Featured Stories

A Fish Named Dog

A Fish Named Dog: Short story by Christyne MorrellLike 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.

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Guests of the Nation

Guests of the Nation: Short story by Frank O'ConnorThis story by Frank O’Connor takes place during, or possibly shortly after, the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921). Two young Irishmen become friends with two English ‘prisoners’ they are guarding. That is until a cold-hearted officer orders them to take part in the execution of the men. As one notes at the end of the story: And anything that happened to me afterwards, I never felt the same about again. Themes: friendship, religion vs. atheism, choices and consequences, aspects of war (duty vs. morality, brutality, the humanity of enemy combatants, possible long-term psychological effects).

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Through the Wilderness

Through the Wilderness: Short story by Dan JacobsonIn this story by Dan Jacobson a nominally Jewish university graduate, whose spiritual emptiness is compared with the vast emptiness of the South African veldt, encounters a black Israelite preacher. To his lay rabbi’s delight, this prompts him to begin a search for religious enlightenment. Unfortunately, the search ends when his bigoted father forbids further communication. The Israelite’s selfless missionary zeal is contrasted with a sheep-stealing native farm hand, who realizes that setting up his own church in a black community can be more profitable than working for a wage. Themes include religion, search for meaning, death, social class, racism.

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The Werewolf

The Werewolf: Short story by Angela CarterAlthough the beginning of this Angela Carter “wolf tale” resembles the Charles Perrault children’s story Red Riding Hood things soon take a very different turn. A wolf loses a paw, grandma is missing a hand, and the villagers show their bravery by beating the old woman to death. Carter uses foreshadowing and omissions in the storyline to leave readers with a question: Was the grandmother really a witch/were-woman, or was the “good child” one of those northern country people with a cold heart mentioned in the opening sentence?. Themes include female empowerment, self-reliance, courage, betrayal?, superstition, mob violence.

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The Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour: Short story by Kate ChopinKate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour received a mixed reaction when first published. Released into a male dominated world, the story supports equality for women. The idea that a wife could feel free, free, free and have a look of triumph in her eyes after hearing about her husband’s death was unheard of. It is fortunate that Chopin decided to end the story with Louise dying from joy that kills. One critic has suggested that it would never have been published if she had lived happily ever after. Themes include identity, marriage (oppression vs. love), personal freedom, and grief.

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How Muster-Master Stoneman Earned his Breakfast

How Muster-Master Stoneman Earned his Breakfast: Short story by Price Warung (aka William Astley)This story by Price Warung (aka William Astley) is one of a series dealing with Australia’s early days as a penal colony. Set in the late 1830s, its major theme is the cruel and inhuman treatment of convicts who challenged the system. The story is critical of both the system itself, which in many cases turned petty thieves into hardened criminals, and the brutality of the officers who administered it. A feature of the story is Warung’s extensive use of satire (from the title to terms like “the mild discipline” (of) “a genial and loving motherland”) in highlighting these points.

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The Homemaker / Gharwali

The Homemaker / Gharwali: Short story by Ismat ChughtaiIn this story by Ismat Chughtai, an orphan growing up on the streets learns that her body is her only asset. Alluring and without shame, she is known for providing sex for money, on credit, or as charity. Things change when a friend suggests that a respectable shopkeeper employ her as a housemaid. He refuses because of her reputation, but she is so taken by what she sees after visiting his house that she stays despite his protests and takes over the household. Themes include promiscuity, reputation, hypocrisy, desire, marriage, patriarchy, jealousy, the importance of “belonging”.

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Glory

Glory: Short story by Lesley Nneka ArimahGlory (aka Glorybetogod), the protagonist in this Lesley Nneka Arimah story, is so screwed-up and irresponsible as to be almost likeable. As foreshadowed by her grandfather at birth, Glory’s history is one of poor life choices. At the end of the story, she has yet another decision to make. A “yes” will lead to the kind of life that most single Nigerian women her age dream of. A “no” could send her back to contemplating how a bottle of Moscato would pair with thirty gelcap sleeping pills. Themes: superstition, parental expectations, choices and consequences.

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