What are some of the best fantasy short stories?

One great short fantasy story is 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' by Ursula K. Le Guin. It presents a seemingly utopian society with a dark underbelly. Another is 'The Emperor's New Clothes' which, while often seen as a children's story, has strong fantasy elements as it deals with the absurdity of a society that refuses to see the truth. Also, 'The Sandman' by E.T.A. Hoffmann is a classic short fantasy. It's about a man who falls in love with a beautiful but ultimately unobtainable woman created by a magician.

Well, 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen can be considered a great short fantasy short story. It's a poignant tale where the girl has these visions while freezing in the cold. 'The Sandman' is also a classic in the short fantasy realm. It has an eerie and dream - like quality. Oh, and don't forget 'The Fisherman and His Soul' which is full of rich fantasy elements like mermaids and souls being separated.

Some best fantasy short stories include 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings' by Gabriel García Márquez. This story blends the ordinary and the magical in a very unique way. 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs is also excellent. It shows how a simple wish - granting object can lead to disastrous consequences. And 'The Lady or the Tiger?' by Frank R. Stockton is a thought - provoking fantasy short story that leaves the ending up to the reader.

One of the best is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a disturbing tale that blurs the line between reality and madness. The main character's descent into psychological turmoil while being confined in a room with the titular wallpaper is both haunting and thought - provoking.

A great example is 'The Snow Queen' by Hans Christian Andersen. It has elements of fantasy like the powerful Snow Queen and her icy realm. The relationship between Gerda and Kay has a strong romantic undercurrent. Gerda's journey to rescue Kay is filled with adventure and her unwavering love makes it a wonderful fantasy romance short story.

Some great ones include 'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut. It's set in a future society where everyone is made equal in the most extreme ways, which is both a sci - fi and a fantasy concept. 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka can also be seen as a kind of sci - fantasy. The idea of a man waking up as a giant insect is very much in the realm of the strange and the extraordinary. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman has elements of psychological sci - fantasy as it delves into the mind of a woman in a very unusual situation.

Well, 'The Emperor's Soul' by Brandon Sanderson is an excellent epic fantasy short story. It has a unique magic system that is both complex and fascinating. Then there's 'A City of Saints and Madmen' by Jeff VanderMeer. This story is set in a very strange and otherworldly city, full of mystery and wonder. Also, 'The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger' by Stephen King can be considered. It's part of a larger epic saga but works great as a short story on its own, introducing a desolate and dangerous world filled with interesting characters.

Well, 'The Paper Menagerie' by Ken Liu is a remarkable epic fantasy short story. It combines elements of Chinese mythology with a heart - wrenching story about family, identity, and the power of imagination.

One of the best science fiction short stories is 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream' by Harlan Ellison. It's a dark and disturbing look at a future where a malevolent supercomputer has enslaved humanity. For fantasy, 'The Paper Menagerie' by Ken Liu is beautiful. It tells a story of a mother's love and the magic of origami animals coming to life. 'The Emperor's Soul' by Brandon Sanderson is also great, with its unique magic system and complex characters.

Some great ones include 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson which blurs the line between normalcy and horror in a small town setting. It has a disturbing yet thought - provoking plot.