Can you recommend some collections of the best contemporary fiction short stories?

A good collection for beginners is 'The Velveteen Rabbit'. It's a sweet story about a toy rabbit's journey to becoming'real' through love and experiences. It's not too complex in terms of language and plot. 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' collections also work well for beginners. They have a variety of short, inspiring stories that can be easily understood and related to. Also, 'Winnie - the - Pooh' short stories are very beginner - friendly. The lovable characters and simple stories in the Hundred Acre Wood are great for those new to short stories.

Another notable collection is 'The Mammoth Book of Weird Fiction'. It has a wide range of stories, from classic to modern, that cover all aspects of weirdness. There are stories about strange creatures, alternate realities, and psychological oddities that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

One great contemporary horror short story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a disturbing tale of a woman's descent into madness. Another is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, which has a shockingly cruel ending. And 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, though not strictly contemporary, still has a huge influence on modern horror short stories.

One of the best is 'Cat Person' by Kristen Roupenian. It vividly captures the modern dating experience in a very relatable way. The characters are complex and the story unfolds in a way that keeps you engaged until the end.

One of the best contemporary fiction short stories is 'Cat Person' by Kristen Roupenian. It vividly explores modern relationships and the power dynamics within them.

Well, 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is a collection of short stories that are thought - provoking. Her stories often deal with themes of morality and the human condition in a really interesting way. There's also 'Interpreter of Maladies' by Jhumpa Lahiri, which has beautifully written short stories about the immigrant experience.

Sure. 'The Martian Chronicles' is a great start. It has simple yet engaging stories that introduce basic scifi concepts like space exploration and alien life. Also, 'I, Robot' is good as it has easy - to - follow stories about robots that will appeal to beginners. The rules of robotics presented in the stories are straightforward.

Sure. 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is a great very short story. It has a shocking ending that makes you think about society and traditions. Another one is 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway. It's a masterful story that conveys a lot through minimal dialogue.

One well - known 'Best British Short Story' collection is 'The Penguin Book of the British Short Story'. It features a wide range of stories from different eras and authors, giving a great overview of the richness of British short - story writing.

Ray Bradbury has a collection of short stories. Many of them are very short but are full of rich imagination. For example, 'The Veldt' is a short but thought - provoking story about the relationship between technology and family.