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I must confess, as much as I love British writers, the ones that I always come back to are American. America really has dominated modern English literature – not just in the pulp fiction arena but in serious literature as well. From the moment that America found its voice in the world of writing, it has had an incredibly significant presence. This list looks at ten of the masters of the short story genre from the USA.
The author of “Fight Club” is not necessarily known as a “Short Story Writer,” however Palahniuk is a believer in the Ray Bradbury ritual of writing a short story every day. Many of his stories have ended up in his novels without the reader realizing they were originally independent tales. In one novel “haunted” he used a short story about a writers convention to bridge together 23 different short stories. This book features his infamous story “Guts” which has caused several people to faint when read aloud at book signings.
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle”, both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works include biographies of George Washington, Oliver Goldsmith and Muhammad, and several histories of 15th-century Spain dealing with subjects such as Christopher Columbus, the Moors, and the Alhambra.
Asimov is certainly one of the most prolific writers in the English language. He is known for many different works from his series “Foundation”, and “Fantastic Voyage”, to text books and everything in-between. He is primarily known as a science fiction writer, however he is one of the few people to have their writing span every major category of the Dewy Decimal System except Philosophy. He wrote an estimated 515 books in his lifetime. As far as writing short stories goes, he has 3 well known stories. “I, Robot”, “The Bicentennial Man”, and “The Last Question.” The first two have been turned into movies. He wrote 19 Short Story collections, spanning a total of 284.
Bradbury is a very well known Science Fiction writer. He is famous for writing a short story every day, a ritual that many other writers have attempted to follow. He has written 11 novels, 3 of which are made up of loosely connected stories, and over 40 short story collections, for a grand total of over 400 short stories and novellas. But it’s not just quantity that earns him a place on this list. His best known short story “A Sound of Thunder”, is the origin of a common science fiction theme called “the butterfly effect”, it is also the most republished science fiction story of all time.
King is one of the most popular authors in America, and a very prolific writer as well. He is a huge fan of the short story. “1408″, “The Mist”, and “Hearts in Atlantis” are just a few of the 35 short stories he wrote that have been made into movies, though perhaps the most famous is “Stand By Me”. He has written 8 story collections and a total of 124 short stories and 17 Novellas in his career. He was also selected to be the editor of The Best American Short Stories of 2007, and also won the O. Henry Award in 1996.
Salinger is known for his novel “Catcher in the Rye”, this is actually his only published novel. A very eccentric writer, he has written a great deal of material in his life, but much of it has never been seen by any one but him. He has 3 other books available to the public. “Nine Stories”, “Frannie and Zoey”, and “Raise High the Roof Beams, Carpenters and Seymour an Introduction”. All 3 of these books are short story collections. He also has about 2 dozen other uncollected short stories. Salinger is considered by many to be the greatest American writer of the 20th century.
Real name William Sydney Porter. O. Henry is known for writing flash fiction with wit and a strange twist ending. His most well known story is “The Gift of the Magi” which is a story about a young poor couple who each sells their most precious object in order to buy a Christmas gift for their partner, but in doing so they end up making each others gift worthless. This story has been retold in many different forms over the years. The O. Henry Award was established in his honor, it is a very prestigious award given to outstanding short story writers. Two writers on this list have won this award.
Updike was an extremely gifted short story writer, he published over 150 short stories in his career, his last collection “Tears of my Father” was published in June 2009, about 6 months after his death. He has also won over 30 different awards in his lifetime including: the Pulitzer, the Rea Award, the PEN/Falkner award, and the aforementioned O. Henry Award to name a few.
F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American writer of novels and short stories, whose works are evocative of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the “Lost Generation” of the Twenties. He finished four novels, including The Great Gatsby, with another published posthumously, and wrote dozens of short stories that treat themes of youth and promise along with despair and age. If you want a recommendation for his greatest two short stories, I suggest reading “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” and “The Diamond As Big As The Ritz”. You won’t be disappointed.
Poe is probably the most famous English short story writer of all time. Poe only wrote one complete novel in his lifetime, and it is not very well known, however his short stories are. Most people can tell you the story of “The Tell Tale Heart”, “The Masque of the Red Death,” or “The Pit and the Pendulum”. Poe has over 65 short stories to his name. Poe is also considered to have invented the detective genre.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:33 am
Yo, I knew stephen King would be on here. Cue the fans!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:36 am
SO apparently to write well one must have a huge pair of mutton chops, can do.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allen Poe. I am the egg man – they are the egg men – they are the paperback writers – coo coo cachoo.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:40 am
list of top ten commenters….lolz
July 30th, 2009 at 1:47 am
No Raymond Carver? Seriously? That’s an unforgivable omission!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:49 am
This list is great! Poe is the man!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:50 am
I love this list. #10 is by far my favorite author of all time. I am reading the Catcher in the Rye right now, and as soon as I opened this list I knew #5 would be on it. These are some of the greatest writers ever, even if a couple on the list are a little overrated.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:59 am
ummmm… I think hemmingway should have made his way on here… the snows of kilimonjaro, hills like white elephants, both classics. And Herman Melville is an unforgivable atrocity. Stephen King can;t hold a candle to Bartleby the scrivner, Billy Budd and the piazza tales.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Reading about The Tell Tale Heart reminded of The Simpsons whilst it was good (shame about now).
July 30th, 2009 at 2:01 am
I am pleased that three of my favorites are here – Poe, Fitzgerald,and palahniuk.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Yes!!!!! I know who all these writers are!!! Whoohoo!!!!!!
July 30th, 2009 at 2:21 am
@#9 Norman, thats exactly what I thought when i saw The Tell Tale Heart LoL
July 30th, 2009 at 2:27 am
Stephen King looks like a chipmunk!
July 30th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Maybe I am a masochist but I can’t wait to see Randall and bucslim take on this list
July 30th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Poe looks a little odd in his photo!
I’m not certain I’d go with Asimov; Douglas Adams has pointed out he wasn’t technically that good a writer – although he had strong ideas and was remarkably prolific.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:44 am
@jfrater (14): Yeah – quick! Change ‘corer’ to ‘career’ in 3, and ‘by’ into ‘buy’ in 4 – before they notice!
July 30th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Number one, the first sentence says that he the greatest “English short story writer” but he is american?
Wicked list though!
