greatest short horror stories

Another great one is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. It shows how a simple wish - granting talisman can bring about great horror. A family's wishes lead to unexpected and tragic consequences, making it a classic in horror short stories.

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most well - known authors of great horror short stories. His works like 'The Fall of the House of Usher' are filled with gothic horror elements, such as decaying mansions and madness.

The suspense. They keep you on the edge of your seat. For example, in 'The Lottery', you don't know what the lottery is really about until the very end, and the shock of the revelation is what makes it so appealing.

Well, 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also remarkable. A woman is confined to a room with yellow wallpaper as part of her rest cure. As time passes, she becomes obsessed with the wallpaper, seeing strange figures and eventually descending into madness, which reflects the oppressive nature of her situation.

One of the greatest horror stories is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. It introduced the iconic vampire Count Dracula. The story's use of gothic elements, like the spooky Transylvanian castle, and the sense of impending doom create a truly terrifying atmosphere. The idea of a creature that preys on the living at night is a classic horror concept that has been imitated many times.

One of the greatest is 'The Call of Cthulhu' by H.P. Lovecraft. It introduces the terrifying and indescribable Cthulhu, an ancient cosmic entity. Another is 'At the Mountains of Madness', which takes readers on a journey to Antarctica and reveals the horrifying secrets of an ancient civilization. And 'The Colour Out of Space' is also notable, with its strange, otherworldly color that brings destruction and madness to a rural area.

The true story of Jack the Ripper is among the greatest horror stories. This unidentified serial killer in London in the late 1800s targeted and brutally murdered prostitutes. His methods were extremely cruel, and the fact that he was never caught adds to the horror. Another great (in a very dark sense) true horror story is the Manson Family murders. Charles Manson led his 'family' to commit a series of brutal murders, which shocked the nation with their senseless violence.

Some of the top 10 might include 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a beautiful story about a young couple who sacrifice their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another could be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, which is a chilling tale that makes you question the dark side of human nature. 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is also often considered great, with its complex characters and exploration of morality.

Authors like O. Henry, he wrote 'The Gift of the Magi'. Guy de Maupassant, known for 'The Necklace'. And Edgar Allan Poe who penned 'The Tell - Tale Heart' are among the authors of the greatest short stories. These authors have a unique ability to tell engaging stories within a short span, using vivid language and deep insights into human nature.

Some of the greatest short stories include 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a chilling story that reveals the dark side of human nature and blind obedience to tradition. Then there's 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, a classic horror short story that delves into the mind of a deranged narrator. Also, 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway is great as it conveys so much through its sparse dialogue about a difficult relationship.