Author Topic: Short Stories (Read 1918 times)

corkboy · « **on:** January 20, 2012, 09:06:12 PM »

The book I'm currently reading is called Exploring English 1. Not kidding.

It was a textbook in Irish secondary schools when I were a lad. 2 was prose, 3 was poetry and 1 was short stories, and some bright spark decided to republish them for the grown up and nostalgic, hence its appearance on my lap at Christmas. Two thirds of the stories are by Irish writers but luckily we had an especially good crop to choose from. Daniel Corkery, Frank O'Connor, Brian Friel, Brendan Behan...not too shabby. The foreigners section includes real heavyweights like Saki, O Henry, Wells, Pritchett and Thurber.

Anyway, because they're textbooks, they have questions at the end, about the plot or the characters, but one story, The Three Lambs, by Liam O'Flaherty, has just one question: "Did you find this an utterly beautiful story? If not, please read it again."

Science fiction often finds its medium in short stories, maybe because it's an ideas genre and the format suits better, but I grew up on Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, Heinlein too. Later I discovered the man who might be the Master, Guy de Maupassant, who wrote flawless pearls of stories.

Anyway, I'm off to read to my kid, (An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce) so pitch in if you're a fan.

planet--terror · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:29:04 PM »

Haha,,Exploring English 1,2 and 3,,the memories are flooding back .I seem to remember one of them was green with arrows,,Going to google now.

edit ,got the arrows right..

What year((school) were these in again?sorry to go off topic with the faint memories trivia!

corkboy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:38:20 PM »

That's the one. It says inter cert on the cover which I did when I was 15 or 16, but I had an older brother so I got my hands on it before that.

Not funny reecehenebry · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:41:21 PM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 20, 2012, 09:06:12 PM

The book I'm currently reading is called Exploring English 1. Not kidding.

It was a textbook in Irish secondary schools when I were a lad. 2 was prose, 3 was poetry and 1 was short stories, and some bright spark decided to republish them for the grown up and nostalgic, hence its appearance on my lap at Christmas. Two thirds of the stories are by Irish writers but luckily we had an especially good crop to choose from. Daniel Corkery, Frank O'Connor, Brian Friel, Brendan Behan...not too shabby. The foreigners section includes real heavyweights like Saki, O Henry, Wells, Pritchett and Thurber.

Anyway, because they're textbooks, they have questions at the end, about the plot or the characters, but one story, The Three Lambs, by Liam O'Flaherty, has just one question: "Did you find this an utterly beautiful story? If not, please read it again."

Science fiction often finds its medium in short stories, maybe because it's an ideas genre and the format suits better, but I grew up on Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, Heinlein too. Later I discovered the man who might be the Master, Guy de Maupassant, who wrote flawless pearls of stories.

Anyway, I'm off to read to my kid, (An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce) so pitch in if you're a fan.

My dad gave his old english book from 1964/5/6/7

It had some great shorts from Patrick Kavanagh and the like.

The Poteen maker was my fave.

There was another story about a widow and her son, something about his being killed coming down a hill on a bike.

My first confession.

Good stuff.

Ray bradbury is by far my fave short story writer.

I remember one about a baby being born in the wrong dimension. Everyone saw him as a purple triangle. The parents tried everything, and ended up being shifted into his dimension, looking like colourful shape themselves.

Same series had a story about a man left on Mars after a atomic war on earth. His younger self leaves a series of telephone messages to his older self, first off telling him they are coming back for him, and after mocking his last hope.

planet--terror · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:49:34 PM »

Cant say I remember the stories(yet),tended to mitch a lot but when I did go English was probably my fav..Had this wonderful feminist English teacher who didnt believe in bras,,her class was always full!
Might buy this though,Seen it on Amazon £10.29
Dont get time to read books anymore,Short stories would be ideal

The Jackal · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2012, 10:23:33 PM »

love short stories. in fact they probably my favourite literary format. I like Raymond Carver, Bukowski, that sort of 'dirty-realism' type stuff, but also like older stuff like Hemmingway, Mansfield, etc...