July 30th, 2009 at 2:53 am
@apepper (15): let’s not forget that Shakespeare’s peers thought him a hack. I think Asimov is amazingly entertaining. That is good literature. I couldn’t put his stories down.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:54 am
@Lifeschool (16): bugger – I am too drunk to correct them now – I will have to do it in the morning
July 30th, 2009 at 3:07 am
@Jordan (17): Perhaps the author meant English as in the written language, rather than English as in the nationality?
@jfrater (19): That’s ok, you deserve your alcoholic compulsive disorder. Cheers! Bottoms Up.
Right, I’ve done my little bit for today – still chuffed at getting No.1 (sorry, I couldn’t resist.
) – on with the show. 
July 30th, 2009 at 3:10 am
Hard to disagree with any of this
July 30th, 2009 at 3:21 am
@jfrater
English isnt my first language but shouldnt there be “their most precious objects”. Sorry if im wrong
July 30th, 2009 at 3:37 am
Edgar Allan Poe is truly the best American Writer! His work of art is very creepy but good. I like his stories.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:42 am
It’s Edgar Allan Poe, not Edgar Allen Poe
July 30th, 2009 at 3:44 am
I thought that Stephen King’s most famous one made into a movie was The Shawshank Redemption..it’s a short story. In the same collection as The Body (Stand by me).
July 30th, 2009 at 4:20 am
as i read the title of this list, 5 names immediately popped into my mind…and in this order:
Poe
King
O.Henry
Bradbury
Asimov
nice to know that another LVer has the same appreciation for this masters of the genre!
happy Thursday, everyone!
rtr
July 30th, 2009 at 4:22 am
Great list. I’m glad Salinger is on here. I love his short stories. I hate Catcher in the Rye, though. I’m pretty sure that I’m the only American who could not stand that book as an adolescent. Still can’t.
Also, Asimov may not be the best technical writer on this list, but he’s a far sight better than I am (or say, a certain writer who authors books about vampires), and his stories are pretty entertaining.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:26 am
James Thurber should be added to the list.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Are you serious?
No Hemingway?!
July 30th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Good list. Somehow I had a hunch that Poe would be there. And he’s brilliant so I don’t mind.
Now, I always seem to find grammatical and spelling errors in the lists so here we go:
Isaac Asimov (8): ‘he is one of the only people to have their writing span every major category of the Dewy Decimal System except Philosophy.’
That one of the only people really bugs me. It should go ‘he is one of the only few people’ or ‘one of the few people’ or ‘he is the only man’ etc.
O. Henry (4): ‘” which is a story about a young poor couple who each sells there most precious object in order to by a Christmas gift for their partner’
Their, not there: buy, not by
July 30th, 2009 at 5:04 am
“I, Robot” isn’t a short story. It’s a short story compilation of Asimov’s early robot short stories, and bares almost no resemblance to the movie of the same name except for the presence of the Laws of Robotics.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:15 am
Good choice with Poe. Totally agree.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:23 am
@jfrater (19):
another typo (#4) “… sells there most precious object..” sh/be ‘their’.
Other than that, excellent list. thank you, ZachS.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:29 am
i love this site, and have never had an issue with a single list….BUT—-HOW is Flannery O’Connor not on this list?!?!
July 30th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Amazing that “Stand By Me” is listed as King’s most famous short-story-turned-movie… since it’s not. The Shawshank Redemption is, by far, his most popular short-story-turned-movie and the movie itself is, without a doubt, the best film adapted from a King story, short or otherwise. Despite the great nostalgia of Stand By Me, a quality, beloved film in its own right, the story of Andy Dufresne, Red and Shawshank prison will forever go down as King’s greatest adapted work.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Please correct under the Salinger entry the name of one of his published novels to “FRANNY and Zooey” NOT “Frankie and Zooey.” This is an atrocious typo.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:38 am
I love Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, King, John Updike and Poe. Glad you added them, ZachS. I have all of King’s books and most of the others. I really haven’t read any of the other authors on this list, but will have to give them a try.
I confess that most of the writers I read from are outside the USA, but there are a few good ones from here.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Also, I just noticed you have “FRANKIE and ZOEY” – again, should be Franny and Zooey.
Thank you.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Have to disagree about King’s Stand By Me. The Obvious choice is Shawshank Redemption.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:53 am
I’ve read all of these guys except one. Wow. Not bad for me.
Oouchan, you can come back home now. The bear has promised to tame the children.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:57 am
No Raymond Carver or Flannery O’Connor, Booooooooooooooooo!
July 30th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Seriously, where’s Flannery O’Connor?
July 30th, 2009 at 6:10 am
I think there’s an unhealthy obsession with these authors’ heights here. Can’t they be considered as “story writers” on their own merits without having to “measure up” to their rivals, the “tall story writers”?
July 30th, 2009 at 6:18 am
how can you omit Mark Twain from this list?!
July 30th, 2009 at 6:19 am
@warrrreagl (40): Thanks, warrr dear. I will join you guys later.
@astraya (43): I agree. Let them stand on their own two feet based on their stories…no matter what the size.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:22 am
What about Flannery O’Connor? She was one of the greatest masters of the American (especially the Southern) short story. I especially recommend “Good Country People,” in which a cynical young woman is conned out of her artificial leg.
Good list, a little patriarchal, though.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:22 am
ok I’m not usually one of those “you forgot dazed and confused!!!” people, but….I was expecting Truman Capote.
Miriam, Shut a Final Door, The Walls Are Cold, all amazing short stories. Also, if we’re including novellas, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I’m sad now.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Great list; for once I’ve actually read at least one or two pieces from each author listed. Yeah for me! I actually love short stories – takes a ton of skill to be succinct and still have sufficient character development for us to care. Personally I don’t consider Shawshank or The Body to be short stories – they’re novellas. Great ones but still.
All grammar, punctuation and content errors have been fixed up – I think. I’m sure someone will notice if I’ve missed any.
oouchan, warr; Thank goodness for “The Bear”
July 30th, 2009 at 6:31 am
I truly do apprieciate those on the list I would have found room for Carver.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Ambrose Bierce anyone? he’s like the American Shakespeare.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Great list! I was soooo ready to kick some butt if Poe wasn’t in here! I didn’t expect him to be #1, actually… so YAY!
July 30th, 2009 at 6:38 am
astraya – Hahaha. That comment literally made me laugh out loud a little.
July 30th, 2009 at 6:47 am
“Guts” doesn’t need that apostrophe. Just remembering reading that makes me twitchy. It’s a good read, but definitely gross.
