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Track the short fiction you read in 2015
I'm going to set for myself the rather ambitious goal of reading 400 stories this year. Since I've started keeping track of such things, the closest I've ever come to attaining that mark was 390 a few years back. More typically I'm in the 150-250 range.Because the obsessive-compulsive way in which I fashion these lists generates a lot of characters, I'm going to have to partition the entries by month.
Here goes...
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October-December
January:1. The TV by Ben Loory 3.5* Sci-fi strangeness.
2. I Seduced Bigfoot to Save Broadway from the Homophobic Sasquatches...And I Liked it! by Max Wood 4* Funny stuff
Never mind. I guess since this is a reading group I should do that
Tom asks:I want to play! If I read a book of short stories do they count individually?
I usually list the stories within a collection individually in the short fiction-tracking thread and then the collection as a whole in the book-tracking thread, but whatever rules you want to establish for your own list are fine, Tom.
Hello, Tom (Canavan and I are acquainted). I'm a very passionate short story reader. A bit of an insomniac, I can wake up in the wee hours and read a short story before my eyes start going again...So far this year:
The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway (1936). Pure perfection.
Button, Button by Richard Matheson (1970).
In a Season of Calm Weather by Ray Bradbury (1957). A constant re-read, and possibly the finest short story ever written, for my money.
Now Wakes the Sea by J.G. Ballard (1960). Again, a constant re-read. It reminds me just how well this form can be done. Ballard was a true original.
The Voices of Time by J.G. Ballard (1960). This story is so condensed that, once read, it expands in your memory to the size of a novel.
Soft Monkey by Harlan Ellison (1988). Winner of the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for short story. Harlan Ellison can be a bit hit and miss with me, but when he turned it on, he was unstoppable. Again, a short story which could easily have been a novel.
And there you have it for this year. So far...
John wrote (in part):Now Wakes the Sea by J.G. Ballard (1960). Again, a constant re-read. It reminds me just how well this form can be done. Ballard was a true original.
The Voices of Time by J.G. Ballard (1960). This story is so condensed that, once read, it expands in your memory to the size of a novel.
I know that he has his admirers, but Ballard represents a bit of a blind spot in my reading resume. The last thing by him that I read was a 1970 story, "Say Goodbye to the Wind”, which was connected to the Vermilion Sands universe; good writing, but the ideas expressed left me kinda cold.
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Latasha asks:some of mine may be in audio form. let me know if that's not ok!
It most certainly is okay.
A while ago our business location changed, resulting in a shorter work commute. I don’t miss the traffic, but I do regret the diminished opportunity to listen to audio books.
Hahaha! Why not take the scenic route? Set out a little earlier?
John asks:Hahaha! Why not take the scenic route? Set out a little earlier?
In order for me to avoid rush traffic, I already have to get up quite early (around 5 a.m.). I’m not sure I’m capable of getting up any earlier than that on a regular basis. ;)
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Latasha said:just listened to The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton and I loved it!! by Charles dickens. I listened to a recording of this on the M.R. James podcast- a podcast to the curious. they said it was a precursor for a Christmas carol and you can tell but I really liked this story!
Yes, I just listened to this a few days ago. A solid story. Listening to it reminded me that I’d still like to one day sit down and read The Pickwick Papers in its entirety.
As an aside, I’m a huge fan of Ross and Taylor’s A Podcast to the Curious. It’s a bit sad that they’ve now pretty much exhausted all of James’ stories. I’m not sure if they have any concrete plans for continuing the podcast once they’ve done so.
Thanks for bringing this podcast to my attention. It seems I have alot of catching up to do!
Continuing from my earlier list:Dark They Were and Golden Eyed by Ray Bradbury (1949). Beautiful and disquieting.
Within the Walls of Tyre by Michael Bishop (1978). Again, one of my all-time favourites and one I go back to.
The Safe Man by Michael Connelly (2012). One of the most original ghost stories I have ever read, written by the crime writer.
The Chain by Tobias Wolff (1996). For my money, the perfect stylist. Economical and sometimes profound. This story is a fine example.
And there you have it again, until next time.
John wrote (in part):The Safe Man by Michael Connelly (2012). One of the most original ghost stories I have ever read, written by the crime writer.
