Well, it could have themes of change and transformation. Since short stories are good at capturing a moment of change, and with 'short and shorter' perhaps it shows different degrees of change. For instance, a character's small change in perspective over a short story, and a more drastic change in a 'shorter' story. Additionally, themes of hope and despair might be there. In the limited space, the author can quickly set up a situation of either hope or despair and explore how the character deals with it.
This might be a collection of Barry Roberts Greer's short fiction. The title 'short and shorter fiction' could imply a progression in the brevity of the stories. It could be that the author is experimenting with how much story can be told in fewer words. It might also be about the different literary devices used in shorter works compared to longer ones, such as more concise character development or more immediate plot twists.
One possible theme could be the fear of the unknown. If Barry Wilmore encountered something strange or unexplained, that would be a common horror theme.
One possible theme could be friendship. Shrek is a big, gruff but kind - hearted ogre, and Barry could be a character that forms an unlikely friendship with him. They might go on adventures together and learn from each other.
One common theme is technology and its impact on society. For instance, in many of his stories, advanced technology changes the way people interact and view the world. Another theme is identity. His characters often struggle with questions about who they are in different situations.
Romance is a major theme. Her characters often fall in love in unexpected ways. For example, in many of her short stories, two people from different worlds meet and develop a deep connection.
Love and relationships are also very common. Fan fictions often pair her with other actors or create fictional characters for her to have romantic relationships with. It's a way to explore different relationship dynamics for her character.
If it's a horror story, possible themes could be fear. Maybe Barry Wilmore faced some sort of terrifying entity, like a ghost or a monster. Fear of the unknown is a common horror theme.
Another theme could be the exploration of different cultures. Through his short stories, Lopez might show how various cultures perceive and interact with their environments. He might also touch on themes of isolation and connection. Some characters in his stories could be isolated in certain landscapes, and the stories then explore how they either seek connection or find a new sense of self in that isolation.
Nature vs. human could be a theme. The cypress and pine represent the natural world, and the stories could show how humans interact with, are influenced by, or try to dominate nature.
The theme of loss is likely to be prominent. Many people lost their lives and loved ones during 9/11. In the short story, characters may be dealing with the grief of losing someone or something. Additionally, the theme of hope might be there. Despite the darkness of the events, the story could show that there is always hope for a better future, as the city and the people slowly recovered.