Can you recommend some experimental fiction short stories?

I would recommend 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' by Herman Melville. It has a rather unique character in Bartleby who defies the normal expectations of a worker. His repeated response of 'I would prefer not to' is both simple and complex at the same time. Also, 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner is an experimental short story. Faulkner uses a non - linear narrative to tell the story of Emily Grierson, revealing different aspects of her life and the town's relationship with her over time. Additionally, Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis' is a well - known experimental piece where the main character wakes up as an insect, which is a very strange and thought - provoking concept.

One example could be 'If on a winter's night a traveler' by Italo Calvino. It has experimental elements in its narrative structure while also touching on love in an interesting way. The story plays with the relationship between the reader and the text, which gives a unique perspective on love and connection.

Well, 'Conjunctions' is a well - known publication for experimental writing, including short stories. It has been a platform for many avant - garde authors to showcase their works that break the traditional boundaries of storytelling. Also, 'Guernica' sometimes publishes short story experimental fictions that touch on various contemporary and often complex themes.

One is 'Finnegans Wake' by James Joyce. It's highly experimental with its use of language, creating a complex web of words that are often difficult to decipher at first. Another is 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski, which plays with the physical layout of the book, with footnotes that seem to go on forever and text that runs in different directions.

One well - known story could be 'Frankenstein'. It involves a scientist's experimental creation in a sort of laboratory - like setting. The scientist, Victor Frankenstein, attempts to create life through scientific means in his makeshift 'laboratory'.

Experimental fiction often breaks the traditional rules of storytelling. It might play with narrative structure, like having a non - linear plot. For example, 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. The book has a complex layout that mimics a haunted house's disorienting corridors. It uses footnotes and different typefaces to create an immersive, yet confusing, reading experience. This type of fiction also experiments with language, using unique word combinations or creating new words to convey ideas that are hard to express in standard language.

Sure. 'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin is an excellent example. It experiments with gender concepts in a science - fiction setting. The alien species in the story has no fixed gender, which challenges the readers' understanding of gender roles. 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson is also very experimental, mixing in elements of Sumerian mythology with a high - tech future and a unique take on virtual reality.

Experimental fiction short stories often break traditional narrative structures. They might play with time, for example, having a non - linear sequence of events. They can also use unique language, like creating new words or using very fragmented sentences to convey a sense of chaos or modernity. Another characteristic is the exploration of different perspectives, not just the typical first - or third - person views.

One notable feature is the unconventional narrative structure. Instead of following the traditional beginning - middle - end pattern, experimental short stories might have a fragmented or circular narrative. For example, some stories might start in the middle of an action and then jump back and forth in time. Another feature is the use of unique language. Writers often play with words, create new terms, or use very sparse or overly descriptive language to convey their ideas in a different way. Also, they can experiment with different points of view, like using multiple narrators or an unreliable narrator to add an element of mystery and complexity to the story.

One great work is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a very short story that plays with the reader's expectations and has an unexpected and somewhat disturbing ending. Another is Jorge Luis Borges' short pieces which are often very experimental in terms of their use of time, space and multiple layers of reality.