10 Short Stories That Will Stick With You Forever

Discover the captivating and chilling tale of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This short story, known for its powerful symbolism and critique of the patriarchal society, explores the descent into madness of a woman confined to a room with yellow wallpaper. Gilman's vivid narrative and uncanny storytelling have captivated readers for generations, making _The Yellow Wallpaper_ a timeless classic in feminist literature. Read more about it here.

With his masterful first collection, multiple-award-winning author Ted Chiang deftly blends human emotion and scientific rationalism in eight remarkably diverse stories, all told in his trademark precise and evocative prose. From a soaring Babylonian tower that connects a flat Earth with the firmament above to a neural modification that eliminates the appeal of physical beauty, Chiang's rigorously imagined fantasia invites us to question our understanding of the universe. Discover more here.

Shirley Jackson's classic The Lottery portrays a small town that gathers to hold its yearly lottery— a barbaric game of chance. Each head of household draws a slip, and the family with the marked slip will lose a member to stoning by the townsfolk. This shocking commentary on conformity and the darkness within human nature keeps readers on edge long after they've turned the last page. Read more here.

Classic Books Library presents this brand new edition of the short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1890) by Ambrose Bierce. In this text, Bierce creatively uses both structure and content to explore the concept of time, from present to past, showing its transitional and illusive qualities. This story is widely regarded as one of Bierce’s most popular and acclaimed works. Discover more here.

“When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.” With this startling first sentence, Kafka begins his masterpiece, The Metamorphosis. It is the story of a young man transformed overnight into a giant beetlelike insect, becoming an outsider in his own home. A harrowing yet absurdly comic meditation on human feelings of inadequacy and isolation, this work is essential reading. Find more here.

Finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado vibrates with originality, queerness, and sensuality. In these formally brilliant and emotionally intense tales, Machado bends genre to produce startling narratives that explore the complexities of women's experiences. From a wife who refuses to remove a ribbon around her neck to a salesclerk who discovers a horrifying secret, this debut collection is a powerful reflection of women's lives. Explore it further here.

Ursula K. Le Guin's short story, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, explores deep philosophical themes through her imaginative narrative. Celebrated for her elegant prose and rich characterizations, Le Guin’s work reflects on ethical dilemmas and the complexities of happiness and suffering within a seemingly utopian society. Discover the enigma of Omelas here.

Bartleby, The Scrivener, a short story by Herman Melville, presents the tale of a man hired to work in a law firm, who gradually begins to refuse to perform any tasks. This story reflects on themes of isolation, the human condition, and societal expectations, making it a poignant and often unsettling commentary on modern work life. Learn more about this captivating narrative here.

In Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale, The Tell-Tale Heart, a murderer is haunted by the beating of his victim's heart. Through chilling prose, Poe explores themes of madness, guilt, and the human psyche's fragility, cementing this work as an essential piece of American literature. Delve deeper into this iconic story here.

In what is considered one of the greatest collections of American short stories, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor showcases the power of her storytelling. Infused with religious symbolism and portrayed through a Southern Gothic lens, these tales confront the human experience with a unique blend of grotesque humor and tragic depth. Explore O’Connor’s compelling narratives further here.