Many people love to read, but books can be a long investment, sometimes requiring hours of reading. Short literature, on the other hand, can often easily be read in a single sitting. Short stories offer a change of pace and allow one to explore more authors and genres without a considerable time commitment. Here are some of the best short stories for all types of readers.
Let us slide into your dms 🥰
Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)“All Summer in a Day”
Image Credit: Zelch Csaba from Pexels
“All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury—acclaimed author of the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451—follows a group of children on Venus during the short period of time in which they are able to see the sun, highlighting themes of jealousy and bullying.
“All Summer in a Day” is the perfect short story for readers who enjoy books that blend the sci-fi and dystopian genres and focus on youthful main characters, like Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Take the Quiz: Which Popular YA Novel Series Should I Read Next?
Find out your next great read after this quiz!
“The Lottery”
Image Credit: Emiliano Vittoriosi from Unsplash
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” tells the story of a seemingly idyllic town with a mysterious lottery. The story focuses on a woman and her changing perspective on the town ritual, underscoring themes of social conformity and the impact of following traditions.
“The Lottery” is well-suited to readers who love the psychological horror of Jackson’s novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle or the dystopian traditions featured in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
“The Paper Menagerie”
Image Credit: Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pexels
“The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu explores the changing relationship between a Chinese-American boy and his immigrant mother, who has the magical ability to breathe life into origami animals. The story weaves fantasy into a coming-of-age plot, focusing on the ideas of identity, change, and family.
Liu’s piece of short fiction is perfect for readers who enjoy the intertwining of magic and childhood in Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane or the emphasis on self-discovery in Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi.
“The Most Dangerous Game”
Image Credit: Jan-Peter Dhallé from Pexels
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell is an action/thriller short story about a hunter who washes up on a mysterious island. There, the main character meets an eccentric aristocrat who also enjoys hunting big game for sport. The story questions the ethics of hunting, highlighting themes of survival, human nature, and the consequences of actions.
Connell's short story is ideal for those who enjoy the action of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet or the conflict between morality and survival featured in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
“A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”
Image Credit: Rümeysa from Pexels
“A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway is a literary fiction story about two waiters and an old deaf man in a Spanish cafe late at night. The plot mostly follows a conversation between the two waiters about the deaf man, exploring the concepts of solitude, age, and existence.
“A Clean, Well- Lighted Place” is the perfect short story for people who enjoy Hemingway’s minimalist writing style featured in his full-length novels, including The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms. Readers who like dialogue-heavy writing, like in The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy, might also enjoy Hemingway's short story.
Takeaways
Ultimately, short stories can expose a reader to more literature, allowing them to explore new genres and authors without the pressure and commitment of a full-length novel.