I totally agree with all of these, being an Lit nerd myself. You could also add that one of Fitzgerald’s short stories was “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” I never saw the movie, but the story is quite good. Poe couldn’t be anything but #1.
I could see a sequel here with Bierce, Carver, Hawthorne, Twain, Cooper, Crane, and maybe Faulkner. But like I said, I’m a lit nerd.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Good thing Stephen King writes such a good short story – ’cause his long ones SUCK! – personal opinion: I’m allowed one.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:05 am
American writers over British writers?? HA! So ridiculous.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Where’s Flannery O’Connor?
July 30th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Isn’t Shawshank technically a novella? I think it goes by word count. I’m pretty sure everything in the Different Seasons collection is technically a novella but that might just be me being a pedant.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:07 am
“gut’s”? really? come on, dude.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:09 am
great list, appreciate the reminder about some of the great short fiction works I haven’t yet read. have to add my voice to the chorus lamenting the absence of Raymond Carver and Flannery O’Connor. Flannery would have been an especially nice addition to the list, you know, just to balance out all of the testosterone and mutton chops. regardless, I enjoyed the list, thanks : )
July 30th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Good selection here, ZachS.
Read Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man earlier this year. It’s a real treat for any lover of short fiction.
O. Henry is great, witty and a master of the twist ending. I “re-discovered” him late last year after all but ignoring him during high school English classes. Terrific stuff.
And Poe is fantastic. The Cask of Amontillado is my favorite Poe tale. It’s told from the point of view of a cold-blooded killer. The introduction, one of the finest beginnings to a short story, says it all:
“The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.”
Marvelous.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Very disappointed about the lack of any female writers on this list. Slightly sexist don’t we think!?
Charlotte Perkins Gilman should most definately be included, amongst her short stories, “The Yellow Wallpaper” is definately her most famous, about a woman driven to madness by the wallpaper in the room she is left in to ‘cure’ her depression. It’s semi-autobiographical. If you haven’t read it I would definately recommend it.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Last year I did a top ten Poe short story list. Check it out (under Literature listings).
July 30th, 2009 at 7:40 am
I agree with Bearglove; I was disappointed to see that Ambrose Bierce was not on the list.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Where is Ambrose Bierce?
He is much better than for example Salinger or Scott Fitzgerald, IMHO.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:44 am
@Beki710 (61):
No female writers exist at all.
Tehre are only good writers and bad writers.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:44 am
No Harlan Ellison?????
July 30th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Great list. I’ve read works from many of these authors, mostly from King because I absolutely love the horror genre! No one writes it better than him!
July 30th, 2009 at 7:49 am
was this list of writers everyone knows really the best you could do? you couldn’t give me one surprise? welcome to the crusty old white man list on listverse.
and no women? really? not ONE?
July 30th, 2009 at 7:51 am
How can a list of the greatest American short story writers exclude Hemingway…are you serious? He was both prolific and masterful.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Thanks for putting Chuck Palahniuk on here. He’s my favorite writer and it’s good to seem him listed as a great one
July 30th, 2009 at 7:53 am
@meatyboy (69):
Yes! Where is Ernest Hemingway?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:03 am
@anonymous (68):
It’s all very simple, White Men simply are the greatest writers
July 30th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Neat, though I’d have loved to see H.P. Lovecraft on here, one of my favorites and I’ve seen some of his works referenced in some of the Stephen King stories.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:09 am
One of my favorite college classes was “Short Stories of Poe & Twain”. Both wrote humorous and macabre stories, and put side by side, there were great similarities. Twain’s closest Poe effort was “Cannibalism in the Cars,” as I recall. Poe’s wittiest writing escapes me.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:09 am
A good list, but a few obvious ommissions… Hemingway, Matheson, Carver, etc.
Also, I would like to see a list including the rest of the world. Some of the greatest short stories came from Russia (Chekhov anyone?).
July 30th, 2009 at 8:17 am
I have read and enjoyed most on this list. But, sadly, my favorites (Nathaniel Hawthorne and Stephen Crane) were omitted. But as any literature lover would admit, it’s hard to only choose a few out of many to select as “best” or “favorite.” Good job, good list!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:20 am
This list is silly without Flannery O’Connor.
And really, taking the lead in modern writing isn’t saying much. Most anything after the Victorians is crap.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:21 am
And yes, Shawshank is a novella.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Ugh, and Hearts in Atlantis is a very long novel, not a short story. What kind of poorly researched list is this???
July 30th, 2009 at 8:25 am
I forgot to mention Kate Chopin, since this list lacked females. Just demonstrates her view of the male-dominated society of the USA. “The Story of an Hour” is avilable on line for free!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Nice list ZachS I have always enjoyed Asimovs style of writing, well researched – Thanks.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 am
kurt vonnegut, anyone?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:42 am
@Jacob (75):
What an approach!
US on one hand and the rest of the world on the other?
The West and the Rest?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:50 am
No female writers on the list.
No Afro American people on the list.
No Hispanic people on the list.
No Red Indians on the list.
No handicapped people on the list.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:51 am
ive read work by everyone on the list except Asimov and Salinger. oh the joy in taking creative writing!
Obiwan32: I believe you have good taste! i loved reading welcome to the monkey house.. every story in it was great imo.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:57 am
MARK TWAIN
July 30th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Oh man, I don’t think people should make lists where they determine the 10 ‘greatest’ when it applies to such a huge array of things that could (or should) be included. Save the “TOP TEN” for things that are more or less harmless, you are less likely to get ripped a new asshole. :/ Of course that is only my opinion, but I do believe it is good advice.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Seriously? Not a single woman? Eudora Welty, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Edith Wharton, Alice Walker, Joyce Carol Oates, Willa Cather, Gwyndolyn Brooks, Zora Neale Hurston, and Kate Chopin are all heads and shoulders above the writing ability of say, Chuck Palahniuk. He doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as them.
Not to mention all of the great African American male short story writers–Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, John Williams, John H. Clarke, etc.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Maybe the title should have been, 10 ‘of’ the Greatest American Short Story Writers. That gives you a little bit of give…
July 30th, 2009 at 9:12 am
frezca (comment 84): Yeah whats that all about? Also not represented are retards, midgets, albinos, and transsexuals! Lets sue jfrater!
