Featured Stories

Saboteur

Saboteur: Short story by Ha Jin (aka Jin Xuefei)This story from Ha Jin begins with what appears to be a simple shakedown attempt by two corrupt Chinese policemen. The victim, who should have known better, attracts the attention of onlookers (who do nothing), resists arrest (a bad move) and challenges their station officer’s authority (bringing a weekend locked up in miserable conditions). When forced to “confess”, he faces loss of his reputation, job and wife. On release, he morphs from victim to villain. The original trumped-up charge was sabotage; his act of revenge is more like biological terrorism! Themes: police brutality and abuse of power, injustice, capitulation, revenge.

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Morphine

Morphine: Novelette by Mikhail BulgakovIn this story by Mikhail Bulgakov, a young Russian doctor receives a plea to visit a gravely ill classmate practicing in a nearby country town. Before he has a chance to leave, the friend is brought to his hospital suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As he dies, the friend bequeaths him a notebook from which we learn of his problem (morphine addiction), how he strove and failed to overcome it, and how it gradually destroyed his life and the hopes of a nurse who loved him. Themes include isolation and loneliness, addiction, self-delusion, deception and manipulation, despair, suicide.

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Ribbons

Ribbons: Short story by Laurence YepThis excerpt from Laurence Yep’s book of the same name is about three kinds of ribbons: the satin ribbons on protagonist Stacy’s ballet shoes; the silk ribbons traditionally used in Chinese foot binding; and the invisible ribbon binding grandmother, mother and daughter at the end of the story. The central theme is understanding. Already unhappy about interrupted ballet lessons and resentful of her brother’s seemingly favorable treatment, Stacy reacts angrily to her grandmother’s inexplicable rage over her ballet ribbons. Things change when she learns the old woman’s painful secret. Other themes: family, cultural adjustment, courage, passion, sacrifice, connection.

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Youth

Youth: Short story by Isaac AsimovAs is often the case with Isaac Asimov’s longer science fiction stories, Youth includes some profound “earthly” themes. Written in the early years of the Cold War, the first is the danger that atomic war poses to civilization. The second, which is strongly reinforced by the twist ending, is not to judge sentient beings (people) by their looks, no matter how strange they appear. A final theme, as reflected in the title and the Astronomer’s exasperated final exclamation (Youth!) is the naïve innocence of the young, and the responsibility that we as adults hold for their future.

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The Last Unicorns

The Last Unicorns: Flash story by Edward HochThis flash story by Edward Hoch begins with the startling news that thousands of years ago unicorns once roamed Africa. A clever trader manages to buy a pair and transport them to the Middle East. As unicorns are much stronger than horses, he plans to make his fortune by breeding them and selling the young. Before he can do this, a stranger arrives and offers to buy his unicorns. When he says “No”, the stranger tries to steal them. The angry trader drives the stranger away, little knowing that his unicorns will soon become the last two in the world.

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The Underground Gardens

The Underground Gardens: Short story by T. C. BoyleThis story by T. C. Boyle is a fictional account of the founding of California’s Forestiere Underground Gardens by an Italian immigrant in the early 1900s. The immigrant is initially disheartened to find that 70 acres of land he bought by mail order is too dry and hard to farm. He survives by working as a day laborer on other farms and, spurred on by a love interest, hand digs a subterranean mansion in his spare time. When the woman rejects him, he keeps on digging. Themes include faith in oneself, self-sufficiency, infatuation, appearance, perseverance, vision.

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The Snow Child

The Snow Child: Short story by Angela CarterIn this story by Angela Carter, a dominating Count riding along a snowy road with his wife wishes aloud for a beautiful girl. When the naked “child of his desire” miraculously materializes, the Countess plots to be rid of her. Two failed attempts result in the Countess’s furs and boots springing to the girl, leaving her naked. The third attempt succeeds. When a prick from a rose kills the snow child, the Count’s masculinity and dignity are stripped away as he weeps while defiling her body. Themes include patriarchal power, objectification of women, lust, jealousy, humiliation, depravity (necrophilia).

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The Middleman

The Middleman: Short story by Bharati MukherjeeThe most succinct summary of this Bharati Mukherjee story I’ve seen came from a Goodreads review: An Iraqi Jew unwittingly aids a Central American revolution. There is obviously a lot more to it, including lust, arms smuggling, treachery and murder. Moreover, rather than being a revolutionary hero, the protagonist is an unscrupulous American criminal on the run from the law. Although he calls himself a “middleman”, we don’t see him act as such. Being new to the country, he is hoping to make a living from things that fall. And something certainly does! Themes: lust, corruption, exploitation, betrayal, violence.

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