best weird fiction short story

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.

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.

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.

Another notable collection is 'The Mammoth Book of Weird Fiction'. It has a wide range of stories, from classic to modern, that cover all aspects of weirdness. There are stories about strange creatures, alternate realities, and psychological oddities that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Look for stories that create a sense of unease. For example, if a story has a setting that is slightly off, like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' where the room seems to have a life of its own. This makes the reader feel uncomfortable and is a sign of a good weird fiction.

Well, 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft is a must - mention for best weird fiction. Its tale of the ancient and malevolent Cthulhu waiting to rise again is truly spooky. 'Slaughterhouse - Five' by Kurt Vonnegut can also be considered. With its time - traveling and the absurd yet profound story of Billy Pilgrim, it has a very strange and unique charm. Also, 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. This short story is disturbing in its normal - seeming town with a very abnormal and cruel lottery system.

Well, 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is often considered among the top weird fiction novels. It combines cyberpunk elements with a mind - bending plot. 'The Ambergris Cycle' by Jeff VanderMeer is also notable. Its setting is a very strange and ever - evolving city. And then there's 'The Illuminatus! Trilogy' by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. This one is full of complex conspiracies and strange ideas that make it a really unique read.

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.

Ray Bradbury's 'There Will Come Soft Rains' is also a great choice. It's a post - apocalyptic story where a house continues to function long after its inhabitants are gone. The way it describes the automated yet empty house in a world devoid of people is both haunting and a bit off - kilter, introducing readers to the unique feel of weird fiction in a relatively easy - to - digest way.

One of the best is 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer. It takes you into a strange, otherworldly area known as Area X. The environment is both beautiful and terrifyingly alien, with mutations and a sense of something not quite right. Another great one is 'Hyperion' by Dan Simmons. The story is set in a far - future universe with a complex web of characters and a very unique take on time and space travel. It has elements that are both mind - boggling and thought - provoking.