Edgar Allan Poe also dabbled in fantasy short stories. His stories like 'The Fall of the House of Usher' have elements of the fantastical. H.P. Lovecraft is another. His works, although often in the horror - fantasy realm, are very influential. His short stories are known for creating a sense of cosmic horror and otherworldly beings.
J.R.R. Tolkien is well - known for his fantasy works, and he has some short stories that are great. His detailed world - building in works like 'The Hobbit' and related short stories is amazing. Another one is Neil Gaiman. His short fantasy stories often have a unique blend of the modern and the mythical, like in 'Smoke and Mirrors'.
J. R. R. Tolkien is a very famous author. He has some short stories aside from his long epics like 'The Lord of the Rings'. His short works often have the same richly detailed fantasy worlds. Another is H. P. Lovecraft. His horror - tinged fantasy short stories, like 'The Call of Cthulhu', are well - known. And then there's Isaac Asimov who wrote some great science - fantasy short stories that often made you think about the future and otherworldly concepts.
Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most well - known. His stories like 'The Fall of the House of Usher' are full of dark, Gothic elements. H. P. Lovecraft is also famous. His works such as 'The Call of Cthulhu' often deal with cosmic horror in a short - story format. Another is Angela Carter. Her short stories, like 'The Company of Wolves', are known for their dark, feminist take on fairy tales.
Ray Bradbury has written some stories that could be considered heroic fantasy short stories. His ability to create vivid and imaginative worlds is amazing. For example, some of his stories in 'The Illustrated Man' have elements of heroism. Roger Zelazny is also a great author. His 'Amber' series has heroic elements, and his short stories often feature complex heroes and magical settings.
Mostly, they are highly engaging from the start. Writers like Poe start their short stories with a hook that grabs the reader's attention immediately. The pacing is also well - controlled. In Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes short stories, the action and revelations are timed perfectly to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Additionally, these short stories can often be a microcosm of the society or the human condition. Faulkner's short stories, for example, give us insights into the Southern society of his time, with all its flaws, traditions, and idiosyncrasies.
Donald Barthelme is a well - known author of experimental short stories. His works often feature fragmented and postmodern elements. Jorge Luis Borges is another. His stories are known for their complex philosophical ideas and unique narrative structures that often play with concepts like infinity and time.
O. Henry wrote some great western short stories too. He was good at creating interesting characters and unexpected twists in his stories set in the western context. His writing style added a unique flavor to the western short - story genre.
Kate Chopin is a notable author of American short stories. Her works, like 'Desiree's Baby', often explore the status of women in society. Charlotte Perkins Gilman is famous for 'The Yellow Wallpaper', which is a strong feminist piece. And Ambrose Bierce, with his 'Chickamauga', which is a vivid and somewhat harrowing account of war and its effects.
Zane Grey is quite famous. His stories often feature the adventures of cowboys in the American West.
Henry Lawson is a very famous one. He wrote many short stories that depicted the Australian outback life and the people there. His works like 'The Drover's Wife' are well - known. Barbara Baynton is also famous. Her stories often focused on the tough experiences of women in the Australian bush. Another is Miles Franklin, known for 'My Brilliant Career' which was quite influential in Australian literature.
One of the most well - known is Franz Kafka. His stories, like 'The Metamorphosis', have elements of the surreal. The transformation of a man into a giant insect is a very surreal concept.