This Tobias Wolff story features a protagonist who is so unlikable that it seems a relief when a bank robber silences him. Sarcastic to the point of being obnoxious, Anders provides some humorous moments (Love the comment about The Killers!) before getting the richly deserved Bullet in the Brain. Unlike Bierce’s Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, where the protagonist enjoys an uplifting moment-of-death experience, Anders re-lives a childhood baseball game. The highlights of his life were the simple pleasures of youth (such as enjoying the musical quality of a strange accent), before losing his innocence to conceit, disillusionment and cynicism. More…
The Empty House
Algernon Blackwood’s most famous ghost story, The Empty House could best be described as a horror story without the horror (no blood, gore, demonic possession, attacks by spectral beings, etc.). The story’s power lies in Blackwood’s ability to inspire terror through atmosphere alone. Its major themes are fear and the interdependence of the two psychic sleuths in confronting their fears. Initially, the ghosts go about their nightly business seemingly indifferent to the visitors. The perceived threat from “IT” only emerges when one of them gives way to fear and they begin to flee. Other themes: curiosity, courage, the supernatural. More…
The Madness of Doctor Montarco
This story by Miguel De Unamuno highlights the danger of defying societal expectations in culturally backward, late 1800s Spain. When a highly respected physician begins to publish increasingly bizarre satirical short stories as a pastime, his patients express concern over his ability to treat them. Despite assurances from another doctor, they desert his practice and question his sanity. Such talk eventually leads to him entering an asylum where he spends the rest of his life a confused, broken man. Themes include individualism, intellectual complacency (of the Spanish masses), duality (logic and practicality vs. fantasy and satire), the nature of madness. More…
The Kugelmass Episode
This Woody Allen story includes elements of fantasy, science fiction and farce. Kugelmass, bored with his “oafish” wife, wants a lustful extra-marital affair with no commitments either way. His wish seemingly comes true when a failed magician offers him a chance to seduce any woman from world literature. His first choice begins well, but ends badly; his second proves disastrous. The story is a cutting satire of America’s 1970s ‘Me’ culture. Themes include psychological well-being, marital relationships and casual sex. Ironically, instead of “having” the affair he wanted, Kugelmass spends the rest of eternity running from hairy, long-legged Spanish “haves”. More…
The Undertaker / Coffin-Maker
Many readers feel let down by this gloomy Alexander Pushkin story because of its seemingly abrupt ending. A Russian undertaker moves house to a more affluent Moscow suburb of predominantly German artisans. Invited to a neighbor’s party, he over-indulges in wine. After taking a proposed toast to his “corpses” as an insult to his profession, he threatens to have his own celebration the next day for those for whom I work: the orthodox dead. He wakes to find that his threat has become a reality. Or has it? Themes: life and death; racial, professional and religious prejudice; insecurity; unethical conduct/cheating. More…