Featured Stories

Elbow Room

Elbow Room: Short story by James Alan McPhersonThis metafictional story by James Alan McPherson is an account by an unidentified black writer of his relationship with a young multiracial couple in the late 1960s. Interspersed with the narrative are questions and observations from either his editor or himself. The intense husband struggles with his identity (both his “whiteness” and place in the world). His protective black wife, who has travelled extensively with the Peace Corps, is comfortable in hers. While the parents on both sides initially opposed the union, a baby brings them onside. Themes include race and racism, loss of innocence, identity and self-awareness, storytelling.

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Smart Ice-cream

Smart Ice-cream: Short story by Paul JenningsThe overall theme of this entertaining fantasy by Paul Jennings can be summed up in the English proverb Pride comes before a fall. Ironically, the protagonist’s boast about how good he is at English doesn’t seem to extend to idioms. If it did, he would have known that the smart alec ice-cream left in the van was meant for him and not Dadian. The only more fitting ending would be if he had also woken up with pimples and a big nose! Themes: (from the protagonist) haughtiness, cruelty, lack of compassion; (from Mr Peppi) kindness, magic, trickery.

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The Memsahib of Mandla

The Memsahib of Mandla: Short story by Khushwant SinghIn this story by Khushwant Singh, nature and the ghost of a woman who founded an Indian missionary school combine to drive a British man and his family from a forest officer’s rest house. The rest house was the woman’s home before it was appropriated by the government, and hasn’t been lived in since she died. In addition to being insensitive and chauvinistic, the husband typifies the stereotype of arrogant, self-serving British officials during the Raj. He decides to shoot the ghost, but things don’t turn out as planned. Themes include colonialism, humanitarianism, loyalty, fear, justice, the supernatural.

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The Dunwich Horror

The Dunwich Horror: Novella by H. P. LovecraftIn this cosmic horror story by H. P. Lovecraft, an early 19th century practitioner of the black arts summons an “Elder Thing” from another dimension to mate with his daughter. The result is an unusual set of twins. One has enough human characteristics to allow it to function in society. The other, which takes more after its father, is an invisible monster the size of a house, intent on destroying life on earth and moving the planet to the “Other Side”. Themes include the occult, madness, fear, heroism, realms beyond human understanding, the potential transient nature of humanity.

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What Shall We Do When We All Go Out?

What Shall We Do When We All Go Out?: Short story by Gregorio C. BrillantesIn this story by Gregorio Gregorio C. Brillantes, a nine-year-old Philippine boy’s childhood innocence is shattered over the course of a school term. His public servant father has been relocated to a large provincial town. The boy likes this town more than the smaller ones they had lived in, and is very happy in his new school. Two events destroy his comfortable outlook on the world: the death of a classmate followed by a school field-trip to view his body, and his forced initiation under threat of violence into a gang of older students. Themes include innocence, death, violence, intimidation, fear.

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A Painful Case

A Painful Case: Short story by James JoyceThe title of this James Joyce story could refer to both the protagonist and the poor woman he drove to alcoholism and possible suicide. James Duffy is a loner who lives an orderly, spartan life. He meets and becomes close friends with the neglected wife of a sea captain. When she hints at feelings stronger than friendship, he immediately terminates the relationship. This and the cryptic sentence he wrote afterwards about such a friendship being impossible because there must be sexual intercourse highlight the major theme (repressed sexuality). Other themes include loneliness, isolation, order, morality, emotional paralysis, guilt.

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The New Constitution / Naya Qanun

The New Constitution / Naya Qanun: Short story by Saadat Hasan MantoA message of this story by Saadat Hasan Manto is to make sure you fully understand something you overhear before acting on it. An illiterate tongawala [coachman] learns about the world by eavesdropping on customers. Over several days, he overhears talk of a new “India Act”, which he misinterprets to be a new constitution that will free India from British rule. Having developed a hatred of the British for subjugating and exploiting his country, he is excited by the “news”. Unfortunately, acting on it lands him in jail. Themes include colonialism vs. freedom and self-determination, excitement, hope, disillusionment.

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The Pale Man

The Pale Man: Short story by Julius LongThis is a short horror story by little known author Julius Long. A doctor tells a man suffering from nerves to have a long holiday somewhere quiet. The man checks into a hotel in a small town. However, the townspeople are unfriendly towards him and he finds it a lonely, dreary place. His only hope for stimulating conversation appears to be a tall, pale man staying in another room of the hotel. The pale man has some very strange ways, so the man asks the hotel room clerk about him. The room clerk tells him there is no such guest.

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