H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Call of Cthulhu' is also great. It has this Lovecraftian horror with the ancient, otherworldly entity Cthulhu. The way he builds the atmosphere of a world filled with cosmic horror that is beyond human understanding is what makes it stand out.
One of the best is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a disturbing tale of a woman's descent into madness, with the strange yellow wallpaper in her room playing a central and eerie role. The story uses the setting and the woman's psychological state to create a sense of the uncanny.
Well, 'The King in Yellow' is a notable best weird fiction story. It has a very unique and somewhat disturbing atmosphere. Also, 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is a great example. It seems like a normal small - town story at first but then takes a very dark and unexpected turn. Then there's 'The Masque of the Red Death' by Edgar Allan Poe. The vivid descriptions of the plague and the strange masked ball create a really weird and spooky mood.
Well, 'The King in Yellow' is among the top. It has an air of mystery and the presence of a cursed play that drives people mad. 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is also a classic weird fiction story. The seemingly normal small - town lottery turns out to be a brutal and shocking ritual. Additionally, 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner. The story of Emily Grierson has elements of the grotesque and the unexpected, like the discovery at the end.
One of the best is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a story that delves into the psychological breakdown of a woman through its strange and oppressive narrative. The way the wallpaper seems to take on a life of its own is both eerie and thought - provoking.
One characteristic is the unexpected plot twists. In 'best new weird short fiction', the stories often take you in directions you don't anticipate. For instance, a character might suddenly find themselves in a completely different reality.
One of the well - known classics in weird fiction short stories is 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft. It's famous for its creation of a terrifying and otherworldly entity, Cthulhu. Another is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, which delves into the psychological horror of a woman's confinement. 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs is also a classic, with its tale of a cursed object that brings unexpected and often tragic consequences.
One interesting story is 'The Veldt' by Ray Bradbury. It's about a high - tech house where the children's virtual nursery takes a disturbing turn. Another is 'The Cold Equations' by Tom Godwin. It shows a cruel situation in space travel. And then there's 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream' by Harlan Ellison, which is a very dark and thought - provoking story about a post - apocalyptic world controlled by a malevolent AI.
Well, 'weird short fiction' is known for its departure from the ordinary. It usually contains elements that make you go 'huh?' For example, it could involve surreal landscapes or events that seem to defy the laws of physics. The stories might also play with the concept of reality in a very strange way, blurring the lines between what's real and what's not. And often, there's a sense of unease or mystery that pervades the whole piece.
I also recommend 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer. The audiobook of this book is really good at conveying the sense of the alien and the unknown. The narrator's voice adds to the overall feeling of the story, which is about a mysterious and dangerous area known as Area X that defies normal understanding.
H.P. Lovecraft's works are also top - tier in weird fiction. For example, 'The Call of Cthulhu'. His stories often feature otherworldly and indescribable entities. He creates a sense of cosmic horror that is both terrifying and fascinating. Lovecraft was a master at making the reader feel small and insignificant in the face of the unknown. His use of language to describe the unknowable is truly remarkable.