This partly autobiographical story from F. Scott Fitzgerald deals with the relationships between an up-and-coming Hollywood screenwriter (Joel), a powerful movie director (Miles), and the director’s wife (Stella). All three suffer major insecurity issues thanks to Hollywood’s toxic, highly competitive culture. Miles is a troubled adulterer; he and Stella look upon Joel as a friend/confidante; Joel has much stronger feelings for Stella. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending how you look at it), Miles dies before the seemingly inevitable marriage bust-up, and the future of Joel and Stella is left up in the air. Themes include insecurity, jealousy, appearances, romance, infidelity. More…
Reunion
This story by Arthur C. Clarke packs a powerful message into just two pages. It takes the form of a radio message reassuring the people of Earth that they have nothing to fear from a group of beings approaching from space. The visitors claim to share a common ancestry with man, both being descended from an advanced race of aliens who colonized Earth during the time of the dinosaurs. Those who could fled when a terrible genetic plague brought on division, conflict and savagery among the population. They are returning with a cure for any who might still be affected. More…
Cleansing Monday
In this story by Ivan Bunin, a young Russian man suffers through a long, frustrating relationship with an enigmatic woman he is deeply in love with. She claims to have no interest in marrying and rejects all attempts at sexual contact. He endures, hoping she will change her mind. Although she is very religious, they smoke, drink and go to seedy taverns together. To his surprise, one Clean Monday (or rather the morning after) she gives herself to him. That evening, she leaves his life forever. Themes include love, frustration, loss, religious devotion, nostalgia (life in pre-revolutionary Moscow). More…
La Grande Bretèche
In this story by Honoré de Balzac, an elderly French doctor entertains guests at a dinner party by relating how, by seducing a hotel maid to complete the puzzle, he was able to solve the mystery of a dilapidated, abandoned mansion. Upon completion of his narration the story continues: all the ladies rose from table … But there were some among them who had almost shivered at the last words. Themes include social class, marriage, betrayal, vengeance, and gallantry (on the part of the Spanish noble for the way he faced death without giving his lover away). More…
Battle Royal
This “coming of age story” is the self-contained first chapter of Ralph Ellison’s acclaimed novel, Invisible Man. A young African American is invited to repeat his high school graduation speech, which focused on humility, at a gathering of the town’s leading white citizens. Upon arrival, he learns that he must first participate in a “battle royal”: a depraved, demeaning group fight event. When he finally makes his speech, few people pay any attention until a slip of the tongue changes its tone from humble to activist. Themes include heritage and identity, naiveté, racism, emancipation, class, sexism, violence. More…