Featured Stories

Sunbird

Sunbird: Short story by Neil GaimanOnce you get used to the preposterous names and characters, this Neil Gaiman story is a fascinating read. The five members of an exclusive club dedicated to tasting exotic food travel to Suntown in Cairo to capture and eat a rare Sunbird. They kill and cook the bird (which turns out to be a phoenix), and thoroughly enjoy the meal. Unfortunately, for all but one of them, it is their last. Themes include gluttony, exploitation (of vulnerable species), deception, the danger of seeking pleasure from the unknown, transformation and the enduring cycle of life, the supernatural.

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Key Item

Key Item: Short story by Isaac AsimovIn this story, Isaac Asimov’s favorite supercomputer Multivac has a big problem. It doesn’t respond to commands, and isn’t following its built-in program to self-diagnose the cause. As the global economy depends on Mulitvac, this could result in panic across the world. Teams of technicians have been trying to identify what is wrong for three days. Finally, a scientist discovers the “key item” needed to fix the problem. It is a simple thing that we are all taught to use as children. Themes include the dangers of Artificial Intelligence and/or relying solely on technology, scientific hubris, good manners.

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The Man Who Lived Underground

The Man Who Lived Underground: Novella by Richard WrightThis is the shortened, anthologized version of this Richard Wright title, not the recently released (2021) novel. Having said that, it is still a very powerful story. An innocent man, tortured by police into confessing to murder, escapes and takes refuge in the sewers and basements of an unnamed city. As he struggles for survival, uncertainty and sensory deprivation cause him to lose touch with reality. He comes to believe that all men are inherently evil and, unable to go on, decides to face his guilt by handing himself in. Themes: guilt vs. innocence, isolation, identity, racism, police brutality.

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A Dead Woman’s Secret

A Dead Woman's Secret: Short story by Guy de MaupassantWe get a sense at the beginning of this Guy de Maupassant story that the dead woman lying peacefully in her bed may not have led as ‘saintly’ a life as is described. She has been hiding something from her family for most of her life. When going through some old letters, her son and daughter discover the secret. The son, a sanctimonious magistrate, judges her harshly. The daughter, who has devoted herself to the Church, says nothing but may harbor a secret of her own. Themes: things are not always as they seem, passion, adultery, rash judgement, hypocrisy, forgiveness

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Let the Old Dead Make Room for the Young Dead

Let the Old Dead Make Room for the Young Dead: Short story by Milan KunderaIn this story by Milan Kundera, an “almost old” widow faces a dilemma after a chance encounter with a much younger man she had seduced fifteen years earlier. Talking about their previous (for the man, awkward) lovemaking arouses his passions. She knows that giving in to his desire will almost certainly end in disgust over her aging body. However, she also knows that he is very likely the last young man who appeals to her with whom she will have the opportunity to have sex. Themes include sexuality, memories, aging and death, beauty, loneliness, regret, fulfillment/self-worth.

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Punishment

Punishment: Short story by Rabindranath TagoreThe central theme of this story by Rabindranath Tagore is the dehumanization of women under India’s patriarchal social structure. When a farmer murders his wife in a fit of rage, his brother asks his wife to take the blame, promising to testify that she did it in self-defence. In court she denies this, pleads guilty, and is sentenced to hang. For her, love and hope died when her husband asked her to lie and she saw death as preferable to a life of misery. Other themes include poverty, exploitation, jealousy, betrayal, the unpredictable consequences of a lie.

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A Haunted House

A Haunted House: Short story by Virginia WoolfIf you read Virginia Woolf‘s A Haunted House expecting it to be a horror story, you will come away disappointed. Rather than scary, the best word I can think of to describe it is bittersweet. Sweet because two ghosts are still very much in love after hundreds of years; sad because the ghostly couple appear to be anxiously searching for something. Although the central theme of the story is the immortality of love, it also carries the message that life is short, and we should treasure each moment with those we love. Other themes include loss, time, memories, the supernatural.

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A Game of Cards

A Game of Cards: Short story by Witi IhimaeraThis early story by Witi Ihimaera examines the universal themes of love, family, community and mortality from a Maori perspective. A university student visiting his dying grandmother symbolizes the deep family connections among his people. The old woman’s only recreation over the years has been lively card nights with friends and neighbors. These symbolize the strong connection and, despite some good-natured cheating, unity among community members. The spontaneous gathering in her final hours demonstrates her community’s approach to death. Rather than shying away until after the event, they come together to pay respects and ease her passing.

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