The Chain by Tobias Wolff (1996). For my money, the perfect stylist. Economical and sometimes profound. This story is a fine example.
I’m not familiar with the Connelly story; nor with the Wolff story although I’ve enjoyed both Wolff’s longer and shorter works. I’ll have to seek this one out.
To my knowledge, The Safe Man was published on it's own. I purchased it on my Kindle. The Chain is available in the collections The Night in Question and Our Story Begins. Enjoy!
John wrote:To my knowledge, The Safe Man was published on it's own. I purchased it on my Kindle. The Chain is available in the collections The Night in Question and Our Story Begins. Enjoy!
Thanks for the info. I’m pretty sure I own Our Story Begins . I’ll have to dig it out. This could be one of those embarrassing instances where I’ve actually read the story in question and just don’t remember the title.
It's only one of my favourites. Casualty is good, so is Bullet in the Brain. Also Wingfield. The Barracks Thief is especially good. There are so many.
Latasha noted:I'm slowly working my way through this anthology-in audio form. The Vampire Archives
I remember being tempted by this collection when it came out; Penzler is a good anthologist and this one includes a lot of great stories, but ultimately I passed because I had too many of them in other collections. If you have a moment, let us know what you think of the entries.
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Another silly question. When I update my reads should I post new messages or edit my original post?
Tom asks:Another silly question. When I update my reads should I post new messages or edit my original post?
It’s entirely your call, Tom. In the analogous thread for books, Track the Books You Read in 2015, I notice that most contributors incorporate their updates into their original message. On the other hand, I note that John tends to post his updates for this thread in separate messages (see here and here), which is fine by me. In the past, my own lists tend to be so verbose that the Goodreads character limit forces me to break them up by month (i.e., a new message for each month).
Mine is so easy to find because of my big red spot, so I just post on that one.
At the end of the year I'll edit my separate posts otherwise it will be as long as a small novel...
If I get time (I've been packing my library in order to move to the country) I'll add another sprinkling tomorrow. There's plenty more to come.
Sorry, but I've been awfully busy moving house. Anyway, where was I?A Gathering of Ghosts by David Haynes (2014). A collection of six period ghosts stories by an up and coming author. Economical and atmospheric.
The Descent of Man by T. Coraghessan Boyle (1979). One of the most original voices in fantastic literature I have ever come across. Check him out.
Fish Head by Irvin S. Cobb (1911).
Croatoan by Harlan Ellison (1975). When I first read this some thirty years ago, my mouth was agape at the very nerve of Ellison's idea. Written when this flawed Prince of Darkness was at the peak of his powers.
The Copper Peacock by Ruth Rendell (1991). My favourite writer of the domestic thriller. Her short stories are second to none when she is on form.
Drink Entire: Against the Madness of Crowds by Ray Bradbury (1976). From the collection Long After Midnight. Personally, I think this was Bradbury's last good collection before he began to languish into stories of sentimental slush.
Of Missing Persons by Jack Finney (1955). I tend to gush when talking about this gem, but I'll save you the agony. Instead, I'll say that it contains one of the most devastating endings I have ever read.
And there you have it until next time. Have fun hunting them down. I think this is one of the better threads. Short stories, when they are done right, should be savoured like a good wine.
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Good Lady Ducayne 3 stars. an old lady keeps going through companions. is she a vampire?
The Last Lords Of Gardonal 2 stars. I didn't like it.
the fate of Madame Cabanel by Elizabeth Lynn Linton 4 stars. this is the one I started taking notes for. a scorned lover, a mysterious sickness..who is the vampire? I liked this story.
let loose- mary chumley 3 stars. this story had a M.R. James feel to it. a guy finds a sketch of a fresco & sets out to find it. turns out, it's in a crypt.
there was a poem called the vampire but I can't find it.
The Death of Halpin Frayser not sure why this is in the book but I LOVE Ambrose B. this story has my favorite dream sequence in it.
Ken's Mystery 3 stars. about a dude that wears high collars & what he is hiding.
John said (in part):Sorry, but I've been awfully busy moving house. Anyway, where was I?
A few belated and random comments, John.
