What are some of the best modern short stories?

One of the best modern short stories is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a powerful and disturbing story that shows how blindly following tradition can be dangerous. The ending is quite a shocker.

Some of the top early modern short stories include 'Rip Van Winkle' by Washington Irving. It's a story about a man who falls asleep for a long time and wakes up to a changed world, which reflects on the passage of time and the changing society. 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Irving as well is quite good. It has elements of horror and superstition set in a small American town. Additionally, James Joyce's 'Araby' is an important early modern short story. It shows the disillusionment of a young boy's first love and his realization of the real world.

One of the best is 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. It's about an astronaut stranded on Mars and his fight for survival. Another great one is 'Exhalation' by Ted Chiang. Chiang's stories are known for their deep exploration of concepts. And 'The Paper Menagerie' by Ken Liu is also excellent, which beautifully combines family and cultural elements with science fiction.

They are often concise yet impactful. They manage to convey deep emotions and complex ideas in just a few pages.

One of the best modern short stories is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a chilling tale that exposes the dark side of human nature within a small community. The story builds tension gradually until the shocking end.

One of the well - known ones is 'The Call of Cthulhu'. It's a classic that introduces the terrifying Cthulhu entity and its cult. The story builds a sense of dread through its descriptions of strange happenings and the discovery of ancient, otherworldly knowledge.

Well, 'The Lottery' could be one. It's a really thought - provoking short story that shows how blindly following traditions can lead to horror. Another might be 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' which is full of complex characters and moral ambiguity. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also great as it delves into the mental state of a woman in a very interesting and disturbing way.

Well, 'The Veldt' by Ray Bradbury is a great modern horror short story. It deals with the dark side of technology as children become too attached to a virtual reality room that turns sinister. Also, Stephen King has some excellent short horror works. 'Survivor Type' is a particularly gruesome one where a man is stranded and has to resort to extreme measures to survive. Then there's 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream' by Harlan Ellison, which presents a nightmarish future where a malevolent super - computer torments the last humans.

There could also be stories that are more about the adventure aspect. Picture a fisherman setting out on a remote lake or sea, facing unexpected challenges like a sudden storm. The story would detail how they deal with these difficulties while still trying to catch fish. It might talk about their survival skills and the beauty of the natural world around them during such trying times.

One of the best modern comic stories is 'Watchmen' by Alan Moore. It deconstructs the superhero genre, exploring complex themes like morality and power. The characters are morally ambiguous, and the story has a dark and gritty tone. Another great one is 'The Killing Joke' which delves deep into the relationship between Batman and the Joker.