July 30th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Sorry to be picky, but its a bit innacurate to refer to American authors as the greatest in the history of English Literature, as the difference in writing styles and subject matter is surprising. That said though, this is a great list, and all of these authors are fantastic
July 30th, 2009 at 9:30 am
The absence of Flannery O’Connor basically invalidates the rest of the list. The discussion of greatness in the American short story starts with her.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am
This is a really good list. I love Poe, Salinger (except for catcher in the rye) and i grew up reading my dad’s Bradbury books. Would have liked to have seen Hemingway, though.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Amy hempel is perhaps the greatest short story writer. I’m one of those people who goes usually for the white male writer. But “the harvest” is quite possibly the best short story I have ever read. This list without her is an abomination. Although glad to see chuck p up there.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Apparently my company is afraid of people passing out at work because they’ve blocked any and all websites that might contain the “Guts” story. I’m so intrigued, I’d LOVE to read it, but for some reason I am unable to do so.
But good list. Weren’t there any great female writers in America? This was very much a “male” dominant list. Outside of that, I think it was pretty great.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:55 am
IggyKoopa @ (88) send in your own list for publication on LS, so we can all read it, I think the author of this list has done very well with his list as the comments above show.
This is a fun site where we all throw the ball around and
comment – if you have 16 plus better ones send your list to Jamie for publication.
Think about it pal.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I’m shocked that Flannery O’Connor didn’t make this list. No matter, she deserves her own list.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Very good. Thought O henry would be #1 but very impressed with Poe as the choice I actually prefer him.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:09 am
new authors to check out.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:11 am
The best short story in stephen’s king work is “The last rung on the ladder” believe me, just take a look at it.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:20 am
@callie19 (47): ok I’m not usually one of those “you forgot dazed and confused!!!” people, but….I was expecting Truman Capote.
Lol, nice use of an obscure insider reference. But fyi – “those” people were so annoying because noob after noob kept saying the same thing over and over with apparently not having read all the preceding comments (the cardinal sin among LV veterans). You are the first in this thread to bring up Capote, so by definition you are not being one of “those” people. Your veteran status and commitment to protocol is still intact. Carry on.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Well, I’ve heard of them. But I have not read most of their stories but I think I’ll check some of their stories out.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:32 am
no kate chopin? no nathaniel hawthorne? NO RAYMOND CARVER? the list should be renamed to “10 Great American…”, not “10 Greatest…”
July 30th, 2009 at 10:34 am
How can you not have Kurt Vonnegut on this list ?!?!?!!? He wrote short stories too! http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Monkey-House-Kurt-Vonnegut/dp/0385333501/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1248975203&sr=8-4
July 30th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Glad Updike made it on here.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:00 am
what what what???
no hunter s thompson?
July 30th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I enjoyed this list. Not much I would disagree with. Could have included O’Connor. “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” still haunts me to this day. And while not the biggest Hemingway fan, “The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber” is one of my all time favorite short stories.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:30 am
You definitely need more! As people have mentioned–what about Kate Chopin, Flannery O’Connor, Melville, Hemingway and HAWTHORNE, for goodness sakes?!
Oh and as for some of the comments…. “No Red Indians on the list.” I laughed at this–that’s right, someone like Louise Erdrich doesn’t count–she’s half white, after all. Because categorizing people by race ensures we’ll get to read literature representing all cultures and beliefs. It’s not that simple.
Oh, and you can’t forget Dorothy Parker. “Big Blonde” is one of my favorite short stories ever.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:39 am
woooot!!!!!!!!!! edgar allen poe is the best!!!
July 30th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Since everyone on the list is essential, imo, I suppose I can forgive the omission of a few (especially Vonnegut- but only because all my favorites of his are full novels).
July 30th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Wow…Steven King before Ray Bradbury? Really……?
July 30th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Here here on Matheson, been really into his stuff lately
July 30th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
cool list, Fight Club actually started as a short story and was later expanded. Also, am I the only one who thinks that King looks like he is from Whoville?
July 30th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I have greatly enjoyed the works of most of the authors on this list, but I wish to make a minor point. In the Stephen King entry, the title of the movie mentioned is indeed “Stand By Me,” in reference to the song, but the title of the printed work the movie is based on is “The Body,” which is not a short story, but a novella. I’m not quibbling for the sake of a few pages here either. It is most definitely much too long to be a short story. It can be found in “Different Seasons,” a collection of four novellas which also features “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.”
Sorry for being so picky- this really was a good list, despite all the authors who could be honorable mentions and runners-up. By the way, “Guts” was and is awesome. It is the only short story I have read to date that actually made me consider hanging my head over a toilet and getting rid of my granola.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I thought O’Henry would be on this list
July 30th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@IggyKoopa (88):
Face it, you can’t beat the system, the conspiracy is just too powerful now.
/(Sarcastic) Johan
July 30th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
O. Henry and John Updike are my favorites.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I agree with the some of the comments. Flannery O’Connor SHOULD be in this list!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Link to a great anecdote on Salinger:
http://masthead.blogspot.com/2004/12/on-account-of-jerry-being-recurring.html
July 30th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Guts is the reason that I immediately gave up on the rest of Haunted and Chuck Palahniuk altogether. Call me a wimp, but I am not going anywhere near that man’s writing again
A warning to the curious – those images will never, ever leave your head.
I like this list, it takes some authors that are famous for their novels and highlights what good short story writers they were. F. Scott Fitzgerald, for instance. Everyone has read The Great Gatsby, but his short stories really sparkle. I LOVE Bernice Bobs Her Hair, such a great story.
I, like seemingly everyone else on this list, think Flannery O’Connor Should have made the cut. But good list otherwise!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
My list: Poe, Melville, Hemingway, Twain, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, O’Hara, O’Connor, London, Bierce.
Honorable mention: Thurber, Lardner, Runyon, Parker.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
No Lovecraft? For shaaaame.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Kane92 – No one said American writers are the best ever. The author just said that in **modern** English literature, Americans have been more notable (which is not an inconceivable notion, since America is considerably more populated, ergo produces more writers).
July 30th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Well, the lack of Philip K. Dick on this list AND in the comments makes me sad!
One of the greatest Sci-fi authors ever:
36 novels and 121 short stories, many which have been made into films: Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, Paycheck…… Even though he wrote in almost near poverty.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
What? No female writers?
July 30th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I am a huge Poe fan, love his short stories. Fitzgerald is really an interesting read too. I have read something from all of the above authors myself, but those two are my favorites.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Flannery O’Connor is THE greatest American short story writer. Her omission is ridiculous.