I like Cobb’s “Fishhead”, a nice example of regional horror and a possible (?) influence on Lovecraft. “Fishhead” has always been easily accessible, but I’ve never been able to locate a copy of Cobb’s other semi-famous supernatural story, “The Unbroken Chain”. Anyone else?
The Bradbury collection might be due for a re-read, although I think I’m on record somewhere as stating that by 1970 the author’s best days were already behind him and that his output was becoming increasingly self-indulgent.
I recently re-read “Of Missing Persons” — I liked it, but perhaps not quite as much as you did.
Latasha said (in part):ok. I mentioned before I was listening to The Vampire Archives. so far I've listened to 8? stories from it. so I'm gonna tell you a bit about them.
Thanks for keeping us updated, Latasha. I know I’ve read the Braddon and Bierce stories, but it’s been so long ago that I don’t recall my impressions. I’ve read at least some Julian Hawthorne, but don’t think I’ve read “Ken’s Mystery”. And I’m not familiar with the other tales you cite.
Thank you, Canavan. The Unbroken Chain? I'll have a mooch.
Okay, where was I? Oh, yes.The Blue Lenses by Daphne du Maurier (1959).
Don't Look Now by Daphne du Maurier (1971).
I started reading du Maurier when I was in my mid-teens and was struck by the hidden menace in a lot of her work - in particular the shorter stuff. I still read her now and appreciate them even more so if anything.
The Gunslinger by Stephen King (1981). I first read it in a Years Finest Fantasy anthology and thought, Wow! Refreshing, original, dark and devilish. I am appalled with how the whole premise of the short story has been staggeringly over-written in volumes the size of the Bible.
The Lawnmower Man by Stephen King (1975). Mesmerising and original.
The Terrapin by Patricia Highsmith (1962). Winner of the Edgar.
Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff (1995). An unusually brutal story for Wolff, but highly effective.
Among the Wolves by David Case (1971). One of the best horror/suspense novellas I have ever read. Check it out.
Green Tea by Sheridan Lefanu (1872). A story which has kept me awake more than once.
The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs (1902). A story which needs no introduction.
And there you have it so far.
Until next time.
John said (in part):Okay, where was I? Oh, yes.
The Blue Lenses by Daphne du Maurier (1959).
Don't Look Now by Daphne du Maurier (1971).
Just a little editorializing here, John. ;-)
I’ve only read the one du Maurier story, “Don’t Look Now”, but it was so long ago that I don’t retain a clear impression of it.
I’m guessing I first read “The Gunslinger” in the same Terry Carr anthology that you did. I liked it at the time, but I’ve always resisted the impulse to slog through King’s magnum opus. Maybe one of these days…
On the other hand, I never thought that much of “The Lawnmower Man”. In fact, I seem to swim against the current in holding to the view that the stories in Night Shift are by far the author’s weakest.
Mixed feelings about “Green Tea”. Great set-up; terrible ending. (I won’t get into spoiler territory here by expounding further.)
“The Monkey’s Paw” is one of those stories with which the public is so familiar that I fear it has over time lost a bit of its power; it’s difficult to realize until you actually sit down to re-read it what an almost perfectly told gem it is.
Thank you, Latasha and Canavan. Yeah, I do tend to waffle on a bit. I first read Night Shift as soon as it came out in 1978. Apart from Matheson, I thought it was unlike anything I'd read before. I still think it is his best collection. Skeleton Crew next. Of his later shorts there are only a handful that I like. King has said on many occasions that his early stuff is written by a somewhat cocky writer. This may be so, but I still prefer the stuff he wrote within the first fifteen years of incredible career.
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Try her short fiction first, Latasha. There's a good half-dozen collections. Some are beautifully crafted.
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"Eyes Left" by Jack Ketchum and Edward Lee..... A chapbook limited to 500 copies. A great story. Calm, calm, human, calm, building, and it tears you at the end.... If you can get a copy please do. It's a perfect example of a tight short horror-story.
Alex said (in part):"Eyes Left" by Jack Ketchum and Edward Lee..... A chapbook limited to 500 copies. A great story.
I think the chapbook is, as you imply, pretty hard to find. However, the story can be read on-line here and is also to be found in the story collection, Sleep Disorder .
