Featured Stories

Prey

Prey: Short story by Richard MathesonIn this story by Richard Matheson, a woman buys her new boyfriend a Zuni fetish doll for his birthday. A scroll inside the box reads THIS IS HE WHO KILLS…. HE IS A DEADLY HUNTER. As she prepares to shower, the doll turns out to be the real deal. It escapes the gold chain designed to keep the hunter’s spirit locked inside and sets off in search of prey. Although the girl and the spirit appear temporarily happy with the outcome, the girl’s mother may not be! Themes include control, isolation, violence, fear, determination, the supernatural.

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The Dog of Tithwal

The Dog of Tithwal: Short story by Saadat Hasan MantoThis story from Saadat Hasan Manto takes place during the first Indo-Pakistan (Kashmir) War, which commenced just two months after the 1947 formation of the two countries. The war was a form of “Mexican standoff”. This is reflected in the plot, where soldiers break their boredom with occasional shots towards the enemy camp that have no chance of hitting anyone. The treatment and killing of Jhun Jhun for “refusing” to take sides is symbolic of the suffering of civilians caught up in the conflict. Themes: natural peace and harmony vs. mankind’s propensity for violence, futility, innocence, distrust, cruelty, human suffering.

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Up in Michigan / My Old Man

Up in Michigan / My Old Man: Short stories by Ernest HemingwayToday we have two short stories from Ernest Hemingway’s first book, Three Stories and Ten Poems, published in Paris in 1923. Although they don’t exhibit the tight, straightforward writing style for which Hemingway later became famous, they are indicative of the writing genius to come. The first, Up in Michigan, issues a grim warning to women about date rape. The subject matter was so contentious that it wasn’t considered publishable in the United States until 1938. The second story, My Old Man, is a coming of age story dealing with a boy’s relationship with his jockey father.

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Bigfoot Stole My Wife / I Am Bigfoot

Bigfoot Stole My Wife / I Am Bigfoot: Short stories by Ron CarlsonToday we have two linked stories from Ron Carlson: Bigfoot Stole My Wife and I am Bigfoot. In the first, despite a host of context clues suggesting that the protagonist’s wife has left him, shame and denial lead him to believe that the legendary Bigfoot has abducted her. Using flawed logic, he argues that this must be true because another seemingly impossible event in his life was also true. The story opens with the line: “The problem is credibility.” In the ironic second story, credibility comes as Bigfoot issues a fearful warning to all men of the world.

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Stay True Hotel

Stay True Hotel: Short story by Shihab Naomi NyeIn this story by Naomi Shihab Nye, a teenage girl grieving over her mother’s death is initially unhappy when yet another job change by her father results in yet another relocation, this time from the UK to Germany. Once there, she finds exploring the vibrant, unfamiliar streets of Berlin strangely exhilarating. In a sudden epiphany, she realizes that to “stay true” to her mother, she must let go of the gloom and look positively on life. Themes include grief, depression, acceptance, and that sometimes a change of environment can provide a fresh perspective on one’s problems.

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The Good Doctor

The Good Doctor: Short story by Adam HaslettThis story by Adam Haslett explores the frustrations of a young government psychiatrist as he makes a house call to evaluate a remote patient. The woman, living with guilt, depression and fear after the death of her methamphetamine-addicted eldest son, wants to renew her prescriptions. The doctor strongly believes she is also in need of therapy, but faces two problems in providing it: distance (a five-hour round-trip to see her), and the woman’s refusal to participate. Themes include social change, rural poverty and lack of opportunity, shattered dreams, disillusionment, substance abuse, guilt, PTSD, alienation, biological psychiatry vs. clinical psychology.

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A&P

A&P: Short story by John UpdikeJohn Updike’s A&P reflects some common Middle American attitudes before the social upheavals of the 1960s. A supermarket employee (Sammy) resigns when three girls in swimsuits are rudely asked to leave the store. Themes include appearance, respect, sexuality, humiliation, class and choices. I don’t share the common interpretation that Sammy’s actions are heroic. The misogyny evident in his denigrating, sexist descriptions of the girls and cruel references to other customers suggest that he is not as righteous as he makes out. Would such a person really quit because of Lengel’s treatment of the girls, or could there be another reason?

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He-y, Come On Ou-t!

He-y, Come On Out!: Short story by Shinichi HoshiIn this parable by Shinichi Hoshi, a landslide opens up a seemingly bottomless hole in the ground. A businessman obtains the rights to fill the hole. He gets permission to dispose of toxic waste, and soon hazardous materials from nuclear power plants and contagious disease experiments are being poured into the hole along with domestic waste and classified government documents from a nearby city. The city and ocean are cleaner, and even the sky seems clearer than before. That is until a workman atop a tall city building hears a voice from above shouting: He-y, come on ou-t!

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