Not funny reecehenebry · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:13:05 PM »

Quote from: The Jackal on January 20, 2012, 10:23:33 PM

Bukowsk

Always great.

corkboy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:14:17 PM »

One of my favourite short stories is by Stephen King, called The Last Rung On The Ladder, a tender anguished little collection of snapshots, with nothing supernatural about it at all. It was in his Night Shift collection, if anyone's interested.

planet--terror · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:16:15 PM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 20, 2012, 11:14:17 PM

One of my favourite short stories is by Stephen King, called The Last Rung On The Ladder, a tender anguished little collection of snapshots, with nothing supernatural about it at all. It was in his Night Shift collection, if anyone's interested.

I did read Night Shift before,Enjoyed it,Must buy it again,Cant remember it too well,,Way too many drugs back then

The Gulleysucker · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:18:03 PM »

Enjoy

corkboy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:23:08 PM »

Quote from: The Gulleysucker on January 20, 2012, 11:18:03 PM

Enjoy

Ooh, that looks nice. I'll save that for a more sober night.

Veinticinco de Mayo · « **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2012, 01:18:33 AM »

Love short stories. Apologies for blatant tag will return with better

Yabazza · « **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2012, 04:20:01 AM »

Was there a story called Majesty of the Law in there? Couldn't get my head round that at all. I think The Diamond Maker by HG Wells was in it too but I could be getting mixed up.

The Gulleysucker · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2012, 09:29:53 AM »

An oldie but still a good'un... The Monkey's Paw

Veinticinco de Mayo · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2012, 09:41:49 AM »

Short stories are one of the reasons I still get Granta. I love them.

Many moons ago the missus and I used to read each other Saki short stories.

Some authors are far better in the short form than any other. Ballard for instance as an imagination the size of a supertanker but can get a bit tedious as a novellist. In a short story where he just has enough time to explain his latest mad cap alternative world then he is unbeatable.

Don DeLillo's original short story which now forms the opening of Underworld is one of the best I have ever read. To the extent that I wish he had never expanded it into the novel, which though good, cannot maintain the beauty of those initial pages.

Lfsea · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:11:56 AM »

Some of the greatest pieces of literature are the shortest, I think.

Although I'm stretching the boundaries of the thread title somewhat, the likes of The Communist Manifesto, The Heart of Darkness and even more tenuously T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland all spring to mind.

However, in its purest sense I remember reading a very interesting book by Jeremy Dyson - one of the authors of The League of Gentleman - entitled 'Never trust a rabbit'. Would recommend if you're into that dark, twisted humour of the series and Sweeney Todd-type narratives. I think there were about 20-30 stories within it.

corkboy · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2012, 11:57:06 AM »

Quote from: Yabazza on January 21, 2012, 04:20:01 AM

Was there a story called Majesty of the Law in there? Couldn't get my head round that at all. I think The Diamond Maker by HG Wells was in it too but I could be getting mixed up.

No, both in there.

hassinator · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2012, 01:12:43 PM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 20, 2012, 09:06:12 PM

Later I discovered the man who might be the Master, Guy de Maupassant, who wrote flawless pearls of stories.

'la parure' is perfect.

'née comme par une erreur de destin dans une famille pauvre' it tells the tale of social climber mathilde loisel and what happens when she borrows a necklace for a lavish party.

maupassant distilled into one story this is a corker.