Another really under-rated short story writer is Kurt Vonnegut. Welcome To The Monkey House is an absolutely brilliant collection of stories.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
F. Scott Fitzgerald is nothing compared to the others. He wasn’t even considered great until two college professors wrote a study on him, and ever sense every high school student has been subjected to his overrated book “The Great Gatsby”. After High School english class he isn’t mentioned much in literary circles at least ones with depth.
Almost Forgot. Contradiction?
http://listverse.com/2009/02/09/top-10-most-overrated-novels/
July 30th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
53 SallySweet
July 30th, 2009 at 6:47 am
“Guts” doesn’t need that apostrophe. Just remembering reading that makes me twitchy. It’s a good read, but definitely gross.
So what’s this story about? And why would it make me faint? Nothing makes me faint. Is he just grossing you out to get attention or can the guy actually write?
Is it like splatterpunk gross?
July 30th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Wonderful list. I am a huge fan of short stories.
Perhaps some other enthusiast reading this list can help me with something I’ve been looking for for years. It was a story I read in the mid-nineties as part of a high school english curriculum. If I could just find the title or author I would be so happy.
This is what I remember of the story:
A middle-aged southern woman (it is from her point of view) and her husband are in the waiting room of a medical office. There are several people there, including an unhappy-looking teenage girl. As the people in the room chat, the conversation becomes more and more racist, with the girl staring at the woman more and more angry. Her husband jokes that when blacks move north and breed with white people, the result is “white-faced n*****s.” Everyone laughs except the girl. Eventually the woman makes some remark that so enrages the girl that she assaults the woman, calling her something like an “evil hog.” The woman is deeply shaken and confused, and when she gets back to her farm she tells her black workers what happened, they rush to comfort her. Even as they assure her that she is a good woman, she despises them and thinks they are being shifty. She walks out into a field alone and demands of God, “how am I an evil hog?”. She then has an epiphany about her immoral attitudes.
whew. Sorry to make such a long post, but I am really quite desperate to find this story again. If anyone could help me out I would be forever grateful.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Lame list. Carver, O’Connor, Cheever are glaring omissions. Obviously composed by a genre fiction fan.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
130 – The story you are thinking of is “Revelation” by Flannery O’Connor, who should have been included on this list. One of the greatest American short story writers to ever live. I also second the people who said Hemingway and Carver deserved spots, although I do like th writers who were included.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
is that what J.D. Salinger looks like.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Also, consider reading some Amy Hempel (one of Chuck Palahniuk’s favorite writers). Most of her stories are only a couple of pages long, but it’s because she occasionally says more in a sentence than some writers do in a chapter.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
NO Robert Matheson?? Absurd.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I just googled “Guts” by Chuck Palahniuk. found it easily enough.
and you know what?
not as gross as you all say. but i also have been reading Stephen King novels since i was 10…my unsuspecting parents not even bothering to recognize the content of the paperbacks i was reading. if they only knew…
but after living in Florida for 13 years, and hearing of children actually getting their intestines sucked out by jacuzzi pumps on the Channel 7 shock news (which borders on the banal imagery of Latin news reports, complete with images of human bodies covered in yellow tarps nightly, bloody victims of crime, and much, much worse); hearing stories my medical intern friends tell of emergency room visits and the amazing things without flanges people stick into any & all body orifices (my favorite story was the woman with a colostomy site that lost a racquetball in the opening because her husband wanted to stretch out the surgical opening to…well…you know), to having been a fan of pornography for over 17 years, well…
very little grosses me out. i could tell you all exactly what does make retch, for such things DO exist…and in great, poetic detail…
but a story about horny teenage boys finding new ways to whack off? no…not hardly gross at all…just painfully sad…
rtr
July 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
H.P. Lovecraft?
July 30th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Palahniuk is good. Guts is just one story from the book Haunted (I have the one with the scary glow-in-the dark cover)The other short stories in the book are good, too.
Him, King, and Poe have to be my favorite authors~~
July 30th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Flannery O’Connor, Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, Hemingway, Shirley Jackson – where are they?
Stephen King? He’s fun, but hardly great literature.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Can’t believe you left out Henry James. He is of course less famous than these others, but “The Turn of the Screw” is at least well known.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
J.G Ballard.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
132 sakurakiss–thank you so much.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Good list. My husband convinced me to read “Guts” in an issue of Playboy years ago. I must say that it was imaginative. I love short stories because they cater to my undiagnosed Adult ADD!! I still love a great novel, but short stories give me a quick and satisfying fix. In fact, is there a list of great short stories? I’m in a reading mood… gone to check the archives!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
So glad to see Asimov on the list. Seriously you must read The Last Question, the ending will stick with you forever. Don’t have time to look for the link now, but it’s on the internet somewhere and totally worth the time to find it.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Good list. I wouldn’t have put Salinger in myself–his reputation grows the longer he doesn’t write, it seems.
As was mentioned above, Ernest Hemingway should be there (certainly instead of Salinger, and perhaps instead of Scott Fitzgerald who lifted story ideas and plots from his wife’s writings). No Edith Wharton or Katherine Anne Porter? Carver? Chekhov? Flannery O’Connor? Alice Munro? Margaret Atwood? Borges?
Maybe a longer list might have been better.
July 30th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Stephen King… Short story… I was like what.. those aren’t short stories .. for example “it” is in two books
July 30th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
some asimovs that I love but have not been mentioned:
Kid Stuff
Nightfall
The Ugly Little Boy
July 30th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
@samfishers (146): Huh?
July 30th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I do not have any issues with this list, but I thought I would find Jeffery Archer somewhere there. I think he is one of the best story tellers of our times. People will remember him once he is no more the way they have done with Michael Jackson. And that I think is just no good.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Great list as always but no hp lovercraft???
July 30th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
This list was alright. Although a list of best terrible movies would be a good one. I hear The Room is so bad it’s amazing.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I dig the list. I think you should go ahead and make it a top thirteen and add Flannery O’Conner, Raymond Carver, and Tobias Wolff. But, I guess that would go against the whole “ultimate top 10″ thing.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Edgar Allen Poe. Cask of Amontillado.
That is all.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Like many others, I am shocked Flannery O’Connor isn’t on the list! Her name was the first I thought of when I saw “American short story writers.” Also, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote some great short stories (“My Kinsmen, Major Molineux,” “The Minister’s Black Veil,” and “Young Goodman Brown,” just to name a few). And what about Charles Chesnutt? William Faulkner? Jessie Fauset? Mark Twain? Nella Larsen?
