Modern Short Stories

With this, his first collection of stories, Raymond Carver breathed new life into the American short story and instantly became both the recognized master of the form and one of our best-loved fiction writers. Carver shows us the humor and tragedy that dwell in the hearts of ordinary people; his stories are the classics of our time.

Best-selling urban fantasy and paranormal suspense author M.D. Massey welcomes listeners back to the world of the Junkyard Druid for his third short story collection. Blood Bound includes "Voodoo Ball", "Prince Mark's Price", and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do".

Gripping and compassionate, Land of Big Numbers traces the journeys of the diverse and legion Chinese people, their history, their government, and how all of that has tumbled—messily, violently, but still beautifully—into the present. Cutting between clear-eyed realism and tongue-in-cheek magical realism, Chen’s stories coalesce into a portrait of a people striving for openings where mobility is limited.

Congratulations! You made it to the last and final installment of the keys! We maximized and planned our future with THE KEYS TO FUTURE SELF. I mentored you through my failures with KEYS TO YOUR CROWN. For those who want long lasting relationships and a family we did a thorough assessment and and internal break down with KEYS TO YOUR KINGDOM. Now what most men put first we will FINALLY cover last with the KEYS 2 SEX! Most men chase and women. You want to really become the best version of yourself and have and abundance of sex and women. Let me tell you a secret. Looks in side you, the ...

"...because in Mistletoe Hollow, love is just one meet-cute away!" Living in a town called Mistletoe Hollow sounds adorable, doesn’t it? Snowflakes, cocoa, warm hugs from neighbors—it’s basically a sappy romance movie come to life. Except when you’re me, Emily Bradford, and your idea of romance is a quiet night with a good book and zero meddling matchmakers. After my ex-boyfriend ditched me with a dozen roses and no wedding ring, I retreated to Mistletoe Hollow to lick my wounds, plant some flowers, and keep my head down. No drama, no distractions—just me and a fresh start. Then ...

Every life is a theatrical play and has its own intriguing story. But there are some lives that don’t dovetail into plays or stories. Their lives exceeded the dimensions of one particular story or play, transforming into a chain of stories and plays. While I was constructing the story of their strange life, I found myself on stage in a play. Nobody told me to act in it. I’m a volunteer actor in this play. The theater is where this play, in which I’m an actor, opens its curtains while you’re snoozing away in your warm, comfy bed. Sometimes after a one-act play is played, it closes ...

As an author and lover of stories, I embarked on a unique creative journey this July. Each morning, I sat down with an AI chatbot as my writing companion, ready to craft a new tale. My goal was simple - to experience something novel, wild, and fun every day through the power of collaborative storytelling. Together, the AI and I explored a vast array of subjects. We ventured into outer space, witnessing humanity's first steps on Europa. We delved into the realms of fantasy, following a brave squirrel's daring pizza heist. We explored profound themes like memory loss and starting a family, ...

Quantum Shadows When cutting-edge quantum computing research at UC Berkeley becomes the target of a high-stakes espionage operation, CIA Spymaster Corey Pearson and his elite team are called in to stop a looming disaster. A revolutionary encryption algorithm, capable of rendering the world’s most sensitive communications unbreakable, is at risk of falling into the hands of Russian intelligence. Embedded in the campus, Corey, Ana Ramirez, and Brad Hawkins unravel a web of deceit where ambitious academics, foreign operatives, and betrayal collide. With time running out, the team must ...

Elaine Huang is perfectly happy. She lives in Los Angeles, CA, working as an illustrator for projects of her choice. She regularly meets up with her bestie, Martha, usually at Musashi's, their preferred venue. On one such visit, she answers a call from a persistent unknown number. The phone call changes her life, taking her halfway around the world to Sovereign Island where it brings her back into contact with some family secrets she has done her best to forget. Can Elaine figure out why those secrets have come back to haunt her, while having to adapt to an unfamiliar environment on a ski ...

Detective stories existed for centuries before the concept of the detective itself—amateur or professional— was fully formulated, and tales of mystery and intrigue have been thrilling readers since ancient times. The Lock and Key Library is the classic overview of the history of the mystery genre, at once a rousing listen for fans of the unsolved and unknown as well as an essential literary resource for those seeking to understand the roots of modern pulp fiction. This volume is sure to delight and enthrall armchair detectives and fans of classic mysteries alike.

As the pace of modern life accelerates, the old ways wither and die. But to the Society for Magickal Heritage, that just isn’t good enough.

Words of a Feather is a stunning collection of Short Stories, Poems and Sketches from author, Robert E. Kearns. There's something inside for every taste, and Words of a Feather comes packed with hours of reading pleasure. Replete with entertainment, there is sure to be laughs, tears, spills and thrills. Satisfying pleasures of the mind, Words of a Feather is a book you'll want to read again and again.

If you’re a thirty-year-old, Southern male from a Christian family and have never brought a girl home to meet Momma, then you must secretly be up to no good. And if you also happen to be an only son with five older, happily married sisters, the pressure to find the one and only love of your life is like digging through a pile of leaves for the pin to the grenade you’re holding. Those were the first two lines of the first video post of Mark Griffin’s to go viral, and his popularity has steadily risen over the two years since. He decides to use his platform to find someone to share ...

Eight brilliant short stories from the best female short story writer of her age. Katherine Mansfield's wit, pathos and descriptive genius combine in this collection to take the listener from a wry smile one minute to the verge of tears the next.

Book Description: In the quiet town of Edenvale, a tragic crime shakes a family and a community to its core. The Trial of Cain is a masterful reimagining of the ancient biblical story of Cain and Abel, set against the dramatic backdrop of a modern courtroom. As farmer Cain Adams faces charges for the murder of his brother Abel, the trial unravels a century-old legacy of land disputes, sibling rivalry, and divine rejection. Through gripping legal battles, forensic discoveries, and profound questions of faith and justice, the story explores the depths of human emotion and the haunting power ...

There are stories for every listener in this delightful collection—exciting crime-solving adventures; nervous young actors in the spotlight for the first time; unforgettable holidays and unlikely friendships.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride… Shelby: It’s my 30th birthday, not that anyone seems to remember. Instead, everyone is focused on my brother Sam’s wedding. I’m happy for him, but still. This will be the sixteenth time I’ll be a bridesmaid since my college graduation, but at least this time I get to be maid of honor. Only that means I have to walk down the aisle with him. Jagger, my brother’s best friend and my lifelong crush. If that isn’t bad enough, he’s brought his model girlfriend. It seems I can’t win. Bringing my best friend, Chip, seems like a good idea until he...

This is a story from the Canterbury Tales I: Modern Verse Translation collection. Chaucer's greatest work, written towards the end of the fourteenth century, paints a brilliant picture of medieval life, society and values. The stories range from the romantic, courtly idealism of "The Knight's Tale" to the joyous bawdy of the Miller's; all are told with a freshness and vigor in this modern verse translation that make them a delight to hear.

19 short stories from the deep end. (Contains some salty language and subject matter--reader discretion advised.)

This collection contains: "Idle Thoughts on Babies"; "The Schartz-Meterklume Method"; "A Photographer's Day Out"; and more.