What are some popular public domain fantasy short stories?

Well, 'The Machine Stops' by E.M. Forster is quite popular. It depicts a future where people rely entirely on a machine and what happens when it fails. 'The Star' by Arthur C. Clarke is another great one. It deals with themes of religion and science when a star goes supernova. And then there's 'Who Goes There?' by John W. Campbell, which has been the basis for many movies about an alien entity that can take over human bodies.

Another example is 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift. Although it's also a satirical work, it has elements of fantasy. Gulliver's encounters with the tiny Lilliputians and the giant Brobdingnagians are quite fantastical and offer interesting perspectives on human nature and society.

One popular public domain kids story is 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll. It's full of strange and wonderful characters like the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter. Another is 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' which tells the story of a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy. And 'Cinderella' is also well - known, with its themes of kindness and transformation.

One popular public domain children story is 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. It takes readers on a wild journey with Alice as she falls down a rabbit hole into a strange world filled with curious characters like the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter. Another is 'The Jungle Book' by Rudyard Kipling. It tells the story of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the jungle. There's also 'Aesop's Fables', which are short stories with moral lessons, such as 'The Tortoise and the Hare' that teaches the value of perseverance.

The Tortoise and the Hare is a very popular one. It's a short fable that teaches the lesson of slow and steady winning the race.

Well, 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker is a very popular public domain fiction. It introduced the world to the iconic vampire character. 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley is also quite famous. It explores themes of creation and the consequences of playing God. And then there's 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, which is a great adventure story set on the high seas.

The Tell - Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe is a very popular public domain ghost story. It's a chilling tale of a man haunted by the sound of a dead man's heart. Another one is The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs. It tells a spooky story about a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes with terrible consequences.

One of the most famous public domain Christmas stories is 'A Christmas Carol'. It has been adapted into numerous plays, movies, and TV shows. The story of Scrooge's redemption has become a staple of the Christmas holiday. Then there's 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen. It's a rather sad but also poignant story about a poor girl on Christmas Eve. Also, 'Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer' has been in the public domain for some time now and is a beloved Christmas story for many, especially children.

Some well - known public domain children stories include 'Cinderella'. It's a classic tale about a girl who overcomes hardships with the help of her fairy godmother and eventually finds her happily ever after. Another is 'Snow White', where a beautiful princess faces the envy of her stepmother and befriends seven dwarfs. 'Hansel and Gretel' is also popular. It tells the story of two children who outwit a wicked witch in the forest.

Some of the top public domain short stories include 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a heartwarming tale of a young couple sacrificing for each other. Another is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, which is a thrilling and somewhat macabre story about a man's descent into madness due to a vulture - like eye.