Modern Short Stories

In the past 50 years, the American short story has changed dramatically. New voices, forms, and mixtures of genres have brought this unique US genre a thrilling burst of energy. This rich anthology celebrates this avalanche of talent. Beginning in 1970, it culls together a half century of powerful American short stories from all genres, including - for the first time in a literary anthology - science fiction, horror, and fantasy.

Call If You Need Me includes all of the prose previously collected in No Heroics, Please, four essays from Fires, and those five marvelous stories that range over the period of Carver's mature writing and give his devoted fans a final glimpse of the great writer at work. The pure pleasure of Carver's writing is everywhere in his work, here no less than in those stories that have already entered the canon of modern literature.

A terrifying, thrilling collection of must-listen horror stories chock-full of nightmarish supernatural beings and the murderously disturbed that are sure to keep you up all night long.

Mysterious, funny, insightful, and heartbreaking, these are tales of expatriates and exiles, wise children and straying saints. They compose a secret history, both intimate and panoramic, of modern times, and offer a kaleidoscopic impression of the world within a world that is Paris.

Twenty-three stories, all unabridged, from a diverse group of star writers and readers. A truly memorable collection with a wide appeal. Includes "The Years Midnight" by Helen Simpson, read by Harriet Walter; "On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful Morning" by Haruki Marukami, read by Walter Lewis; "Bablady" by A. S. Byatt, read by Roslaind Eyres; "Hotel des Vaoyaguerus" by William Boyd, read by Martin Jarvis; and "Who?" by Fay Weldon, read by Julie Christie.

After the loss of her mother, a woman returns to the San Fernando Valley only to uncover a haunting secret about her childhood friend. A visiting professor at a charming but strange California liberal arts college must face her past in order to protect her son. A sister, lost in the woods, confronts the dangerous truth about her brother, her stepmother, and herself. Rose's dog Wolfie has died, and three seductive women offer to help return him to her. But only if she will pay the price.

Step into the world of Skylar Reyes, where passion knows no boundaries and self-discovery awaits behind closed doors. In this sizzling contemporary romance series, Skylar shares her authentic journey from curious newlywed to confident hotwife, chronicling every heart-pounding encounter and emotional revelation along the way. Each book offers an intimate, first-person account of Skylar and her husband Chris's adventures in the swinger lifestyle—from their nerve-wracking first club experience to their most boundary-pushing explorations. Book 1: Neighbors with Benefits Follow Skylar and ...

Paul Auster's signature work, The New York Trilogy, consists of three interlocking novels: City of Glass, Ghosts, and The Locked Room - haunting and mysterious tales that move at the breathless pace of a thriller.

With this, his first collection of stories, Raymond Carver breathed new life into the American short story and instantly became both the recognized master of the form and one of our best-loved fiction writers. Carver shows us the humor and tragedy that dwell in the hearts of ordinary people; his stories are the classics of our time.

Short Stories That Go Hard Owen is built like Jack Reacher and shoots like John Wick. He is cursed with a brain that runs at 10x speed. His world is slow-motion and talking is impossible. Luckily, Owen’s best friend is Vince. The wiry Vince never shuts up. His superpower is finding drugs anywhere and everywhere. Sponsored by the billionaire Husker and guided by the brilliant Belle, Owen and Vince go on gonzo adventures around the world in these short stories: One time, Owen accidentally killed a vigilante. He and Vince decided to take over the man’s mission. At an alligator farm in ...

College never felt this exhilarating. I felt crushed under the weight of college life, watching my confidence shrink with each passing day as I pined after a girl I couldn't bring myself to approach. Then Claire walked into my life with her knowing smile and an offer I couldn't refuse - she'd teach me everything I needed to know about being a man. My education started in this little café downtown, the kind of place where the coffee came in actual cups and the pastries looked like art. But it was her home that changed everything--that first night with her blew past every fumbling fantasy ...

