The Centipede

The Centipede: Short story by Rony V. DiazThe major theme of this story by Rony V. Diaz is revenge. A boy who has suffered years of torment from his older sister snaps when she severely beats and injures the eye of his beloved dog. Forgetting she has a weak heart, he plays a cruel, potentially fatal trick on her. The girl’s hatred and victimization of her brother raises the question of whether she, too, is taking revenge (albeit unconsciously) for the death of her mother when giving birth to him. Other themes include dealing with injustice and the need to stop and think before acting in anger.

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The Tell-Tale Heart

The Tell-tale Heart: Short story by Edgar Allan PoeIn this Gothic horror story by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator describes how cleverly he or she has planned and carried out the murder of an old man. The only reason given is fear of what is described as the old man’s ‘vulture eye’. The narrator’s purpose in telling the story is to convince the audience that he or she is not mad. There are a number of ironic aspects to the story, perhaps the greatest being that in trying to prove his or her sanity, the narrator clearly demonstrates the opposite. Themes: mental illness, fear, time, guilt vs. innocence.

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The Goophered Grapevine

The Goophered Grapevine: Short story by Charles W. ChesnuttSet shortly after the American Civil War, this story from Charles W. Chesnutt is about a “Northerner” with an interest in grape cultivation who moves to the South for his wife’s health. While inspecting a derelict vineyard, they meet a “colored man” who tells how the previous owner had a sorceress put a spell (goopher) on the grapes to stop them being stolen. He then describes the sad fate of a newly acquired slave who, unaware of the spell, “sampled” the grapes. Themes: racism and slavery, the supernatural, greed, exploitation, dishonesty, trickery, karma.

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Long Distance

Long Distance: Short story by Jane SmileyIn this story by Jane Smiley, an early middle-aged bachelor learns an important lesson about himself. The story begins with his Japanese girlfriend calling off their long-distance relationship due to the impending death of her father. Although she is distraught, he is relieved because he did not think he could meet her expectations. After drinking too much at a family Christmas gathering, he comes to realize that the self-centered affair has probably ruined the poor woman’s chances of a happy life. Themes include physical and emotional distance, family, marriage, responsibility, identity, loneliness and isolation, selfishness, guilt.

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Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman

Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman: Short story by Harlan EllisonThis story by Harlan Ellison takes a satirical look at the way people can become slaves to time. In a future dystopian world, everyone and everything must be on time. The Master Timekeeper (aka the Ticktockman) is responsible for policing this. He has a special power: if someone is late to work or causes something to be delayed, that person has the lost time deducted from their lifespan. Only one man stands against him: a disruptive rebel who calls himself the Harlequin. Themes include totalitarianism, obsession with timeliness and productivity, misused technology, social regimentation, individualism, the futility of individual revolt.

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Champoon

Champoon: Short story by Dhep MahapaorayaThis tragic story by Dhep Mahapaoraya is set in pre-World War 2 Central Thailand. A mentally disturbed young Thai man relates how, after he and the daughter of a fiercely protective Chinese towkay fell deeply in love, the girl was severely beaten, locked away by day, and chained at night. The determined girl escaped, but met a grisly end in the jaws of a crocodile after finding him taking solace with a young prostitute. He is haunted by the thought that her death may not have been accidental. Themes include love, cruelty, betrayal, corruption, prostitution, excess (alcohol, gambling, women).

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The Toll-House

The Toll-House: Short story by W. W. JacobsToday we have another classic horror story from W. W. Jacobs. Four young travelers are drinking (tea of all things!) at an Inn. They are discussing the supernatural, and it soon becomes clear that three are believers to varying degrees and one is a total skeptic. One of them tells a story about a nearby haunted house that takes a “toll” of at least one life from every family or group that lives there—however short the time. Foolishly, they decide to put the story to the test. Themes: bravado, fear, the supernatural.

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A Lifestyle

A Lifestyle: Short story by Fernando SorrentinoIn this story by Fernando Sorrentino a man relates how being trapped inside his tenth-floor apartment after his key broke off in the lock changed his life. After being refused service and black-listed by the Argentine Locksmiths’ Union, he looks for help elsewhere. He phones the building janitor, his girlfriend and co-workers, and even drops pamphlets to pedestrians on the street below. No one comes to his rescue. When his telephone, power and water are cut off, the innovative man develops a thriving farm in the apartment. Themes include resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, isolation, the apathy and redundancy of urban lifestyles.

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