Quote from: Not funny reecehenebry on January 20, 2012, 09:41:21 PM

Ray bradbury is by far my fave short story writer.

ray is also boss. i love 'the illustrated man' anthology and the slightly rod steiger film adaptation available on youtube.

the story i remember most vividly from him was a story of teleportation and a young boy pretends to take his sedative for the journey.

when his family arrive his body is still young but his eyes have aged through the infinite and he expires.

the all seem redolent of some sort of psychedelic experience but i know little about the author other than his work is finally available for the kindle.

any love for salinger's 'nine stories'? 'a perfect day for banana fish' is something that will always live with me. sublime.

corkboy · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2012, 03:12:15 PM »

Quote from: hassinator on January 21, 2012, 01:12:43 PM

ray is also boss. i love 'the illustrated man' anthology and the slightly rod steiger film adaptation available on youtube.

the story i remember most vividly from him was a story of teleportation and a young boy pretends to take his sedative for the journey.

when his family arrive his body is still young but his eyes have aged through the infinite and he expires

That was The Jaunt, by Stephen King, from Skeleton Crew.

UntouchableLuis · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2012, 03:44:25 PM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 21, 2012, 03:12:15 PM

That was The Jaunt, by Stephen King, from Skeleton Crew.

Great story that.

A lot of King's are good but some I just don't get into; think he's better at writing longer stuff to be honest, especially as King is mostly about the character.

Saligner's short stories are all great as well.

rafathegaffa83 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 21, 2012, 04:35:59 PM »

Alice Munro: Queen of the Short Story.

The Jackal · « **Reply #21 on:** January 21, 2012, 07:35:15 PM »

Quote from: rafathegaffa83 on January 21, 2012, 04:35:59 PM

Alice Munro: Queen of the Short Story.

I do like Alice Munro. She has this ability to take something from ordinary everyday life and imbue it with a real sense of drama and meaning. Magical stuff.

hassinator · « **Reply #22 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:01:08 PM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 21, 2012, 03:12:15 PM

That was The Jaunt, by Stephen King, from Skeleton Crew.

ah better memory than me sir. an excellent anthology enjoyed one sunny sunday on a balcony at my prep school.

i prefer stephen king's short stories to his novels.

hassinator · « **Reply #23 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:02:21 PM »

Quote from: UntouchableLuis on January 21, 2012, 03:44:25 PM

Great story that.

A lot of King's are good but some I just don't get into; think he's better at writing longer stuff to be honest, especially as King is mostly about the character.

he can be hit and miss in the longer form. he wrote 'the stand' when doing lots of speed and its pretty clear where he runs out.

corkboy · « **Reply #24 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:03:59 PM »

Quote from: hassinator on January 21, 2012, 10:01:08 PM

i prefer stephen king's short stories to his novels.

Me, too.

DanFromMars · « **Reply #25 on:** January 22, 2012, 12:50:22 AM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 20, 2012, 09:06:12 PM

Two thirds of the stories are by Irish writers but luckily we had an especially good crop to choose from.

Amen to that. Really need to find a bundle of them for my kindle. Incredible, especially the post war writers really captured that 'what the feck' realization of what happens next. My favorites were John McGahern and O'Connor from memory.

corkboy · « **Reply #26 on:** January 22, 2012, 01:05:26 AM »

And there's the Murders In The Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe, reputed to be the first ever detective story.

RedRabbit · « **Reply #27 on:** January 22, 2012, 01:25:00 AM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 20, 2012, 09:06:12 PM

The book I'm currently reading is called Exploring English 1. Not kidding.

Oh wow. That's a blast from the past. Used to love reading that, particularly since our English teacher was straight out of Dead Poets Society.

I've a copy of Frank O'Connor's shortstories knocking about somewhere which are particularly good. One of them is about two young IRA lads who have to take a young English soldier out into a bog to shoot him. The back and forth discussions on their route between the 3 is so real. Really heart wrenching stuff and all the better for being a short that just encapsulates that poignant moment in all their lives.

