Featured Stories

The Challenge

The Challenge: Short story by Mario Vargas LlosaSet in 1950s Peru, the major theme of Mario Vargas Llosa’s The Challenge is the Latin American concept of Machismo (being seen as a man among men). When a powerful street thug challenges a man from a rival group to a knife fight, the other accepts. He and his friends put on a brave face, even though they know he has little chance. The thug offers clemency as he begins to dominate the fight but the other refuses, preferring to die rather than admit defeat. Other themes include lawlessness, violence, rivalry, loyalty, honor.

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The Garden Party

The Garden Party: Short story by Katherine MansfieldBecause of the complex issues raised, this is one of Katherine Mansfield’s most highly acclaimed stories. A wealthy family enjoy an ostentatious garden party in the spacious grounds of their mansion, fully aware that the father of a poverty-stricken family living within hearing distance died in an accident earlier the same day. Only one family member (a teen-aged girl) is sensitive to the poor family’s plight. She visits the house to offer condolences, and experiences an epiphany when unexpectedly ushered in to view the body. Themes include social class (class-consciousness, pretention, insensitivity towards others), poverty, innocence, humanity, coming of age.

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The Key Game

The Key Game: Short story by Ida FinkSome years ago we featured Ida Fink‘s story A Spring Morning in which a Jewish couple question the wisdom of bringing their five-year-old daughter into the world as they sit at home waiting for the German SS to come for them. In this story by the same author, a family moves from place to place to avoid capture. Rather than feel guilty, they are thankful for their three-year-old son whose skill at “The Key Game” may be his Jewish father’s only means of survival. Themes include family, fear, desperation, role reversal, loss of innocence, premature responsibility.

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Come Rain or Come Shine

Come Rain or Come Shine: Short story by Kazuo IshiguroThis story by Kazuo Ishiguro is a farcical satire of a man trying to save his stagnating marriage. He manipulates a mutual friend living overseas into providing company for his wife while he is away on business. The friend has achieved little in life and the husband hopes that the contrast will make his wife appreciate him more. A hilarious sequence of events unfolds as the friend tries to cover up damage he caused to the wife’s appointment book after reading unflattering entries about himself. Themes include friendship, alienation in marriage, manipulation, sacrifice, disappointment, the power of music, memories, regrets.

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Quiet Town

Quiet Town: Short story by Jason GurleyThe recently released 6th Assessment Report by the UN Climate Change Panel presents a pessimistic assessment of the world’s progress in controlling global warming. That makes this an appropriate time to feature science fiction writer Jason Gurley’s Quiet Town, a grim picture of what may be the future of low-lying townships along world coastlines. Bev, her son Benji, and annoying neighbor Ezze are among the few remaining residents of a small town in which the rising ocean has just breached the sea wall. Experts had originally predicted that this would not happen for fifty years: it had taken five!

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Dahong Palay

Dahong Palay: Short story by Arturo B. RotorThe Filipino term dahong palay has several meanings: a rice leaf, a single edged sword and, as in this story by Arturo B. Rotor, a deadly viper. A young man is the butt of constant jokes about his timid nature and slight build. An attempt to prove himself at a community rice-pounding gathering leads to further ridicule. Later, when bitten by a dahong palay to save his prospective girlfriend, he proves that resourcefulness, strength and courage aren’t dependent upon how well-built you are. Themes: community, body image, bullying, young love, courage.

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Licked

Licked: Short story by Paul JenningsThe major themes of this very funny story by Paul Jennings are practical jokes and consequences. Young Andrew learns that his father’s boss is coming to dinner. When he overhears his parents making a pact not to criticize his table manners during the meal, he decides to put them to the test. And just in case it looks like they will be able to keep their promise, he hides a ‘secret weapon’ under the table that is sure to make them angry. The secret weapon works, but Andrew hadn’t thought about what problems this might cause for his father’s job.

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A Great Day

A Great Day: Short story by Frank SargesonAn unusual aspect of this story from Frank Sargeson is that it is largely made up of superficial conversations between two ‘friends’ out in a boat for a morning fishing trip. Readers are given sufficient clues to piece together the men’s backgrounds and the major issues between them. However, they must make their own judgements about the grim climax. An important question in assessing Fred’s character is the timing of his plan. Was it a callous, premeditated decision made before the “Great Day”, or a spur of the moment, opportunistic idea? Themes: envy, jealousy, class, self-esteem, masculinity.

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