Ange doesn't expect to find love, after all her past relationships with men have been farcical at best. Her past experiences have left her already fragile self-esteem in tatters.There wasn't much to begin with. She'd never expect a playboy businessman to give her a second look. But, then again she never expected to find herself in a lounge tapping her feet to music. After all she's a frumpy little accountant whose idea of a good time is a great mystery and her favorite tub of icecream on a Friday night. So, What would a hot male specimen with his pick of women want with her? She doesn't ...

Cindy's life is no fairy tale... a dead father, an evil step-monster, and two evil step-twits are making her life absolutely miserable. Until the day a stranger stays at her failing bed-and-breakfast. Is Ryan Charm about to rescue her from her misery or send her packing, penniless, from the only home she's ever known? Don't wait another minute to read this over the top modern-day Cinderella story. It's romantic and funny, and steamy enough to melt your heart. (And possibly your panties.) Maybe fairy tales really do come true. P.S. Did I mention the talking parrot?

Some truths hide in plain sight. Others whisper from locked doors, static-filled frequencies, and pages that were never printed. Things I Wasn’t Supposed to Know is a haunting anthology of modern supernatural horror—each story a first-person account of knowledge that should’ve stayed buried. From cursed livestreams to echoing tunnels, from unlisted hospital wings to languages that think back, this collection explores what happens when the veil of reality wears thin… and you peer through. They warned you not to look. You did anyway. And now it knows your name.

The Ultimate Modern Classics Collection: Volume One is the first instalment in our classics collection focusing on the most important and iconic novels, stories, and poems of the 20th century. Featuring 22 essential modern classics from Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Herman Hesse, Agatha Christie, Virigna Woolf, and many more, and read by a cast of incredible narrators including David Rintoul, Robert G. Slade, Karen Cass, Nathan Osgood, amongst others, this is an essential addition to your library.

Modern Manners for Kids is a fun, easygoing book packed with short stories, playful poems, and simple ideas kids can try at home to bring kindness and respect into their everyday lives. Whether it’s learning to say please and thank you, figuring out how to share with others, or being a good friend on the playground, this book helps kids understand why modern manners matter—without sounding like a rule book. Each story shares an important lesson, and the poems and activities make it fun to practice at home with family and friends.

Every story begins with a single word. For us, that word is Hello. Hello: Stories of Beginnings and First Encounters is the first volume in The Words Between Us anthology series, a literary exploration of the everyday phrases that shape our lives. In these pages, a single greeting becomes more than courtesy—it becomes the spark that changes everything. A father wakes from a fifteen-year coma and whispers “hello” to his grown daughter. A child born in orbit sends their first “hello” down to Earth. Two former lovers, reunited at a funeral, exchange a wordless greeting across the ...

Creepypasta: Volume Two – The Next Fifty Stories Even Darker Tales from the "Fiction by Mark Watson" Substack Slenderman doesn’t just watch anymore. Jeff the Killer doesn’t just wait. BEN is still drowning—but now he wants company. And the Rake? He’s no longer under your bed. He’s in the corner of the room. Welcome back to the shadow-soaked heart of internet horror with Creepypasta: Volume Two – The Next Fifty Stories, a new anthology that gathers the next 50 twisted tales from the cult-favorite Fiction by Mark Watson Substack. If the first volume was the invitation, this one ...

Urban Fairy Tales: Totally Twisted Part 2 Get ready to laugh out loud with Urban Fairy Tales: Totally Twisted Part 2! This new collection takes classic stories and spins them into hilariously modern adventures.What's Inside? We've reimagined your favorite characters like Sleeping Beauty, Chicken Little, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland, giving their timeless tales a fresh, comical twist. Prepare for a delightful blend of silliness and wit that will have you giggling from start to finish.Instant Download & Free Preview Dive into this enchanting, modernized world of humor instantly! Urban ...

Some neighbors share sugar. We shared everything. A journey of passion, pleasure, and self-discovery. This intimate memoir chronicles Skylar's journey from curious author to confident hotwife. What starts as a forbidden moment between new friends quickly evolves into an exploration that challenges everything she thought she knew about fidelity, attraction, and her own sexuality. Follow Skylar and Chris as they accept their first invitation to an exclusive swingers club, where champagne flows freely and inhibitions melt away under dimmed lights. With unflinching honesty, Skylar details their...