I like short stories in many different genre. Some authors do both novels and short stories, some stick mostly with one or the other. So, if you had to pick five favorite stories what are they? With some authors I have trouble choosing only one favorite, but my list here stick to one from each. I could also post a “second five” later I suppose. So, in no special order:
The Man Who Traveled in Elephants, by Robert A. Heinlein
Tobermory, by H.H.Munro(Saki)
True Minds, by Spider Robinson
The Caliph, Cupid, and the Clock, by O. Henry
The Return, by H. Beam Piper
One of the cats that owns me is named Tobermory, in honor of #2 on the list. And I never read #1 without getting a few tears at the description of the war veterans in the parade.
1.) A Piece of Steak by Jack London
2.) A Medicine for Melancholy by Ray Bradbury
3.) Journalism in Tennessee by Mark Twain
4.) The Veil of Astellar by Leigh Brackett
5.) Silver Blaze by Arthur Conan Doyle
And to expand the category a bit: NOVELETTES
1.) Four Ghosts in Hamlet by Fritz Leiber
2.) The Case Against Carroll by Ellery Queen
3.) No Truce With Kings by Poul Anderson
4.) The Street of the First Shell by Robert W. Chambers
5.) Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones by Samuel Delaney, Jr.
NOVELLAS
1.) The Only Neat Thing to Do by James Triptree, Jr.2.) The Man Who Sold the Moon by Robert A. Heinlein3.) Goldfish by Raymond Chandler
4.) The Girl With the Silver Eyes by Dashiell Hammett
5.) Hunters of the Sky Cave by Poul Anderson
Ukulele Ike, no reason why you shouldn’t pick a Thurber as well. And I much approve of your “Mimsey Were the Borogoves” by Kuttner, although I liked “The Proud Robot” better. I prefer humor if I can get it, although my five choices don’t all have happy endings. The one by O.Henry is at best bittersweet, and the death of the cat in Saki’s, while thankfully not murder, still cast a pall on the tale.
My second five choices would be
“Sredni Vashtar”, also by H.H.Munro(Saki) I heard this was once made into an episode of the old Alfred Hitchcock show, although I have not been able to confirm it.
“Mammon and the Archer”, another O.Henry story.
“The Diary of Adam and Eve” by Mark Twain. I love the last line of that, as Adam stands by the grave of Eve.
“Lifeline” by Robert A. Heinlein. Shows exactly why I would never want to know the future in any way, shape, or form.
“Custom Fitting” by James White. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything else by this author, but the story is priceless. I loved the indignation of the tailor when he said "And for this you want me to make a – a horse blanket?
One of my favorite parties was a Short Story Party – we each read a short story to the assembled multitudes (well, okay, there were like a half dozen or so). Lights low, music low, very moody.
Since Ellison, Vonnegut, Robinson, and Thurber have all been chosen, I’m going to add <i>The Lottery</i> and <i>Daemon Lover</i>, both by Shirley Jackson. Not sure if I could limit myself to five.