Edgar Allan Poe's 'William Wilson' is also a notable one. In this story, the main character is haunted by his doppleganger, who seems to be a moral conscience. It's a dark and mysterious exploration of the self and its shadow side. Well, the doppleganger in this story constantly interferes with the protagonist's life, making him face his wrongdoings.
For beginners, 'The Double' by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a good start. It's a classic that really delves into the concept of the doppleganger in a very psychological way. You get to see how the main character's world is turned upside down when he meets his double. It's not too long either, so it's quite accessible.
There were two doppleganger lesbians, Claire and Clara. They were both passionate about music. They met at a concert. After the concert, they started talking about their favorite bands and singers. They discovered that they both played the guitar. They began to jam together sometimes. They also supported each other in their musical pursuits, like when Claire was writing new songs, Clara would give her valuable feedback, and vice versa.
One of the great short stories could be 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' which is often considered a classic in Tor short stories. It presents a thought - provoking scenario about a utopian society with a dark secret.
Well, some might include stories that deal with complex human emotions. For example, there could be stories about love and loss. But without actually reading through the collection in detail, it's hard to name specific ones.
One way short stories are ranked as the best is through critical acclaim. Critics look at elements like the plot. If it's engaging and has a good flow, it can boost a story's ranking. For example, a plot with unexpected twists like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' makes it stand out.
One of the well - known ones is 'The Call of Cthulhu'. It's a classic that introduces the terrifying Cthulhu entity and its cult. The story builds a sense of dread through its descriptions of strange happenings and the discovery of ancient, otherworldly knowledge.
Well, 'The Lottery' could be one. It's a really thought - provoking short story that shows how blindly following traditions can lead to horror. Another might be 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' which is full of complex characters and moral ambiguity. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also great as it delves into the mental state of a woman in a very interesting and disturbing way.
They probably have engaging plots. Since they are short stories, they need to grab the reader's attention quickly. So, there could be unexpected twists and turns, like in a mystery - themed story where the solution is not what you initially expect. In addition, the use of vivid language is common. With limited space, the authors need to create a vivid world. They might use unique descriptions of settings and characters to make them come alive in the reader's mind. This helps to make the short story memorable despite its brevity.