Like many children, the girl in this story by Christyne Morrell for Spider Magazine dreams of having a pet dog or cat. Unfortunately, this is not to be. Her parents give her a goldfish instead! To make sure her mother and father know what she really wanted, she names the fish “Dog.” This must have hurt the fish’s feelings because, much to the girl’s surprise, it begins to live up to its new name. By the end of the story the girl and fish are happy, her friends are amazed, and some readers may never want to eat fish again. More…
All posts by shortsonline
An Upheaval
Major themes of his story by Anton Chekhov include social class, pride, respect, dignity and courage. A young woman in her first job as a governess returns from a walk to find the woman of the house searching her room for a missing brooch. She is so offended and incensed that, despite entreaties by the woman’s husband, she decides to leave. An unusual (for Chekhov) aspect of the story is that here we have a relatively powerless woman stand up to the humiliating treatment of her aristocratic employer, even though it may cost her and her parents dearly. More…
The Son from America
The major theme of this moving story by Isaac Singer is contentment. Set in a Polish farming village during the late 19th century, an old couple eke out a meager existence following their traditional way of life. Hidden away in their hut is a small fortune, saved from money sent over the years by their son in America. When the son visits with plans to provide further help and improve the amenities of the village, his offers are rejected. Additional themes: family, materialiam (money vs. happiness), religious faith, community spirit, change (urbanization, invention), pace of life (city vs. country). More…
Dharma
This story from Vikram Chandra focuses on the life of career soldier Jago Antia. In a twist on the ghost story genre, most of the action occurs in a house haunted not by the ghost of a dead inhabitant, but the “lost” spirit of Jago’s youth. A question raised by the story is Which of the many meanings of the word “dharma” does the title refer to? Superficially, it reflects Jago’s distinguished career (duty). On a deeper level, it represents the self-awareness (freedom) provided by confronting his personal ghost. Themes: modern vs. traditional beliefs, duty, self-discipline, courage, the supernatural, dharma. More…
Knock
This story by Fredric Brown begins and ends with what may be the shortest horror story ever written: The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door… A scientist wakes to find himself alone in a cell. The previous night Alien invaders had collected 217 animal species, including him, for study. They then destroyed all other animal life on the planet. He convinces them that Earth is a dangerous place to live. After they have gone, he hears the second knock on the door. Themes include exploration, genocide, deceit, solitude, “duty”. More…