Read 2 Short Stories a Day — Batch 4
Introduction
I am studying short stories and storytelling by engaging with two short stories each day. For each, let’s try to find one thing to learn from it?
This is the fourth batch, and probably the second last. I will explain why next time.
The Forgotten Valley, by C. B. Jones
Howls From the Dark Ages
The supernatural elements are eclipsed by a very human story of rivalry and jealousy. The story puts you inside the protagonist’s head and makes you understand her obsession. I think that this is mostly because the author took this dynamic to be a focal point, and this focus paid off.
Ie, interpersonal relationships often make great centres of supernatural horror stories. The supernatural does not need to be the focus. The supernatural is almost a hook or lure, an excuse to engage with a story about interpersonal relationships.
The Fourth Scene, by Brian Evenson
Howls From the Dark Ages
A circular story structure typically leads to a sense of tidiness in a story, and this one doubles down on the concept to great effect. It was a very memorable story for that reason — ie, that story structure can work wonders, especially when supported so well by the story and setting.
Alan Moore also does a good job of this sort of thing.
The Lai of the Danse Macabre, by Jessica Peter
Howls From the Dark Ages
A lively poem, beginning serious and then deliberately devolving into absurdity as a way to illustrate a point about life. I loved the energy of the poem and the way that it all came together to tell such a fun yet coherent story.
What is the lesson, though? I’m not certain how to replicate this. I imagine that what makes this work, more than anything else, is the “energy” that went into the writing. I know, a mostly useless and vague comment… but I think there is something to it. Lively writing is really hard to do unless the author is lively when they write the work, and that takes time and energy to do. Or maybe I’m wrong. It’s my impression, at least.
Becoming, by David Peak
Cosmic Horror Monthly
A vividly conveyed post apocalypse full of lovecraftian horrors. What made it work, though? I think the character writing just worked well, plus the descriptions were vivid. The main character is a complete waste of flesh, the worst kind of person; and yet you root for him. It is possibly because he’s not a stereotype — he’s a fully realized human being doing his best, not knowing what is the right thing to do.
Anthomancy, by Anthony Lora
Another of those ‘evocative seed’ stories. This one felt like a fairy tale, in contrast to stories that are grounded in a place, giving a play by play of what is happening.
It made me notice something: long fiction seldomly attempts this mode of storytelling, but it is common in short fiction. Also: short fiction rarely attempts the play-by-play mode to the extent that novels do because the word count restrictions of shorter tales make this impractical. Obvious, sure, but it’s on my mind.
Night Shift, by Stephen King
Night Shift
There is a pattern to the stories in this book.
Stephen King creates this vivid world full of people who feel real, and puts them into interesting situations, and it is utterly captivating. The writing is so vivid. Then, he sets it on fire with a horrendous ending.
Anyway, unlikable characters that you can’t help but love, and an awful setting that has a logic and charm to it really do wonders here.
An aside: the binding of this book is terrible, a big sheaf is trying to detach itself, and if I’m not careful, I’ll have a pile instead of a book. Avoid the common paperback edition out there right now.
Not Even Famous, by Alan Moore
Illuminations
I feel this is a fun experiment in perspective, and illustrates how a group is made up of individuals who are not at all in alignment, and that misunderstanding is the rule of the day. Very fun.
Reminds me of the message in some of Orson Scott Card’s work, but this was more playful and silly than Card’s work.
Uncle Wiggly from Connecticut, by Salinger
Nine Stories
I have drafted a full analysis of this, beat by beat, and intend to post it when I find time to clean it up.
The Lagoon, by Joseph Conrad
Modern Short Stories (1939)
Simply reminded me that vivid language and evocative, unusual settings can do great things to a story.
The story is about colonialism and how exotic the far-away places and people are, and it felt weird reading it for various reasons.
A Strange Christmas Game, by Charlotte Riddell
Chill Tidings: Dark Tales of the Christmas Season
Needs a writeup — this is a masterpiece. A paragraph or two won’t work, but basically, the characters and setting feel very real and vivid because of the great characterization and details, like how at night the huge house isn’t lit by anything but the moon — there is no electricity, recall!
Sandy Petersen Recommendations
Shambler From the Stars , by Robert Bloch
retrieved from here
Noteworthy for making me think of what makes something forbidden. There will be a full article, but I’m worried about posting it… the article asks: “What do we shun today? What would make people respond to us the same way that people respond to queries about occult lore in these stories?”
All shunned topics are uncomfortable to talk about, so I am scared to post my article, simple because the subject matter is… shunned and unpleasant…
Call First, by Ramsey Campbell
youtube
Didn’t really do it for me, but the opening was a little fun. The main character was such a little petty man that I became invested in his dumb scheme to snoop on somebody. Well done there. There is nothing more fun than a character who is so petty and boring that you can’t look away from them.
Comics and Graphic Novels
The Dunwich Horror, by Lovecraft
The Lovecraft (graphic novel) Anthology
Leaving the story itself for another post, the artwork made this come alive for me in a way that the written version did not. I really love graphic novels and am amazed at the work that people put into them to bring them into existence.
The Colour Out of Space, by Lovecraft
The Lovecraft (graphic novel) Anthology
Same as above — very well done visual adaptation. I recommend this book.