July 30th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Ok. One more time. Amy hempel. I can’t believe there is only one other person reading this list who has heard of her or even read her work. Oh and ringtailroxy, I think I am in love with you.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:15 am
What? No Stephen Crane?
Cm’aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhn
July 31st, 2009 at 12:38 am
john cheever and donald barthelme could also be considered
July 31st, 2009 at 12:42 am
i love palahniuk… and his sweet sweet mutton chops.
i was expecting vonnegut to be on here, maybe my brain is messed up. i thought he was american… regardless, he still rocks my world.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:56 am
Damon Runyon! Second only to my favorite O. Henry!
July 31st, 2009 at 2:15 am
Donald Barthelme?
How can you include Asimov and not Barthelme, or even George Saunders. What about John Cheever, Raymond Carver?
What about the really great American Short story writers?
To begin with Chuck is not really a short story writer. Same as Updike, they are novelists that write short stories.
Seems more like a bad excuse to put PKR ads up to me.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:50 am
Not a single woman writer in the list.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:32 am
Asimov and King would be my 2 favourites on this list. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:16 am
Twitch. Twitch.
HEINLEIN!
July 31st, 2009 at 5:29 am
@msulli22 (52): Thank you a little.
Truman Capote really was a short story writer.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:13 am
@chronic (155): with a name like chronic, i’d love you too!
how, o how, could i have forgotten H.P. Lovecraft? my entire junior summer of high school i spent reading his works…a bizarre little kitty was he…
as a matter of fact, i just went upstairs to my office, and grabbed my 2 paperback books of Lovecraft…one of which i blatantly STOLE from the school library that i went to summer school at…”The DreamQuest of the Unknown Kadath”
best Lovecraft shirt stories ever:
“The White Ship”
“The Strange High House in the Mist”
“The Outsider”
there where 2 other stories which i greatly enjoyed, but have forgotten the name of…
one was about a quiet seaside town that was slowly becoming inhabited by fish/humanoids…
the other was about an unattractive young man finding out the real reason for his appearance, that of his parents being, well, human & ape…
rtr
oh-thanks to my dark friend Olga, who sent me this wonderful link! http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/
July 31st, 2009 at 6:37 am
Fitzgerald makes it but no Hemingway? I’ve always thought that F. Scott wrote better novels, and Hemingway excelled at his short stories.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:25 am
Trying to remember a short story I read probably 25 years ago. I think it involved Navy officers. And one of them, Mr. ????, the protagonist, was not disliked, but did come off as a bit of a “know it all”.
During the course of conversation he claimed to know much about pearls, and remarked to another officer how much he admired the strand around his wife’s neck. The other officer scoffed and stated that the strand was a dime store purchase, and brought his wife over for closer inspection. As Mr. ??? started to examine the strand, he noticed the terrified look in the young lady’s eyes. Realizing the pearls were a gift from another man, he swallowed his pride and declared that he had been mistaken.
Anyone?
Thanks.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:40 am
I think we can all agree that there are too many great short-storyists to pick only ten. Names that should be among these here are: Hemingway, Carver, Flannery O’Conner, Faulkner, Joyce Carol Oats, Stephen Crane, Tobias Wolf, Denis Johnson (I’ve never done drugs, but I felt stoned after reading “Emergency”), Edward P. Jones, and the list goes on….
July 31st, 2009 at 11:40 am
xtopherp – actually, you named the story yourself in your posting. It is a Somerset Maugham story called “Mr Know-It-All”.
One of many superb stories by the great writer.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:46 am
I thought I would find Jeffery Archer somewhere there. I think he is one of the best story tellers of our times.
ullas sharma – Archer is English, not American. And he is, at best, a hack (entertaining, I grant you…but, a hack).
People will remember him once he is no more the way they have done with Michael Jackson.
Words fail me…
July 31st, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Mabel, http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/features/shorts/guts read it for yourself. I think it makes people uncomfortable because they can imagine what’s happening in the story to happen to them.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Fitzgerald and not Faulkner or Hemingway?!? F. Scott Fitzgerald was an overrated windbag. And if you are going to bring up the Lost Generation, how on Earth could you not mention Hemingway?
July 31st, 2009 at 1:11 pm
@kiwiboi (169):
Thanks kiwiboi! I had gotten some of the details wrong in my recollection, but that made the re-reading all the more satisfying.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:23 pm
1. Edgar Allan Poe
2. Chuck Palahniuk
3. Stephen King
my favourite writers ever!
July 31st, 2009 at 2:02 pm
No John Steinbeck?!
July 31st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Where’s Mark Twain?
July 31st, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Having Stephen King on this list is an insult to writers everywhere. He is a plagerist! Secondly, where are Shirley Jackson, Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, Flannery O’Connor – people who actually deserve to be on this list?
July 31st, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Where are the women on this list? How about Shirley Jackson? Flannery O’Connor, Joyce Carol Oates?
July 31st, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Ok, I just realized that I said what everyone else was saying. I enjoy King’s work, and I think he’s an underrated writer who ought to be taken seriously. BUT–
I think you have been deservedly called out by these comments, sir. How can you justify creating a list full of white male writers, heavy on the genre fiction–Asimov, Bradbury, AND King?–while ignoring equally valid works by women and/or other ethnic groups??
August 1st, 2009 at 9:20 am
One guy we all forgot to mention is Bret Harte. If we want to throw in genre fiction writers, how about Ellery Queen?
August 1st, 2009 at 10:07 am
BR; Did it occor to you that he might simply like the work of these authors better?
For instance, he was obviously suffering from some type of mental disorder when he did not mention Heinlein. Granted, that’s just my opinion, just as it is your opinion that some others that should have been on this list aren’t.
Put simply, you are seeing the racism and sexism that is not there. Or, at least that looks like the case. If you look for sexism, you will find it, even when it isn’t there.
August 1st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Hey, I’m all for having personal favorites, and I have nothing against any of the writers mentioned, or against genre fiction in general. Poe, King, and Bradbury are among my favorite writers.
I was simply stating that this is NOT a list of “my favorite short story writers”, but an attempt to list “the greatest American short story writers”. That being the case, the omission of great women, black, hispanic (or name any group you wish) is a definite slight.
August 1st, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I miss Harlan Ellison from this list; too bad.