Another writer I like is Clive Barker's Books of Blood. The stories "Books of Blood" - where the protaganist becomes the book, "The Body Politic" - where a man's hands start a rebellion and " Raw-Head Rex" are superb. Raw head had me looking over my shoulder at night for weeks. There's another about a man who builds a palace for Satan which is a great story about desires and the consequences of realising them. All of them work so well as shorts because they grip you early and the pace need never slow.

corkboy · « **Reply #28 on:** January 22, 2012, 01:34:13 AM »

Quote from: RedRabbit on January 22, 2012, 01:25:00 AM

I've a copy of Frank O'Connor's shortstories knocking about somewhere which are particularly good. One of them is about two young IRA lads who have to take a young English soldier out into a bog to shoot him. The back and forth discussions on their route between the 3 is so real. Really heart wrenching stuff and all the better for being a short that just encapsulates that poignant moment in all their lives.

Guests Of The Nation. It's in the book.

DanFromMars · « **Reply #29 on:** January 22, 2012, 01:36:55 AM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 22, 2012, 01:05:26 AM

And there's the Murders In The Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe, reputed to be the first ever detective story.

Not read that. I've read the purloined letter which I think was the last one in that series.

Has anyone read Rip Van Winkle?

RedRabbit · « **Reply #30 on:** January 22, 2012, 01:42:41 AM »

Quote from: corkboy on January 22, 2012, 01:34:13 AM

Guests Of The Nation. It's in the book.

That's the fella. Maybe it was in that book that I read it.

I must rout it out. This thread has given me a hankering for some good storytelling. Kudos.

NeoAdjuvant · « **Reply #31 on:** January 22, 2012, 12:51:55 PM »

The Outsider - H.P. Lovecraft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outsider_(short_story)

Sublime.

hassinator · « **Reply #32 on:** January 22, 2012, 01:24:34 PM »

big shout for frank o'connor's excellent 'my oedipus complex'

certainly striking a chord at chateau hass

http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Oedipus-Complex-Stories-Classics/dp/0141187875

Veinticinco de Mayo · « **Reply #33 on:** January 27, 2012, 11:48:47 AM »

Just read this short story as part of the Granta issue dedicated to Pakistan (yes I am about a year behind). Just read "Leila in the Wilderness" a short story by Nadeem Aslam. It was wonderful. There is an extract here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/sep/13/extract-leila-wilderness-nadeem-aslam

Rococo · « **Reply #34 on:** January 27, 2012, 12:14:31 PM »

Quote from: hassinator on January 21, 2012, 10:01:08 PM

i prefer stephen king's short stories to his novels.

Yes, me too.

I remember as a kid reading Roald Dahl's short stories (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, and Six More) and them being great. Keep meaning to go back and read them again to see if it's just my memory playing tricks.

Had bookmarked the below link ages ago as some of the collections sound quite interesting

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/28/2011-best-short-stories

gomez · « **Reply #35 on:** January 27, 2012, 01:24:22 PM »

Big Woods by William Faulkner, absolutely fantastic book. Collection of hunting stories set in Mississippi, starting off in the mid to late 1800's and spanning over 60 years. Dialogue and description of the country is breathtaking, recommended to any fans of McCarthy's Border Trilogy.

I originally posted it it the book thread but definitely belongs in here, cracking stuff.

UntouchableLuis · « **Reply #36 on:** March 11, 2012, 02:53:55 PM »

Been reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's first colleciton of short stories he wrote in 1920 'Flappers and Philosophers' and they're absolutely brilliant. All very similar in theme but amazingly written.

idontknow · « **Reply #37 on:** March 11, 2012, 11:45:33 PM »

T. Coraghessen Boyle for me, always something special in them. Some very short, some much longer, so always something for whatever tiredness is upon you. I'm really poor at crediting writers who aren't a century old, probably because I'm a snob with failings, and always want to mooch with those who have blue plaques and books written about them, so when I say that he is a special writer, and have a big smile saying so, I'm sure that I am right, he is very very good.

Madagascherano · « **Reply #38 on:** March 18, 2012, 03:07:43 AM »

The Most Beautiful Woman in Town.. Charles Bukowski.
An excellent storyteller

American_Kopite · « **Reply #39 on:** March 18, 2012, 03:19:56 AM »

'An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce. One of my favourites ever along with 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson.