Can you recommend some of David Foster Wallace's best short stories?

Some of his highly regarded short stories include 'Good Old Neon'. It delves deep into themes of self - perception and the illusions we create about ourselves.

Definitely 'The Depressed Person'. It shows his ability to handle complex emotional states in a very engaging way. The story can draw you in and make you understand the character's struggle with depression quite well.

Well, one characteristic is his use of long, meandering sentences that somehow manage to hold the reader's attention. In stories like 'The Depressed Person', these sentences help to convey the chaos and confusion in the character's mind. Another aspect is his ability to blend the absurd with the profound. His stories might start with a seemingly ordinary situation but then take a turn into a deep exploration of human nature, like in 'A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again' where a cruise vacation becomes a platform for dissecting consumerism and loneliness.

Some of the best David Foster Wallace stories include 'Good Old Neon'. It's a profound exploration of self - perception and the false fronts people put up. The narrative dives deep into the mind of a character who seems to have it all together on the surface but is crumbling inside.

I would also recommend 'The Depressed Person'. In this story, Wallace explores the mind of a person dealing with depression in a very raw and unflinching way. It gives readers an intimate look into the struggles of mental illness. There's also 'A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again', which is a semi - autobiographical piece that reflects on modern life and consumer culture.

I'm not entirely sure which was his absolute first short story, but 'The Planet Trillaphon as It Stands in Relation to the Bad Thing' is among his early works. His early stories, in general, tend to have a sense of unease and a deep exploration of the human psyche. In this story, for example, there are elements of the characters' inner turmoil and their attempts to make sense of a world that seems to be falling apart or at least not functioning in a normal way. The way he presents the story, with its idiosyncratic plot and characters, gives readers a taste of his later, more complex and profound works.

Sure. 'Infinite Jest' is a well - known masterpiece. It's a big, thick book, but it's worth every page. It has a lot of different plotlines that all connect in interesting ways. The characters are vivid and the writing is amazing.

Some also consider 'Brief Interviews with Hideous Men' to be among his best. It's a collection of short stories that showcases Wallace's ability to dissect the male psyche and gender relations. His writing is sharp and often uncomfortable, forcing the reader to confront some harsh truths about human behavior.

Many consider 'Infinite Jest' to be his best novel. It's a complex and sprawling work that combines elements of tennis, addiction, and a satirical look at American culture.

One of the highly regarded short stories by David Foster Wallace is 'Good Old Neon'. It delves deep into themes of self - deception and the false personas we present to the world. The narrative is complex and engaging, with Wallace's signature style of exploring the inner workings of the human mind.