutes of brain death. Defined by W.H.O ZP-98 is a complex prion believed to have mutated from BSE(Bovine spongiform encephalopathy) sometime in late 1997 or early 1998. While rumored cases go back as far as 1990 the first confirmed case was in 1998 by Dr. Perry Pasteur. The name of patient zero remains unknown due to HIPAA. The only known facts are the patient was between 25 and 30 years old at time of infection, a male, and is still believed to be held by the WHO in cryogenic storage.
The incubation time of ZP-98 is 3 days from time of infection to time of death. Vectors of infection include. Blood transfusions, Organ transplants, and Occlusion bites. Symptoms Include chills, fever, sore throat, vision problems, visual and auditory hallucinations, total organ failure and in 100% of untreated cases death.
After death in any case where the brain is not destroyed or the spinal cord severed the infected person will reanimate and become a cadaver animatum in 35 minutes at the minimum or 8 hours at the maximum.
WHO recommends all medical personal, funeral workers, and care home workers are certified in methods to control and dispatch cadaver animatums as they are highest at risk for infection.
ZP-98 still claims over 10,000 lives a year and almost 200 medical personal a year. A majority of deaths are blamed on those who either hide a known infection or families of infected who do not wish their loved one to be dispatched. A worrying report from the W.H.O CA institute shows over 18% of the population still believe cadaver animatums retain some humanity. While a smaller 2.5% believe that cadaver animatums retain all humanity and shouldn’t be terminated. The WHO retains its 2000 study showing a majority of human thoughts and memories are lost at time of reanimation and remaining thoughts and memories are lost within 3 months of infection.
While some survivors of the initial outbreak claim amputation of bitten limbs would result in the infection not spreading and therefore saving the infection person. A 2003 study shows no evidence for this claim and WHO retains the only effective treatment is the Plymouth protocol which calls for a medically induced coma and various medications designed to slow infection.
- A Perfect Day for Bananafish by J.D. Salingerxpressenglish.com A Perfect Day for Bananafish – Original Text | shortsonline
"Miss Carpenter. Please. I know my business," the young man said. "You just keep your eyes open for any bananafish. This is a perfect day for bananafish."
I was about ten years old (too young) when I read this for the first time. At that age I was accustomed to banal stories about clever grasshoppers and friendly bears.
I'm sure my jaw literally dropped when I got to the end-- but I also realized how powerful a story could be. I'll never forget that first time.
- A Rose for Emily By William Faulkner
Southern Gothic is a uniquely beautiful genre.
- A Sound of Thunder By Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury on the butterfly effect.... Yes please
- The Gift of the Magi By O. Henry
Even if you think you haven't read this, you probably have. Or heard the story. An absolute classic.
- The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Psychological horror for anyone who loves a bit of feminist literature. Although its just a great read all round gor anyone. Strongly recommend.
- The Lottery by Shirley Jacksonwww.newyorker.com “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson
Fiction, from 1948: “The people had done it so many times that they only half listened to the directions; most of them were quiet, wetting their lips, not looking around.”
- Zach Williams, "Trial Run".www.theparisreview.org Trial Run
Artwork by Jane Corrigan. I pitched through the lobby door and then, as I caught my breath, stood looking back at the storm. It was bad out there. The city had been reduced to dim outlines and floating lights; snow moved down Nineteenth Street in waves. I beat it from my hat and coat, knocked my....
- Ethan Canin, "The Palace Thief".www.theparisreview.org The Palace Thief
I tell this story not for my own honor, for there is little of that here, and not as a warning, for a man of my calling learns quickly that all warnings are in vain. Nor do I tell it in apology for St. Benedict’s School, for St. Benedict’s School needs no apologies. I tell it only to....