August 1st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Okay, how do you decide who is a great author? What criteria do you use? Sales? They only determine how many people buy it, not how many like it or think that its good.
Number of books? Asimov would (probably) have been first.
Popularity? That still falls under opinion.
What type of great are we talking about? Great spelling and grammar ability? The ability to form a coherent storyline? What? The list of greatest authors is always a subjective list, as there is always a subjective element as to what makes a story or group of stories great.
August 2nd, 2009 at 7:44 am
Isn’t it ‘Dewey’ Decimal system?
Great list btw
August 2nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I like the list, however I’m dissapointed that H.P. Lovecraft wasn’t included
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Well reverend boner. I would think that “great” in that sense would be someone who “stood the test of time”. Someone who’s writing is still valid today. In that sense charles dickens is a “great writer.” if this is a list of great short story writers than maybe it should have been about those who focused mainly on “short stories.” but anyone who writes is a “great” writer in their own way. All it takes is for one person to love how you write in order for your work to matter.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 am
Chuck Palahniuk? Give me a break! As someone who has a degree in English, you have glossed over many, many writers better than most of the ones in this list. There are American women writers who will write rings around Palahniuk, like Joyce Carol Oates, and Maxine Hong Kingston. And no Twain, Faulkner, or Hemingway?
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
what about Faulkner?
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 pm
What about Lovecraft? O_o?
August 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am
In all seriousness, Bradbury seriously needs to be ranked higher. Besides inventing the butterfly effect his short stories vary in tone and philosophy whereas Poe is famous for his never changing tone and always dim outlook.
Bradbury interconnected many of his short stories, and because of his one story a day lifestyle he wrote everything from astronauts drifting away into space to die forever, humans who live for 8 days, a born self conscious baby (ever wonder where Stewie from FG came from?), Civil Rights on Mars, to where the bystanders at car accidents come from as well as the ending of “October Country” where he ridicules the idea of someone being an author.
IMO, Poe IS a better author and writer, but not when it comes to short stories. I remember reading “The Tell-Tale Heart” and being disappointed because the police officer didn’t even seem to pick up on the character’s nervous habits which should have been apparent. Poe’s skill lies in his poetry, which is absolutely amazing.
BTW, Stephen King is just a trend.
August 4th, 2009 at 12:02 am
And how did Twain not get on this list? He’s probably more famous than Poe.
August 4th, 2009 at 2:28 am
The finest example of the American short story is An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce. Indeed it is probally the best example of the short story ever written , not a word is superflous and not a word is omitted this, is suscint story telling at it’s best, a recomended read for any lovers of the genere
August 4th, 2009 at 5:55 am
#193 Peter
“Owl Creek” is one of my favorite stories. Best short story ever written?? Thats taking it a little too far.
August 4th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Godawful list clearly written by a nerdy sci-fi/horror/fantasy fan. To include a hack like Stephen King while leaving out Raymond Carver, Hemingway, (whom I hate, personally, but I acknowledge he was a great short story writer) Hawthorne, Truman Capote, Shirley Jackson, Sherwood Anderson, John Cheever, Joyce Carol Oates, Donald Barthelme, and a host of others… is just purely ridiculous. And really to be honest the same goes for Asimov and even Bradbury–who were good sci-fi/speculative writers, but not in the same league with these others.
August 4th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Karl Edward Wagner
August 4th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
MARK TWAIN????? NOTHING????
August 4th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
What makes a good short story anyway?
a good tale?
a lesson learned?
a thoughtful insight?
a compacted shock?
a disturbing after effect?
a vividness or emotional grasp?
a punchline/awe inspiring ending?
a vignette?
a mastery of form?
an encapsulation of contemporary fashion?
a vision into something the reader has never thought of?
a timeless wisdom?
a campy escape?
a personalized connectedness?
ect.ect.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:13 am
No Ambrose Bierce!!!! He specialised in short stories. In fact it’s all he wrote and he’s not included?
August 5th, 2009 at 3:15 am
“I thought I would find Jeffery Archer somewhere there. I think he is one of the best story tellers of our times.”
That comment surely has to be a joke? Please tell me it’s a joke.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Where is Lovecraft? You failed me. He invented modern American horror.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Where is Lovecraft? He invented modern American horror.
August 6th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Why don’t we call this list what it actually is? The best American all-white male short story writers list. I think it’s crap that there are no women included here. Hello? Alice Munro, Lorrie Moore, Ann Beattie, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, etc. It’s a shame that whomever compiled this list hasn’t been exposed to some of the best writers out there.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:52 am
@Elizabeth S. (130):
Elizabeth, the story is “Revelation” by Flannery O’Connor.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Uh, what about Mark Twain, who more or less invented modern American fiction?
August 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
What about more modern short story writers?
Those like Annie Proulx, Benjamin Percy, Sherman Alexie, Wayne C. Long, Alice Munro, Neil Gaiman.
These are the folks who will take the short story form into the next generation.
http://www.LongShortStories.com
Where the Short Story LIVES!
August 7th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Without Hempel, Cheever, Hemingway, Carver, Capote and the like your list is meaningless and has convinced me to avoid your site in future.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Why isn’t Joyce Carol Oates on this list ?
August 7th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I can just imagine the anger that would be shown from the readers if this list was called “10 Greatest Canadian Short Story Writers”
August 8th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
HEY WHAT A ABOUT LOVECRAFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HE IS ALSO ONE OF THE GREATEST
He also wrote several short stories and the creator of Cthulhu Mythos
Come on
August 10th, 2009 at 1:17 am
stephen crane
herman melville
nathaniel hawthorne
ambrose bierce
jack london
mark twain
ernest hemingway
john gardner
theodore dreiser
kate chopin
james alan mcpherson
john steinbeck
sherwood anderson
i could take a deep breath and go on… but, yeah, stephen king. totally. whatever.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Booyah for Chuck!
August 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Jack London
Mark Twain
Raymond Carver
..top o me head
August 12th, 2009 at 11:06 am
What? You have completely neglected the great female American short story writers. I do hope you’ll put up a list of strictly female notable writers to offset the monosexual template you’ve started here…
August 13th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Eudora Welty
Cynthia Ozick
Gina Berriault
Flannery O’Connor
Joyce Carol Oates
Sure, none sport mutton chops, but they are all better writers than most of your list. And those are just some omitted women. (Carver, Cheever, Hemingway….)
You meant to title this “My Favorite American Short Story Writers”, right? Only a few on this list can make a case for being on a list of greats.
