Short Stories

In the past 50 years, the American short story has changed dramatically. New voices, forms, and mixtures of genres have brought this unique US genre a thrilling burst of energy. This rich anthology celebrates this avalanche of talent. Beginning in 1970, it culls together a half century of powerful American short stories from all genres, including - for the first time in a literary anthology - science fiction, horror, and fantasy.

A "very short Catholic priest" who does "...not seem to know which was the right end of his return ticket," Father Brown is the embodiment of the phrase 'looks can be deceiving.' Arguably the second best-known crime-solver in English literature, this unassuming man of the cloth solves case after case with ease.

These thirteen stories are our own lives, inside out. A boy's summer romance doesn't end in that good kind of heartbreak, but in blood. A girl on a fishing trip makes a friend in the woods, except then that friend follows her back to the city. A father hears a voice through his baby monitor that shouldn't be possible, but now he can't stop listening. From prison guards making unholy alliances to snake-oil men in the Old West doling out justice, these stories carve down into the body of the mind, into our most base fears and certainties, and there's no anesthetic.

30 Hot Quickies ~ Short-Short Erotic Stories That Get Right to the Point! Hookups Include: Age gap, Boss Kink, Hotwife, Sharing, Threesomes, Group, Strangers, Public Sex, and More! Read the Sample to see inside the book and which stories are included in this collection. Includes intimacy, naughty decisions, and sexual situations.

Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my lifeI'm engaged to the man of my dreams, and in a few short hours, I'm going to stand before a judge, who will declare us husband and wife, till death does us part. Despite some bumps in the road, this day is everything I dreamed it would be. There's only one problem: Someone out there doesn't want me to live long enough to say my vows. And if I'm not careful, they may very well get their wish.

Welcome to Briarcliff House—a haunted hotel nestled deep in the woods outside Salem, Massachusetts, where time folds, mirrors whisper, and every room holds a secret. In this chilling collection of 20 short stories, guests encounter ghostly apparitions, cursed objects, and supernatural forces that feed on memory, identity, and fear itself. From possessed rooms and vanishing children to looping timelines and evil reflections, Haunted Hotel is a gripping horror anthology that will drag you screaming down haunted hallways you’ll never forget. Perfect for fans of The Sleep Experiment, The ...

A terrifying, thrilling collection of must-listen horror stories chock-full of nightmarish supernatural beings and the murderously disturbed that are sure to keep you up all night long.

After the loss of her mother, a woman returns to the San Fernando Valley only to uncover a haunting secret about her childhood friend. A visiting professor at a charming but strange California liberal arts college must face her past in order to protect her son. A sister, lost in the woods, confronts the dangerous truth about her brother, her stepmother, and herself. Rose's dog Wolfie has died, and three seductive women offer to help return him to her. But only if she will pay the price.

“The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together.” – Saadi Bolen Daymond I owe this quiet life with my dog and music to my big brother, Melo. So when he wants to borrow my jazz club for a strip show, I have no choice but to comply. I refuse to fraternize with his peacocking guest of honor, but then I meet his sister, Kassia James. A sinful urge awakens in me the moment I discover the scars she hides behind dark sunglasses. Melo promised me anything in return for one night to defile my club. Now I need it to make one of my own. To her. Kassia James The only love of ...

Fran Williams never intended to be a travel writer but circumstances made her life take a surprising turn. Now, needing to put the past behind her and desperate for a fresh new start, she finds herself assigned to attend the Mayward Literature Festival as part of a group of journalists. It’s not long before things take a turn for the worse and Fran, teaming up with tourist board guide Harry, finds herself in the middle of yet another mystery! Can Fran and Harry track down the missing celebrity author? Where is she? Why did she vanish? Will they manage to find her in time and uncover the ...

Meet Harlow Torrent, part-time journalist and full-time Slip Witch and her crazy witch family in this ten-book cozy mystery box set.

This bundle includes What Doesn't Destroy Us, The Scars That Define Us, The Fear That Divides Us, The Lies Between Us, and What Might Kill Us.

Welcome to the Nightside. It's the secret heart of London, beating to its own rhythm, pumping lifeblood through the veins of its streets and alleys hidden in eternal darkness, where creatures of the night congregate, and where the sun is afraid to shine. Tales from the Nightside presents ten macabre mysteries that shine a dim beam into the neighborhood's darkest corners to reveal things that should never come to light. Take a walk with such deadly and dangerous denizens as Razor Eddie, Dead Boy, and Larry Oblivion as they encounter things far more inhuman and inhumane than them.

Haunting, harrowing, and downright horrifying, this classic collection from the modern master of the fantastic features: "The Small Assassin": a fine, healthy baby boy was the new mother's dream come true - or her nightmare.... "The Emissary": the faithful dog was the sick boy's only connection with the world outside - and beyond.... "The Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone": a most remarkable case of murder - the deceased was delighted! And more!

Naughty Hookups and Dirty Flings Quickies ~ 30+ Short Stories Keith’s Story: More Than Amused at the Amusement Park Ethan’s Story: Rediscovering Sex with His Best Friend's Sister Erik’s Story: A Dirty Swim Deanna’s Story: Hotwife’s Unexpected Hookup Doug’s Story: Let Me Float Your Boat! Kevin’s Story: My Office Party Hookup Sam’s Story: Nailing My Girlfriend’s Sexy Sister Rory’s Story: First Time With a Wild Goth Girl Ford’s Story: The Candy Striper Brian’s Story: A Hot Tamale Andy’s Story: Weekend Swingers Setup! Joey’s Story: Sharing With Our New Neighbors Wes...

In these tales, Lord John vows to avenge a murder, investigates a terrifying "night-hag" on the battlefields of Europe, and discovers treason in His Majesty's ranks.

A master storyteller at his best - the O. Henry Prize winner Stephen King delivers a generous collection of stories, several of them brand-new, featuring revelatory autobiographical comments on when, why, and how he came to write (or rewrite) each story. Magnificent, eerie, utterly compelling, these stories comprise one of King's finest gifts to his constant fan. "I made them especially for you," says King. "Feel free to examine them, but please be careful. The best of them have teeth."

What defines a modern short story is much more than a question of length. Despite the efforts of early pioneers like Edgar Allan Poe, the genre was originally synonymous with the anecdote or tale and seen more as entertainment than art. However it has become far more than that, and this Very Short Introduction considers afresh the form's ongoing innovations in plot construction, capacity for psychological insight, and ability to offer intensely concentrated perceptions.

“There have never been as many exquisitely built stories in existence than there are now,” proclaims guest editor Lauren Groff in her introduction. This abundance led to a volume of robust stories with the nerve to push against narrative expectations. The Best American Short Stories 2024 boasts a collection of twenty stories that “buzz with their own strange logic.” Daring and resonant, the stories in this volume invite in Groff “a feeling that both the author and I were simultaneously discovering something together.”

Thirteen bibliomysteries by best-selling and award-winning authors are contained in this first of volume of a must-listen collection.