Short Stories I've Recently Read

Are You Too Late or Was I Too Early--by John Collier
This story is difficult to figure out. Told in the first person by its protagonist, it is a sort of riddle about the actual nature of the protagonist himself. A kind of puzzle is this tale.

Entire and Perfect Chrysolite--by R.A. Lafferty
Remember those old, ancient maps of the “known” world and how totally inaccurate they were? This story runs on the assumption that one of these maps, showing the world as being Europe, Asia, and North Africa surrounded by a vast Ocean, is literally true and goes from there. A very intriguing tale. And quite funny to boot.

Jenny with Wings--by Kate Wilhelm
This story has a “surprise” ending that is clumsily telegraphed early in the story. But still, it’s a pleasant read.

The Outsider--by H.P. Lovecraft
Lovecraft is a master at creating the alternate world of shadowy and secret, feared places that only those with “special” inclinations inhabit. The Outsider is all about this hidden, scary world.

The Picture in the House--by H.P. Lovecraft
This story dwells on a commonly told theme in horror tales: the idea that people who chose to live in rural isolation have dark, dirty secrets and are scary and dangerous. Enough said?

The Obvious Factor--by Isaac Asimov
The Pointing Finger--by Isaac Asimov
At some point in his illustrious writing career, Asimov decided to delve a little into mysteries and conjured up something called the Black Widowers Club, whose members would meet regularly and try to figure out different mysteries. The problems would often appear unsolvable or point to the supernatural, but the solutions would usually be painfully mundane. Both of the above are Black Widower stories which fit this description. It’s good fun, and the way the characters interact with each other is a big part of it. Get hold of one of Asimov’s Black Widower books, sit back, and enjoy!

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The above reviewed stories can be found in a number of collections. Use the Locus Index to find books containing the story you‘re interested in. Also, DealOz provides a search to find inexpensive copies of old books that you can order through the Internet.