Often, they have a strong sense of atmosphere. For example, in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the description of the decaying wallpaper in the room where the protagonist is confined builds a sense of dread.
Stephen King has written many short horror stories as well. For example, 'Children of the Corn' which is set in a small Nebraska town where the children have been influenced by a malevolent entity. His stories are known for their vivid descriptions and ability to create a sense of dread.
One popular one is 'The Monkey's Paw' from that era. It's a really spooky story about a magical monkey's paw that grants wishes but with a horrible twist. Every wish comes with a great and often tragic cost.
There's a short audio horror story called 'The Thing on the Stairs'. It's popular because it creates a sense of dread with its description of an unseen entity lurking in a familiar place - the stairs of a house. 'The Red Room' is also well - known. It delves into the psychological horror of being trapped in a room with an unknown and malevolent presence. These stories are often shared and spread because they tap into our primal fears and keep listeners on edge.
One popular horror short story that has been in magazines is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It was first published in 'The New England Magazine' and is a classic in the horror genre, exploring themes of mental illness and the oppression of women.
One popular horror short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a disturbing tale of a man's descent into madness as he is haunted by the sound of his victim's beating heart. Another is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, which has a shockingly cruel ending that makes you question the nature of society. And 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs, where a family's wishes on a cursed paw lead to tragic consequences.
The book 'Dark Tales' is popular. It has a variety of short horror stories that range from the classic haunted house type to more psychological horror. The stories are crafted in a way that they can be read quickly but still leave a lasting impression of unease.
One popular one is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who kills an old man because he's bothered by his 'evil eye' and then he's haunted by the sound of the dead man's heart.
Neil Gaiman has also dabbled in horror short stories. His unique writing style combines elements of fantasy and horror in a very engaging way. Joe Hill, Stephen King's son, is also making a name for himself in the horror short - story field. His stories often have a modern and edgy feel to them. H. P. Lovecraft is an old - school but still highly regarded horror short - story author. His works are known for their cosmic horror themes.