One characteristic is the quick build - up of suspense. Since they are short, they need to grab the reader's attention fast. For instance, they might start with a strange noise or an unexplained event right at the beginning. Another is the use of vivid and often disturbing imagery. This can be things like a dark, shadowy figure lurking in the corner or a strange symbol that seems to hold some dark power. Also, short horror stories often have a twist ending that leaves the reader shocked, like in 'The Monkey's Paw' where the final wish has an unexpected and terrifying outcome.
One of the best is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a classic that delves into the mind of a madman. The narrator's paranoia and the slow - building tension are what make it so great. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' which has a very eerie and foreboding atmosphere. It shows how simple wishes can have terrifying consequences. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also excellent. It uses the setting of a room with yellow wallpaper to create a sense of claustrophobia and madness.
One common theme is the unknown. Stories often play on the fear of the things we can't understand or explain, like in 'The Call of Cthulhu' where the existence of an ancient and powerful being is hinted at. Another theme is death. It can be sudden, violent, or a lingering presence as in 'The Canterville Ghost'.
Well, 'A Descent into the Maelstrom' is one. It tells of a man caught in a gigantic whirlpool, with Poe using scientific descriptions of the maelstrom's power along with the horror of the situation to grip the reader.
Some of Poe's science - fiction - horror short stories include 'The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar'. In this story, Poe delved into the idea of mesmerism and the suspension of life at the point of death, creating a chilling and thought - provoking narrative that blurs the lines between science and the supernatural.
One characteristic is the quick build - up of suspense. In a short horror story, there's no time to waste. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', right from the start, the idea of the magical yet cursed paw grabs your attention and makes you wonder what will happen. Another is the use of vivid and often grotesque imagery. 'The Tell - Tale Heart' has the description of the old man's eye which is really creepy. Also, they often end with a twist or a shock, like in 'The Lottery' where the true nature of the lottery is revealed at the end.
They often create a sense of immediate dread. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's erratic behavior and his obsession with the old man's eye make the reader feel uneasy right from the start. They also usually have a quick - paced plot to keep the horror intense within a short space.
One common theme is the unknown. Things that are not understood, like strange noises in the dark or shadowy figures, often scare us. Another is death and the afterlife. Many horror stories play with the idea of what happens after we die. And then there's madness. Characters going insane due to some supernatural or psychological force is a frequent theme too.
Well, 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also a great horror fiction short story. It shows a woman's descent into madness as she is confined to a room with the yellow wallpaper. The patterns on the wallpaper seem to take on a life of their own in her deteriorating mind. Then there's 'Carmilla' by Sheridan Le Fanu. It's an early vampire story, predating Dracula, and tells of a female vampire who preys on a young woman.
Well, 'The Thing on the Doorstep' by H.P. Lovecraft is a good horror science fiction short story. It has elements of body horror and the unknown. Then there's 'The Jaunt' by Stephen King. It deals with the concept of teleportation gone wrong and the horrors that lurk in that process. Also, 'The Cold Equations' by Tom Godwin is a thought - provoking one. It presents a moral dilemma in a space - travel - related situation that has a rather horrifying outcome.