Modern Short Stories

A selection of the best and most representative contemporary American short fiction from 1970 to 2020, including such authors as Ursula K. LeGuin, Toni Cade Bambara, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sandra Cisneros, and Ted Chiang, hand-selected by celebrated editor and anthologist John Freeman. IN THE PAST fifty...

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. 

Discover a modern way to learn Latin American Spanish through short stories designed for today's world. If you are tired of outdated textbooks and stiff dialogues, this audiobook offers a fresh approach for learners who want real results. Inside Learn Spanish with 27 Modern Short Stories for Beginners & Intermediates, you will hear 27 contemporary stories filled with natural conversation, everyday vocabulary, and situations that feel current and relatable.

A short, strange story for every week of the year—about the systems we live inside and rarely question. This book is a collection of 52 observational stories, each one capturing a small, familiar moment that quietly shapes how modern life works: the email thread that never ends, the approval that’s never stated, the shortcut that becomes mandatory, the default no one questions, the ending that never quite arrives. Nothing dramatic happens in these stories. And yet, something always shifts. Each piece stands alone, written in a calm, precise, almost documentary style—examining meetings...

Are you bored with bedtime stories about princes and princesses, gnomes, wizards, and dragons? Do you want something more realistic, closer to our time? Do you also need bedtime stories to make sense, teach a moral lesson, and raise interesting topics? Everything you need is here! A Collection of Fantastic Short Bedtime Stories for kids contains 10 five-minute fantasy stories that you can read aloud to your child before going to bed. No princesses here–these stories are about space, other planets, aliens, artificial intelligence, robots, cloning, portals, and modern technologies. There ...

Every city has a story. Some will chill you long after the last page. From the neon glow of Las Vegas to the haunted tunnels beneath New York, America hides dark secrets in every skyline. This gripping anthology dives into 50 terrifying urban legends, each rooted in real locations, whispered folklore, and chilling mysteries that refuse to stay buried. 👻 Inside, you’ll discover: • Ghostly apparitions roaming iconic landmarks • Cursed objects and sinister doppelgängers • Unexplainable creatures lurking in lakes and alleyways • Vanished souls who demand to be remembered • ...

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.

"Haunted Realms Short Ghost Stories" is an anthology that brings together over fifty tales of terror, each one a unique exploration of the supernatural. The stories in this collection span a wide range of settings and scenarios, from haunted forests and abandoned buildings to modern urban legends involving social media and technology. The authors, Lars Lexis and Sebs Svekis, have masterfully crafted each narrative to evoke a sense of dread and suspense, capturing the essence of classic ghost stories while infusing them with modern elements. The collection begins with "The Whispering Shadows...

Rediscover the magic and menace of Grimms Fairy Tales in a fresh edition crafted for today’s readers. This Adapted for Modern Readers version keeps the original plots, moods, and morals intact while refining archaic phrasing, cleaning up inconsistent punctuation, and presenting clear, contemporary typography. Enjoy smooth, consistent formatting on every device, lightly clarified language that never talks down to you, and a reading experience that lets the stories shine without distraction. Rooted in the oral traditions of nineteenth-century Europe, these timeless tales explore justice, ...

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.

The prestigious annual story anthology, featuring prize-winning stories by a diverse and exciting array of writers, including Wendell Berry, Alice Hoffman, Dave Eggers, Ling Ma, Lori Ostlund, and Anthony Marra. Continuing a century-long tradition of cutting-edge literary excellence, this year's...

Held captive by her employers -- and by her own demons -- on a mysterious farm, a widow struggles to reunite with her young son in this uniquely American story of freedom, perseverance, and survival. Darlene, once an exemplary wife and a loving mother to her young son, Eddie, finds herself...

Read the story that inspired the 2026 film starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi — the complete tale, retold for modern readers "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." You know the story. Or you think you do. On the wild Yorkshire moors, a foundling named Heathcliff and a girl named Catherine form a bond so fierce it will destroy everyone it touches — and outlast death itself. But you've never read it like this. Wuthering Heights in One Hour is a complete literary adaptation of Emily Brontë's masterpiece — not a summary, not a study guide, but the full story ...

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.

Read FREE now on Kindle Unlimited! Slow down. Take a breath. And no—there are no monkeys, donkeys, or pails of water here. Let’s be honest. As comforting as traditional Zen parables can be, they don’t always land when your biggest challenge isn’t carrying water up a mountain—it’s answering emails, navigating relationships, overthinking everything, or wondering why you walked into the room in the first place. Daily Zen is a collection of zen stories for adults who live in the modern world—where enlightenment happens somewhere between your coffee getting cold and your phone ...

Debbie Macomber’s heartwarming new series, set at the Rose Harbor Inn in picturesque Cedar Cove, displays the author’s signature talent for creating characters who feel like friends, and small towns that feel like home. In this original short story, Jo Marie Rose readies her inn for spring...

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.

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 ...

🌟 50 Must-Read Books – Volume 2 🌟 Dive into a world where stories shape souls, ideas spark revolutions, and imagination knows no bounds. 50 Must-Read Books – Volume 2 brings together timeless classics, modern masterpieces, and life-changing nonfiction—all in one collection. From the haunting depths of Beloved to the epic struggles in Les Misérables, from the philosophical insights of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance to the life lessons of Atomic Habits, this volume is your gateway to the most powerful books ever written. Whether you crave the drama of literary fiction,...

Get four fast-paced druid urban fantasy novels in a boxed set featuring magic, mystery, Celtic mythology, and non-stop paranormal action! Reluctant druid, and sole apprentice of the last living master druid on Earth. Heir to Fionn MacCumhaill’s legacy. Hunted and feared by the Fae, and cursed with Cú Chulainn’s ríastrad. All he wants is to live in his junkyard in peace...but the gods have other plans for the young druid apprentice!