Can you recommend the best weird fiction stories from different authors?

H.P. Lovecraft is a major one. He created a whole universe of weird and cosmic horror with stories like 'The Call of Cthulhu' and 'At the Mountains of Madness'. Shirley Jackson is also important. Her 'The Lottery' is a masterpiece of the genre. And Franz Kafka, with his unique and strange stories like 'The Metamorphosis' that bend our understanding of reality.

China Miéville's 'Perdido Street Station' is another top choice. It's set in a vivid and grotesque city called New Crobuzon. There are all kinds of strange races and creatures, and the magic system is really out there. It's a long and immersive read that takes you deep into a world that's both familiar and extremely weird.

In Japanese folklore, there are tales of Kitsune, fox - like spirits. They can shape - shift into humans and often play tricks on people. Sometimes they bring good fortune, but other times they can cause chaos.

Sure. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman could be considered a somewhat 'weird' short story. It has a sense of psychological unease and strange observations that fit the bill.

Well, from the top 100 best weird fiction books, 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski is a must - read for many. It plays with the physical form of the book and has a really complex and strange narrative. Also, 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a classic in weird fiction. It's a short but very impactful story about a woman's descent into madness in a very unusual situation.

The movie 'eXistenZ' is a great one. It's about a virtual reality game that blurs the lines between what's real and what's not. The strange bio - mechanical devices used to access the game and the convoluted plot make it really stand out in the realm of weird sci - fi cinema.

Ray Bradbury's 'There Will Come Soft Rains' is also a great choice. It's a post - apocalyptic story where a house continues to function long after its inhabitants are gone. The way it describes the automated yet empty house in a world devoid of people is both haunting and a bit off - kilter, introducing readers to the unique feel of weird fiction in a relatively easy - to - digest way.

John Steinbeck might be one. His works often had California settings and themes.

Jeff VanderMeer is quite well - known for his contributions to new weird fiction. His works often feature complex and strange ecosystems.

Arthur Machen is a well - known author of weird fiction. His works explore the boundaries between the known and the unknown, like in 'The Great God Pan'. Algernon Blackwood is also famous for his strange and atmospheric stories, such as 'The Willows'. And Sheridan Le Fanu, who wrote 'Carmilla', is an important figure in the history of weird fiction.