Featured Stories

Blood-Burning Moon

Blood-Burning-Moon: Short story by Jean ToomerSet in the American South during the days of enforced segregation, this story by Jean Toomer involves a love triangle between Louisa, an attractive young African-American woman and two men. Bob (the entitled son a white planter whose slaves were freed and landholdings reduced after the Civil War) picks a fight with his adversary Tom (a poor, quick-tempered black labourer). When Bob pulls a knife, Tom does likewise and kills him. In keeping with the times, Tom is gruesomely executed by a white vigilante mob. Themes: love vs. lust, racism/white supremacy, identity, violence, vigilante justice.

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One Ordinary Day, With Peanuts

One Ordinary Day, With Peanuts: Short story by Shirley JacksonThe protagonist in this story from Shirley Jackson initially appears too good to be true. A seemingly ordinary man fills his pockets with candy and peanuts and walks the streets of New York, helping strangers and acting “Mr. Nice Guy”. The apparent theme is making a difference… how a good deed, a kind word, or even just a smile can brighten up someone’s day. It is not until we reach the end of the story that we are presented with two other themes: things are not always what they seem, and the duality of good and evil.

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Zlateh the Goat

Zlateh the Goat: Short story by Isaac Bashevis SingerIt is easy to see why this story from Isaac Singer is said to be derived from Jewish folklore. Zlateh, an anthropomorphic goat, is about to meet the fate of many farm animals. No longer producing enough milk to justify her keep, she faces a final trip to the town butcher. Fortunately, a freak snowstorm interrupts the journey and gives her a chance to redeem herself. Themes: (general) love and loyalty, obedience, trust, resourcefulness, inter-dependence, survival; (religious) sacrifice, faith, acceptance: We must accept all that God gives us—heat, cold, hunger, satisfaction, light, and darkness.

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Noise Level

Noise Level: Short story by Raymond F. JonesThe major theme of this Science Fiction mystery by Raymond F. Jones is unlocking the hidden potential of the human mind. A government research laboratory gathers America’s leading scientists to replicate an “antigravity belt” that seemingly defies the fundamental laws of physics. The secretive young inventor died in an accident demonstrating the belt. He left no notes, and the only prototype was destroyed in the crash. To complicate matters his areas of research included not only the sciences, but also the occult with a special interest in levitation. Other themes: scientific dogmatism vs. open-mindedness, the scientific method, deception.

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Zoo

Zoo: Short story by Edward HochThis very short science fiction tale from Edward Hoch is an excellent story to illustrate the meaning of point of view in literature. A traveling zoo makes annual visits to world cities. But this is no ordinary zoo: it is a space ship displaying strange creatures from different parts of the universe. The story can be interpreted from three perspectives: the people who visit the zoo, Professor Hugo’s (the zoo’s owner), and the creatures behind bars inside. Each sees the zoo differently, and benefits from the visit in a different way.

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Farewell to a Ghost

Farewell to a Ghost: Short story by Manoj DasAlthough one of the main characters is a ghost, this story by Manoj Das is not a horror story. An unfortunate ghost in a deserted villa has become an integral part of life in an Indian village. The government plans to demolish the villa to pay its taxes, and the villagers must try to relocate the ghost so that it doesn’t try to resettle in someone’s house. Themes include coming of age, the important role of superstition in traditional village culture, and the impact of modern ideas in changing traditional values and beliefs.

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A Woman on the Roof

A Woman on the Roof: Short story by Doris LessingIn this story by Doris Lessing, three construction workers repairing the roof of an apartment building become obsessed by a woman who sunbathes in a bikini on a nearby rooftop. The three make demeaning catcalls and become increasingly frustrated as the woman constantly ignores them. Two are enraged by her indifference while the third, seventeen and inexperienced, develops romantic fantasies about the woman. When the younger one decides to “make her acquaintance” and learns that his feelings are not reciprocated, his passion morphs into hatred. Themes include lust, objectification of women, sexual harassment, gender roles, social class, group dynamics.

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The Hit Man

The Hit Man: Short story by T. C. BoyleT. C. Boyle’s The Hit Man is a clever satire of the short story genre. Written in short paragraphs under sub-headings, the story contains all the necessary elements of a short story. What makes it unusual is that Boyle is able to provide a meaningful account of his protagonist’s entire life (boyhood, adolescence, courtship, death of parents, ‘career’, marriage, family, retirement, death… and even dislike of peas!) in less than 1,200 words. He also manages to deal with some serious issues (bullying, schoolyard violence, judicial system failure, gratuitous murder, glamorized crime and death) along the way.

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