I remember thinking it was a strange decision when I began reading, but I soon got sucked in. This might be the first short story I ever read that was written in the second person. "We Wave and Call", by Jon McGregor (published in The Best British Short Stories 2012 (opens in a new tab))Ī swimmer fights against the current as he's slowly pulled out to see. Nursing homes don't often feature as the settings for tales of crime and mystery, but Mike Scully uses one to great effect here. It's the perfect close to a story which is unsettling, mysterious, and brilliantly written. For some reason, the last line of "The Sea in Birmingham" really stayed with me. There are many important ingredients to a great short story, but I think one of the most crucial things - the thing most likely to make you remember a story long after you've re-shelved the book - is the final line. "The Sea in Birmingham", by Mick Scully (published in The Best British Short Stories 2014 (opens in a new tab))ĭrama unfolds at a care home after one patient attacks another. The simple, straightforward descriptions of the main character going about her day-to-day life in the wake of her loss gives the tale a feeling of realism, which makes the final paragraphs all the more heartbreaking. It's also one of the most poignant and beautifully-written short stories I've ever read. "Half-mown Law", by Dan Powell (published in The Best British Short Stories 2012 (opens in a new tab))Ī widow struggling to come to terms with her husband's sudden death.įair warning, this one's a real tear-jerker. I've also added in a couple of others from bigger name authors which have stuck with me over the years. The vast majority of the stories below are featured in those collections. I don't love all the stories published, but every year there are a bunch of absolute gems from authors I've usually never heard of. 13 of the best Stephen King short stories you've never readĪ few years ago, I started buying an annual anthology called The Best British Short Stories, edited by Nicholas Royle.
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