Any lover of short stories?

[chongjasmine]

I find myself enjoying short stories. Anyone with similar taste?

 

[alexvss]

I find myself enjoying short stories. Anyone with similar taste?

I’ve been obsessed with short-stories for a couple years now, because they’re faster to write and submit. Poe used to say that they’re superior as opposed to novels because you can read them in just one sitting. I wouldn’t go so far as Edgar and say that, but, as a guy who’s in a hurry to get as many stories out there pronto, I tend to gravitate towards shorter fiction.

I prefer magazines to short-story collections because something written by the same author tends to get repetitive. (But many authors have constant appearances in the “bigger” magazines, so they may also get repetitive).

In the last two years, I read a ton of stories published in online magazines that pay the SFWA pro-rate (8c a word) or higher, mostly because I wanted (and still do) to get published by them. I’m currently recovering from burnout syndrome so I’m reading just a few stories a week. And I’ve been slushing for The Common Tongue Magazine, a Dark Fantasy e-zine, for a year now.

But what is it that you love about them, exactly? Do you prefer magazines or collections?

 

[chongjasmine]

I love them because I find them interesting. I prefer magazines.

 

[Rodders]

Short stories are great because they pack such a punch in a short space.

 

[BAYLOR]

I find myself enjoying short stories. Anyone with similar taste?

Nightshade and Damnations by Gerald Kersh
Future Imperfect by James Gunn
Adrift on the Haunted Seas : The Best Short Stores of William Hope Hodgson by William Hope Hodgeson
The Essential Ellison A 50 Years Retrospective by Harlan Ellison

Yep , I love a good short story.

 

[Stuart Suffel]

Tis one of my specialties*... Also, check out Kraxon magazine, which is connected to this very community.

It's a weird one, because I NEVER would have thought I'd enjoy writing or reading short stories, but then I stumbled upon an old school book (can't remember the name now), which I re read as an adult, and it absolutely converted me to the format. It seems to be making a comeback in the last decade or so...
If you intend to write, DEFINITELY give short stories a go. It really sharpens the pen (not much room for padding / fat in a short story) in a number of ways.
* Not of late though, had to finish a novel, but getting back into the short story saddle soon...
S

 

[Astro Pen]

A novel, if reasonably written, is an immersive experience.
A short story tends not to be but instead presents me with an 'idea'. They are very good for "what if" scenarios that wouldn't necessarily carry a book.
My reading has changed a lot since I started writing novels. I devote far less time to reading novels, maybe only four, carefully selected, a year. If I have a free evening I would now rather write than read.
For short time windows like waiting rooms, train rides I now prefer to read diverse shorts rather than try to 'get back into' a novel.
Shorts are also much better for dipping the toes in unfamiliar genres. I just discovered Primo Levi for example.

 

[Randy M.]

I've been reading short stories since I was a kid. My memory is of reading Sherlock Holmes short stories on my own first, along with assigned class readings. Later it was all anthologies. I gravitated to magazines for a while still later, but now find my interest more in single-author story collections, though I seem to only complete about half of what I start in any given year.

 

[chongjasmine]

I read sherlock holmes short stories, too. Really enjoy them!

 

[BAYLOR]

The Complete Tales of Jules De Grandin by Seabury Quinn

 

[RichardTillman]

I like reading short stories, especially something like Sherlock Holmes short stories, but books, especially series of books I like more

 

[Elentarri]

I like short stories. I usually get them in anthology format on impulse buys at used book shops.

 

[Rodders]

Short stories haven't been my go to for SF, but i've read a few.

My favourite short stories are the Philip K. Dick ones. There are five volumes and I'd totally recommend them. There are some duff ones, but i adore the cold war paranoia of the time and some of the stories pack a wonderful punch.

I enjoyed Alistair Reynolds short stories set within his Revelation Space universe, too. Diamond Dogs was my favourite, but there is a darkness and cruelty to many of the stories.

Last year i read Neal Asher's Lockdown Tales. Again, i enjoyed most and found myself wanting to know more.

 

[BAYLOR]

My favourite short stories are the Philip K. Dick ones. There are five volumes and i'd totally recommend them.

I enjoyed Alistair Reynolds short stories set within his Revelation Space universe, too.

Upon the Dull Earth by Phillip K Dick I always that though one would make a great Twilight Zone episode .