Who are some famous authors of dark short stories?

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most well - known. His stories like 'The Fall of the House of Usher' are full of dark, Gothic elements. H. P. Lovecraft is also famous. His works such as 'The Call of Cthulhu' often deal with cosmic horror in a short - story format. Another is Angela Carter. Her short stories, like 'The Company of Wolves', are known for their dark, feminist take on fairy tales.

Neil Gaiman is quite famous for his dark fantasy works. His 'American Gods' has elements of dark fantasy, with its complex world of gods and mortals and the underlying darkness in the story. Another is H.P. Lovecraft. His works are full of cosmic horror and dark, otherworldly concepts. And then there's Clive Barker. His books often explore the darker side of human nature and the supernatural in a very vivid and often disturbing way.

Nathaniel Hawthorne is also famous for his dark romantic works. In 'The Scarlet Letter', he delves into themes of sin, guilt, and the dark secrets of the human heart within a Puritan society.

Donald Barthelme is a well - known author of experimental short stories. His works often feature fragmented and postmodern elements. Jorge Luis Borges is another. His stories are known for their complex philosophical ideas and unique narrative structures that often play with concepts like infinity and time.

O. Henry wrote some great western short stories too. He was good at creating interesting characters and unexpected twists in his stories set in the western context. His writing style added a unique flavor to the western short - story genre.

Kate Chopin is a notable author of American short stories. Her works, like 'Desiree's Baby', often explore the status of women in society. Charlotte Perkins Gilman is famous for 'The Yellow Wallpaper', which is a strong feminist piece. And Ambrose Bierce, with his 'Chickamauga', which is a vivid and somewhat harrowing account of war and its effects.

Zane Grey is quite famous. His stories often feature the adventures of cowboys in the American West.

Henry Lawson is a very famous one. He wrote many short stories that depicted the Australian outback life and the people there. His works like 'The Drover's Wife' are well - known. Barbara Baynton is also famous. Her stories often focused on the tough experiences of women in the Australian bush. Another is Miles Franklin, known for 'My Brilliant Career' which was quite influential in Australian literature.

One of the most well - known is Franz Kafka. His stories, like 'The Metamorphosis', have elements of the surreal. The transformation of a man into a giant insect is a very surreal concept.

Kate Chopin is also well - known. Her works explore complex emotions in relationships. Stories like 'Desiree's Baby' although not a typical pure romantic story, still have elements of love and relationship in a complex social context.