Well, there's George MacDonald. He was one of the early writers of fantasy short stories. His works often had a moral or spiritual undertone. C.S. Lewis also wrote some great classic fantasy short stories. His use of Christian allegory in his fantasy works was quite notable. And we can't forget Lord Dunsany. His short stories were filled with vivid and strange imagery that was characteristic of classic fantasy.
Some well - known authors include L. Frank Baum. He is famous for his 'Oz' stories which are full of fantasy elements in short story forms as well as novels. Then there's E. Nesbit. Her short stories often had a touch of magic and adventure, and she was very good at writing for children and adults alike. Also, Fritz Leiber wrote some excellent classic fantasy short stories, with his focus on sword - and - sorcery type of fantasy.
Edgar Allan Poe is likely to be among them. His short stories are famous for their macabre and mysterious themes. Another could be O. Henry, known for his clever plot twists and surprise endings. Also, Anton Chekhov, whose short stories often delved into the human condition with great psychological depth.
Stephen Leacock. His humorous short stories are well - known and often depict Canadian life in a satirical way.
There's Mary Shelley, who is famous for her novel 'Frankenstein' but also wrote some short horror stories. Oscar Wilde also dabbled in horror short stories with works like 'The Canterville Ghost'. And Algernon Blackwood, whose stories often have elements of the supernatural and the uncanny, is a well - known author in the realm of classic horror short stories.
Joe Abercrombie is well - known for his grimdark works. His short stories often feature brutal and unforgiving worlds. Mark Lawrence also writes in this genre. His stories usually have complex characters in difficult situations. And R. Scott Bakker has created some great grimdark short stories as well.
Neil Gaiman has written some great female - focused fantasy short stories. His works are known for their vivid imagination and complex characters. Alice Hoffman is another author. Her stories often combine elements of magic and the real world, with female characters at the center of the narrative. Also, Margaret Atwood has dabbled in fantasy short stories with strong female voices.
Edgar Allan Poe is a very well - known author of short stories. His works like 'The Tell - Tale Heart' are famous for their dark and mysterious themes. Another is Anton Chekhov. His short stories often capture the essence of human nature in a very real and poignant way. For example, 'The Lady with the Dog' is a great piece.
Neil Gaiman is a well - known author of adult fantasy short stories. His works often blend the modern world with elements of the fantastical, like in 'Smoke and Mirrors'. Another is Ursula K. Le Guin. She is famous for her complex and thought - provoking stories such as 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'. And of course, J.R.R. Tolkien, whose 'Leaf by Niggle' is a great example of his short - form fantasy work.
Well, Stephen King is a modern - day author who has written some great scary stories, but when it comes to classic scary story authors, you can't forget about Bram Stoker. He's the man behind 'Dracula'. Also, Algernon Blackwood wrote some really creepy stories. His use of the supernatural and the psychological is quite remarkable. For example, in some of his works, he makes the ordinary seem terrifying.
One is O. Henry. His short stories are known for their surprise endings. Stories like 'The Ransom of Red Chief' are full of humor and unexpected twists.
H.G. Wells is a very well - known author. His short stories like 'The Time Machine' (which can often be found for free in the public domain) are classic sci - fi. It's about a time traveler who goes to the far future and witnesses the evolution of humanity in a really interesting way.