Favorite short stories online - Page 2

Sundae · 02-18-2009, 08:18 AM

My favourite non-lit story, which I could only find in rull in an audio version. Party Food by Mort Castle.

The classic genre short story in my opinion, in that it leaves you wanting more, far more about the world it is set in. Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut.

I don't really like this short story, but it sticks in my head and I have to reread it periodically. Actually I find most of Mansfield's stories equally painful, the hopelessness and unhappiness of her characters, their unfulfilled desires, trammeled lives and unspoken dreams. This one is that at its apogee in my opinion. Daughters of the Late Colonel by Katherine Mansfield.

I'm not a great short story fan to be honest. Many non-genre short stories just seem to wander about and not achieve much. Children get better short stories with a beginning, a middle and an end - and a happening in between. But even as a child, if I picked a library book up, interested and excited by it, and realised it was a short story book I'd invariably put it back down again.

Oh, I do like Ray Bradbury's though. And Roald Dahl's.

Shawnee123 · 02-18-2009, 08:27 AM

Thanks Sundae...I will read these later.

I think what I like about short stories is that they often leave you wanting more. Like any great art, it isn't all given to you. There often is no common beginning, middle, denouement, end...it leaves you to think and wonder about the possibilities. They are a small slice of a life, feasible or not, that speak to a different level in me.

HungLikeJesus · 02-18-2009, 08:44 AM

I really like A Nine-Mile Walk, and was surprised to find it on-line. I read The Rocking Horse Winner years ago and don't remember much about it. I'll have to look it up.

Shawnee123 · 02-18-2009, 03:26 PM

That must be where he got it.

I used to know a guy who called me Lucy, after Lucy Van Pelt. Imagine that.

wolf · 02-18-2009, 07:51 PM

Most of the shorts that I like or love probably aren't available online. You know, that pesky copyright business?

This place has a bunch

My favorites are Poe, Lovecraft, and Conan Doyle for "old" stuff. My favorite modern short story writers are Harlan Ellison and Chuck Palahniuk.

Pie · 02-18-2009, 08:01 PM

Cold Women, Kept Safe by Jessica Pierce

footfootfoot · 02-18-2009, 10:28 PM

I like this story a lot:
http://www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/scrabble.html

wolf · 02-19-2009, 02:56 AM

Guts by Chuck Palahniuk

WARNING: Extremely graphic descriptions not for readers with sensitive stomachs. Actually, the use of the word stomach was probably a really bad choice here. People with any type of sensitivity should probably not click on the above link.

Oh, and there's a really annoying flashy banner on the page. Just scroll so it's above the top of your browser window. Trust me on this.

Perry Winkle · 02-19-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Guts by Chuck Palahniuk

WARNING: Extremely graphic descriptions not for readers with sensitive stomachs. Actually, the use of the word stomach was probably a really bad choice here. People with any type of sensitivity should probably not click on the above link.

Since I couldn't stop laughing while reading that, I guess that makes me insensitive...

02-18-2009, 08:18 AM	#1
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	My favourite non-lit story, which I could only find in rull in an audio version. Party Food by Mort Castle. The classic genre short story in my opinion, in that it leaves you wanting more, far more about the world it is set in. Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut. I don't really *like* this short story, but it sticks in my head and I have to reread it periodically. Actually I find most of Mansfield's stories equally painful, the hopelessness and unhappiness of her characters, their unfulfilled desires, trammeled lives and unspoken dreams. This one is that at its apogee in my opinion. Daughters of the Late Colonel by Katherine Mansfield. I'm not a great short story fan to be honest. Many non-genre short stories just seem to wander about and not achieve much. Children get better short stories with a beginning, a middle and an end - and a happening in between. But even as a child, if I picked a library book up, interested and excited by it, and realised it was a short story book I'd invariably put it back down again. Oh, I do like Ray Bradbury's though. And Roald Dahl's. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

02-18-2009, 08:27 AM	#2
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Thanks Sundae...I will read these later. I think what I like about short stories is that they often leave you wanting more. Like any great art, it isn't all given to you. There often is no common beginning, middle, denouement, end...it leaves you to think and wonder about the possibilities. They are a small slice of a life, feasible or not, that speak to a different level in me. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby Last edited by Shawnee123; 02-18-2009 at 08:37 AM.

02-18-2009, 08:44 AM	#3
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I really like A Nine-Mile Walk, and was surprised to find it on-line. I read The Rocking Horse Winner years ago and don't remember much about it. I'll have to look it up. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

02-18-2009, 03:26 PM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	That must be where he got it. I used to know a guy who called me Lucy, after Lucy Van Pelt. Imagine that. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-18-2009, 07:51 PM	#5
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Most of the shorts that I like or love probably aren't available online. You know, that pesky copyright business? This place has a bunch My favorites are Poe, Lovecraft, and Conan Doyle for "old" stuff. My favorite modern short story writers are Harlan Ellison and Chuck Palahniuk. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-18-2009, 08:01 PM	#6
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Cold Women, Kept Safe by Jessica Pierce __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

02-18-2009, 10:28 PM	#7
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I like this story a lot: http://www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/scrabble.html __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

02-19-2009, 02:56 AM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Guts by Chuck Palahniuk WARNING: Extremely graphic descriptions not for readers with sensitive stomachs. Actually, the use of the word stomach was probably a really bad choice here. People with any type of sensitivity should probably not click on the above link. Oh, and there's a really annoying flashy banner on the page. Just scroll so it's above the top of your browser window. Trust me on this. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

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