Book Chat - CLOSED by original moderator discussion

I grew up on short stories, the first literary form I loved. I discovered Poe when I was about 11, in the early ‘70s, and from there found the endless mystery, suspense, and science fiction multi-author anthologies in our local library. Shops that had magazine racks generally stocked some of the short-story digest magazines of the period—genre publications such as Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Hitchcock, Mike Shayne, Galaxy SF, Analog, Amazing, and so on. I bought those I could afford and eventually subscribed to some; through these various publications I was introduced to all sorts of favorite writers whose novels and other books I would go on to find in the library. Some years later I began reading the short stories in journals such as the Paris Review and TriQuarterly and through them discovered the world of literary fiction.

I still love short stories—their focus, their concision. Once upon a time entire literary careers could be built almost entirely around an author’s short stories (John Cheever leaps to mind; Ray Bradbury, too). But nowadays the form has been largely pushed aside by novels—even young readers grow up on big YA trilogies now, not short stories. Any fiction writer today who wants to have a major career must write novels, leaving short stories aside as an occasional indulgence. Novels are where the prestige, money, and sales are.

Anyone else remember growing up on short stories?

"Anyone else remember growing up on short stories? "
Yes! Maybe it was a '70s thing? Like you I used to search out short stories wherever possible. I remember being so frustrated when I was looking for a specific story and couldn't find it in my library catalogue.

I'm a cataloguer now, and with on-line catalogues we can add so much more information! I strive to put the titles and authors of every story in our records so patrons can find that story they are searching for!

I’m not sure it was so much a ‘70s thing, Shiny5711, as a “‘70s & earlier” thing—when short stories occupied a central place in the culture in a way they haven’t since. I find that many teenagers don’t even really know how to read short stories now—“That’s it?” is a common response when my students finish one, at least before we’ve gone through the traditions and strategies of the short story and they begin to understand that short stories are not simply little novels, but something quite different. I find that Poe is a great place to start.

Keep up the good work with the cataloging!

I just finished and reviewed a book of short stories: "The lawfully Wedded Husband and Other Stories"

I completely enjoyed them; mysterious, murderous, & a compelling dark sense of humor.

I have also enjoyed Agatha Christie's short stories

Yes, mystery stories were there at the beginning for me, including Agatha Christie—particularly the Poirot stories. But I especially loved Ellery Queen, who is, alas, mostly forgotten today.

I loved O Henry's short stories. I don't think he's even taught in schools any longer. More's the pity....

O. Henry has definitely faded in schools, though I think evergreens like “The Gift of the Magi” are still used sometimes for younger readers—elementary or middle schoolers. I haven’t read O. Henry in many years, but loved him at one time. Saki, too.