Oh yeah, and John Pelan's (editor) the Darkside series is great.... Unless you are into Splatterpunk, or Extreme Horror I'd skip the first one - "Horror for the New Mellenium." But the other four volumes are brilliant. Don't get me wrong. Some of the stories are gruesome. Not for the faint of heart. But overall the collections are much more rounded out than the first volume. There are a lot of excellent tales in these anthologies.
I've discovered many new authors that I still read.
Alex said (in part):Oh yeah, and John Pelan's (editor) the Darkside series is great.... Unless you are into Splatterpunk, or Extreme Horror I'd skip the first one
Yeah, I recall picking up a battered, used copy of Darkside after someone twisted my arm to get me read Edward Lee’s “The Stick Woman”. Good heavens! Although I doubt I’ll ever forget the story, I can’t say that reading it was a particularly pleasant experience. ;-)
Oh man, I think someone should be fired for putting that story in there.... Unless you know Edward Lee you have no idea what you are getting into. He is a very good writer. But he is also more perverted and disturbing than anyone can imagine. I can't tell if I hate him or admire him..... (though I have a number of his signed limited editions)
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Canavan's short stories
January
1. "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton" (from The Pickwick Papers ), Charles Dickens (1836-1837/1837). ✭✭✭½
2. "The Daemon Lover", Shirley Jackson (1949). ✭✭✭✭
3. "The Intoxicated", Shirley Jackson (1949). ✭✭✭
4. "Like Mother Used to Make", Shirley Jackson (1949). ✭✭✭✭½
5. "Second Chance", Jack Finney (1957). ✭✭✭½
6. "Home Alone" (variant titles: "An Old Tune", "The Intrepid Aeronaut"), Jack Finney (1961). ✭✭✭
7. "The Face in the Photo", Jack Finney (1962). ✭✭✭½
8. "Hey, Look at Me!", Jack Finney (1962). ✭✭✭½
9. "Bait", Bob Leman (1967). ✭✭½
10. "La Salamandra" ["The Salamander"], Mercè Rodoreda (1967). ✭✭✭
11. "The Reaper's Image", Stephen King (1969). ✭✭✭✭
12. "Industrial Complex", Bob Leman (1977). ✭✭✭½
13. "Change of Address", Bob Leman (1979). ✭✭✭
14. "Loob", Bob Leman (1979). ✭✭✭
15. "Feesters in the Lake", Bob Leman (1980). ✭✭✭✭✭
16. "Skirmish on Bastable Street", Bob Leman (1981). ✭✭½
17. "The Tehama", Bob Leman (1981). ✭✭✭½
18. "Hunters in the Snow", Tobias Wolff (1981). ✭✭✭✭½
19. "The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands", Stephen King (1982). ✭✭✭½
20. "Word Processor of the Gods" (variant title: "The Word Processor"), Stephen King (1983). ✭✭✭½
21. "Unlawful Possession", Bob Leman (1983). ✭✭✭
22. "Instructions", Bob Leman (1984). ✭✭✭½
23. "The Pilgrimage of Clifford M.", Bob Leman (1984). ✭✭✭✭½
24. "Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming", Bob Leman (1987). ✭✭✭½
25. "Olida", Bob Leman (1987). ✭✭✭✭
26. "The Time of the Worm", Bob Leman (1988). ✭✭✭½
27. "Sorry, Right Number", Stephen King (1993). ✭✭✭
28. "How Dobbstown Was Saved", Bob Leman (2002). ✭✭✭½
29. "The Key", Ilsa J. Bick (2004). ✭✭✭½
30. "The Nightside, Needless to Say", Simon R. Green (2004). ✭✭
31. "Love Hurts", Jim Butcher (2010). ✭✭✭½
32. "The Book and the Ring", Reggie Oliver (2014). ✭✭✭
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In the context of this thread, the term "short fiction" can be defined as broadly or as narrowly as the person crafting the list desires — it can include, for example, novellas, novelettes, or poems as well as short stories. Similarly, the fiction in question can come from whatever genre the list-maker is interested in (although one presumes that since this group is primarily interested in horror that at least some of the entries will be horror-related). The fiction can come from magazines, story collections, the web, chapbooks, e-books, whatever. And, finally, the format of the list can take whatever form is deemed appropriate by the list-maker.