What makes interesting short stories so appealing?

One reason is their brevity. They can be read in one sitting, which is great for people with busy schedules. For example, you can finish 'The Most Dangerous Game' in about half an hour, and it gives you a complete adventure experience. Also, they often have a single, strong theme. In 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the theme of a woman's mental breakdown due to confinement is very powerful. And the characters in short stories can be very vivid despite the limited space. Just look at the complex and sympathetic character of the grandmother in 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' even though it's a short story.

The suspense. In interesting horror short stories, the suspense builds up quickly. For example, in 'The Most Dangerous Game', the idea that a man is being hunted like an animal on an island creates immediate tension. It makes you keep reading to find out what will happen next.

The creativity. They often take you to strange and unique worlds. For example, in 'The Veldt', the idea of a house that can create such realistic virtual environments is fascinating. It's like a peek into a possible future or an alternate reality.

Well, short short scary stories are great because they are easy to remember and share. You can quickly pass on the creepy feeling to others. Also, they often focus on a single, really scary element, like a ghostly apparition or a sudden, unexplained noise, which makes them very impactful in a short space.

The brevity of short and scary stories is appealing because it gives a quick jolt of fear. You can get that rush of adrenaline in just a few minutes of reading.

They often play on our deepest fears. Stories might be about things like being alone in the dark, as in some ghost stories. These are fears that are common to many people. By exploring these in a short story, it gives us a chance to face those fears in a somewhat safe way, through the pages of the story.

One reason is the element of surprise. In a short space, they can hit you with unexpected twists and turns. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', you don't expect the narrator's guilt to manifest in the way it does. Another is that they often deal with the unknown. Mysterious short stories can introduce strange concepts or situations that make us wonder, like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' where the mystery of the woman's mental state is slowly unveiled. They also allow for a quick escape into a world of mystery, without the long - term commitment of a novel.

Well, short suspense stories often have unexpected twists. In 'Lamb to the Slaughter', the fact that the wife so calmly and cleverly covers up her crime is a huge twist. Also, they create a sense of unease quickly. Take 'The Monkey's Paw', the idea of wishes with horrible consequences is introduced right away, and that makes the reader eager to see how it all unfolds in the limited space of the story.

The mystery. Eerie short stories often leave a lot unsaid. They make you wonder about the unknown, like what's really lurking in the shadows or what the true nature of a strange character is. It's that sense of not knowing that draws people in.

The appeal of the 13 short horror stories lies in the quick scares they offer. You don't have to invest a lot of time like in a long horror novel, but you still get that adrenaline rush. It's like a horror snack.