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Original poster

Who's the best short story writer of all time?

69 replies

franch · 30/01/2006 09:01

I only seem to have time to read in the bathroom these days so have decided it's time to overcome my prejudice against short stories. Recommendations please!

OP posts:
Medea · 30/01/2006 23:00

Hoxtonchick. . .did Helen Simpson write those stories about being a mother to young children? One of the stories was a fantastical one that ended with planes colliding? I thought that collection was just about competent. . but not GREAT or anything (if she's the author I'm thinking of).

Medea · 30/01/2006 22:57

For me it's the Americans:

J.D. Salinger
Flannery O'Connor
John Cheever
Grace Paley (fab woman, too)

of my generation, Jhumpa Lahiri is v. strong.

notasheep · 30/01/2006 22:44

Roald Dahl IS KING

JanH · 30/01/2006 22:42

Dahl's collected short stories (Tales of the Unexpected)

JanH · 30/01/2006 22:39

I was going to say Saki and Maupassant but beaten to it by Enid and gggl .

Roald Dahl good too, very dark.

mummytosteven · 30/01/2006 22:35

.

yoyo · 30/01/2006 16:32

Raymond Carver is excellent.
Have heard that the new Helen Simpson is superb.
Always enjoyed those of Dylan Thomas too.

Filyjonk · 30/01/2006 16:30

Beth Nugent
JD Salinger
Raymond Carver
Quite like Philip K Dick too-but thats SF, does that count?

renaldo · 30/01/2006 16:06

the wonder spot melissa banks - sublime!

skerriesmum · 30/01/2006 15:53

So pleased that Alice Munro is on here as I'm Canadian! Agree that she's great. Somerset Maugham is good too (if a little racist and dated!) I love The Necklace (I think that's him...)

Original poster
franch · 30/01/2006 15:50

What a fabulous reading list - thanks so much everyone. Wasn't expecting such a response! Off to Amazon right now

OP posts:
mummytosteven · 30/01/2006 10:37

will have a look for you Suzy. M R James used to be available in Wordsworth Classics ultra cheapo £1.25 edition, so will see if can hunt out one of those for you.

3princesses · 30/01/2006 10:34

Helen Simpson for me too. Must say I didn't get short stories either until I found her, and found a lot of them seemed contrived and sort of self-consciously clever, but Helen Simpsom makes them feel effortless and poetic. Think it's because a lot of the time she just doesn't bother with plot-- they are simply meaningful snapshots of someone's life.

My favourite is Heavy Weather in the Dear George anthology. It's perfect.

suzywong · 30/01/2006 10:31

OH god I LOVE MR James, the best the best the best indeed

I am searching for a copy but he's not very forthcoming Down Under. If anyone has a spare one or finds one in a secondhand shop I'll paypal you for it

cull · 30/01/2006 10:25

margaret atwood

Enid · 30/01/2006 09:48

sorry is fabby

ggglimpopo · 30/01/2006 09:47

Message withdrawn

Enid · 30/01/2006 09:47

ah the good ones are like a little microcosm of a thought that you have had but can't quite express.

Miles City, Montana by Alice Munro is an absolutely gorgeous one to start with

In fact the virago women's short story collection are fabby

Marina · 30/01/2006 09:47

I did and she has my chubby knees too
This is when NOT calling yourself after anatomical parts comes into its own I find...
He is too spooky, I guess. Did you grow up with the Puffin Book of Scary Stories then too? I think it would be pulped these days, alas!
I got an Elizabeth Bowen volume from Persephone Books for Christmas. You are right, she is superb

harpsichordcarrier · 30/01/2006 09:46

really Enid? I must say I really don't get the short story. It always feels curiously unsatisfactory to me.
like I am not getting the point
I like the Fay Weldon ones and Ray Bradbury, though they are not exactly Chekov

TinyGang · 30/01/2006 09:45

John Fowles wrote some good short stories too IIRC.

mummytosteven · 30/01/2006 09:45

MR James - thanks Marina, that was just on the tip of my keyboard - I was thinking O'Henry (no) Henry James (no) and couldn't quite remember his name

Enid · 30/01/2006 09:44

I can't read MR James anymore Marina too spooky

(did you see that pph has named her baby after you )

Enid · 30/01/2006 09:44

ooh ooh

Elizabeth Bowen

Marina · 30/01/2006 09:43

MR James, Chekhov, Somerset Maugham, Katherine Mansfield, Saki, Helen Simpson - all already named.

Dh says VS Pritchett very good too.