- Peter Watts, "The Things"clarkesworldmagazine.com Clarkesworld Magazine - Science Fiction & Fantasy
Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast. This page: The Things by Peter Watts
- Lynn Coady, "Wireless".thewalrus.ca Wireless | The Walrus
Jane salutes you from an age where to be an aficionado is to find yourself foolishly situated in the world
- Ben Jahn, "Dance Dance Revolution".tinhouse.com Dance Dance Revolution - Tin House
The artistic director tweaked the Nutcracker storyline for the area’s progressive left. In this version, Clara and Fritz are destitute, living on the street, until an act of generosity shows them a new future. When the show opens, they’re huddled outside the toymaker’s house, shivering, sharing a ta...
- Sierraville by Mary Grimm.www.carvezine.com Sierraville by Mary Grimm — Carve Magazine | HONEST FICTION
One day that summer they went to Sierraville, Ivy and Uli. They both had the day off from their somewhat temporary jobs in Tahoe City.
- "God’s Breath" by W.A. Hamilton.www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com Beneath Ceaseless Skies - God’s Breath by W.A. Hamilton
“But you will enthrall her!” Georn called to the star-god, a terrible certainty tearing the words from his chest. “Your song will call to her, pull her to your side. You would have us believe she is choosing, when your very breath plants a desire she will not be able to resist.”
- Sumil Thakrar, "Shouting Is At Least Talking".americanshortfiction.org Shouting Is at Least Talking -
For six years I dated Ian, but only once we broke up did everyone close to me reveal they never liked him anyway. “We didn’t want to tell you,” my mother said. “We?” “Your father never liked him either.” She went quiet. “Ian’s tone was a little off. Do you know what I mean?” “He was good at communic...
- Andrew Porter, "The Letters".americanshortfiction.org The Letters -
My mother has been sending me letters lately. Not letters intended for me but rather letters she has been writing to various people in her life—important influences, she calls them. Relatives, friends, former classmates, coworkers. She has been writing two or three letters a week and sending them to...
- Honor Levy, "Internet Girl".magazine.nytyrant.com Internet Girl by Honor Levy - NY Tyrant
I’m 11. I’m on Safari on a safari on the internet after school in my bedroom on my computer, my 2006 Apple MacBook Intel Core Duo 2.0 White 2 Ghz/ 2GB Memory Laptop Computer. I’m alone. I get past the parental controls. I’m free and I am so hungry to know. It’s 2008 and I […]
- Iona Dhatt Sharma, "Always And Forever, Only You".strangehorizons.com Always and Forever, Only You
It started with a bit of music, something no one else was even listening to.
- Charlie Jane Anders, "As Good As New"reactormag.com As Good As New - Reactor
From the author of the Hugo-winning "Six Months, Three Days," a new wrinkle on the old story of three wishes, set after the end of the world.
- B. Pladek, "The Spindle of Necessity".strangehorizons.com The Spindle of Necessity
Andrew was convinced the writer had been trans. By this point his friends were tired of hearing about it, but he had no one else to tell besides the internet, and he was too smart for that. That wo…
- The Island of the Fay by Edgar Allan Poepoestories.com The Island of the Fay by Edgar Allan Poe
The complete, unabridged text of The Island of the Fay by Edgar Allan Poe, with vocabulary words and definitions.
- The Ones Who Stay and Fight - N. K. Jemisinwww.lightspeedmagazine.com The Ones Who Stay and Fight - Lightspeed Magazine
It’s the Day of Good Birds in the city of Um-Helat! The Day is a local custom, silly and random as so many local customs can be, and yet beautiful by the same token. It has little to do with birds---a fact about which locals cheerfully laugh, because that, too, is how local customs work. It is a day...
Reminded of this die to the posting of 'The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas'
- Stewart O'Nan, "Wish List".stewart-onan.com Wish List
IT’S A HALF-DAY PASS and Miss Crawford says it’s not a choice. It’s part of the pre-release thing. They want you to do things with your kid again to get them ready. Miss Crawford says i…
- A.C. Wise, "Tekeli-Li, They Cry" (horror).www.thedarkmagazine.com Tekeli-li, They Cry - The Dark Magazine
They tell me the future is broken. Will be broken. Has always been broken. I was wide awake the first time they spoke to me and have been every time since. They come from there, then, when the future is broken. Which is now because the break stretches in every direction. That’s what they tell […]