August 16th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I am particularly happy with the addition of O. henry. I really enjoy his work, and I own a “collected works” I am reading it after I’m done with A.C. Doyle.
Of O. Henry, I particularly enjoyed “the ransom of red chief.” Since his work was published in the early 1900s or so, Most, if not all, is available online, legally (in most countries) for free. I used to print them out at the library (indeed!) and read them when classes were slow.
I highly recommend all of his work, and I’m very much looking forward to re-reading it.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Writing this list was difficult; I had to cut a lot of people off the list when I wrought it. Now most of you who have commented that this was “my personal favorite’s” or a racist and sexist list that promotes white males above all else. This is not the case. My criteria for what makes these “Men” the “Greatest” was partially based on popularity and partially based on quantity of work. However with Flanerry O’Connor being so frequently mentioned she probably should have made the cut, and for that I apologies. I also see a whole lot of people knocking on Stephen King, he has proven himself to be a great story writer, even if he dose write genre. I’m glad to see someone mention Cynthia Ozick, she is my favorite short story writer, the reason I did not put her on this list is because she is not nearly as well known as she should be, and the list was not “my top 10 favorite short story writers” last I would like to say that with this many comments on my little list, I am surprised no one has written this list before.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:49 am
@Bob (79): ugh Bob, “Hearts In Atlantis” was a collection of 5 long stories the titles in the book are:
Low Men in Yellow Coats
Hearts in Atlantis
Blind Willie
Why We’re in Vietnam
Heavenly Shades of Night are Falling
I only mention this because it was one of his collections that was turned into a movie, perhaps these are not technically “short” but the book is defined as a collection and not a novel. Maybe you should research your own comments before writing them.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
ZachS,
Chuck Palahniuk cannot be anything other than a personal favorite. By your stated criteria, he is not nearly as “great” as any number of better known, more widely revered short story writers. Take Joyce Carol Oates for instance.
Oates has well over 20 short story collections. How many does Palahniuk have? According to his website, he has published a total of fourteen (yes: 1,4) short stories, not collections, stories. (Sure, you claim portions of his novels are part of his short story output, but Palahniuk includes parts of novels that he considered short stories on his own list and still only made it to fourteen. Oates has published many short stories that became part of her novels too, so let’s don’t do that or Palahniuk gets buried even worse.)
Fourteen short stories is a rather paltry output for a “great” short story writer, don’t you think? But maybe those are fourteen of the greatest short stories ever. Maybe Palahniuk’s short stories have had a greater impact and have received more critical acclaim than Oates’ stories.
The awards say no. Oates has won numerous, prestigious awards for her short stories (PEN/Malhmoud, Rhea Award, and O.Henry award). Palahniuk not so much.
Well, maybe Palahniuk makes it because of “popularity.” Hmm, but Oates has undoubtedly published in more places, sold more short story collections, and is generally more well known than Palahniuk. If Palahniuk wins on popularity, the popularity measurement must take place within Zach’s own home.
Just admit that Palahniuk doesn’t belong. Ozick, who you slam for lack of output, has published more short stories than Palahniuk, unless Palahniuk is so ashamed of his stories that he does not list them on his own website. I doubt that as he is a fine writer. But one of the “greatest” short story writers ever? He doesn’t have a fighting chance of legitimately placing on that list.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Notwithstanding Palahniuk’s erroneous omission. Thanks for coming up with the list. It certainly has sparked debate and interest. All my comments are meant in good nature. It was your idea and your list.
But Palahniuk?
Lol.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Of course, I meant “Palahniuk’s erroneous inclusion”.
Cheers.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Vonnegut
Hemmingway
Twaine
really?
August 20th, 2009 at 5:05 am
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one saddend by the fact that Lovecraft was not on here. Though I do like the fact Stephen King is on here. There should be a Lovecraft list, although I don’t know what it would be a list of. Cause if you want to give yourself a really bad case of paranoia and terror, read Lovecraft at night while listening to The Dark Knight soundtrack. XD I found that to highten the experince of his stories, which still terrify me.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Borges, o’ Connor, Steinbeck are classics in SHORT stories. I would add Bukowski.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I can’t believe you left Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway (two of my four favorite writers) off this list! Secondly, I don’t doubt Paliahniuk’s a great writer but I think it would be unfair to the prominent and long-established credibility plus staying power of the others on the list to add him just now. I enjoy Stephen King’s vivid imagination but not necessarily his writing style. He somewhat lacks Hemingway’s narrative lucidity. Great choice with Poe, he’s my favorite poet. I have a confession to make. I have long harbored ambitions of becoming a writer till I found out how much hard work was involved. Became an accountant instead. It’s easier work.
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I know others have mentioned probably everybody I’m about to, but I thought I’d add to the rabble: Carver, Cheever, O’Connor, and Hemingway MUST be on any list of great American short story writers for the list to have any real credibility. In my opinion. Which is correct.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Flannery O’Connor – alpha and omega.
September 30th, 2009 at 1:04 am
i love poe’s ‘the black cat’
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 am
Where’s HP Lovecraft? You know, the inventor of the modern horror genre?
October 6th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
We could have Crane, O’Connor, Hemingway, Cheever & Carver if the list was “Top 15″
October 19th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Hemingway’s stories, for their intensity, tightness, and memorable power, make him one of the American immortals in short fiction. Snows of Kilimanjaro or A Way You’ll Never Be have more power, for me, than almost any other story in WORLD literature. Less lyrical, but more powerful, than even James Joyce.
Salinger? 9 stories are not enough. Still, the best stories I’ve read by him, Esme and Banannafish, are amazing.
Flannery O’Connor deserves a spot.
Alice Munro? Very skillful, but sort of dull and long-winded at times for me. Oh those lonely Canadian housewives. Lacking intensity.
Nabokov is pretty damn good.
Faulkner’s style bugs me, but some of his stories are incredibly powerful (That Evening Sun, Pantaloon in Black). But the Bear is too long to be considered, right?
Harold Bloom wrote an interesting book on short story writers. He thinks Poe is vastly overrated. Great imagination, but unmemorable characters, flat or clumsy writing style, melodramatic. I think Hem is superior to Poe.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:30 am
I LOVE THE LIST OF AUTHOR,ALLA THERE SHORT STORY ARE GOOD AND REMARKABLE………………….
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:09 am
You cannot be serious. No Hemingway, no Cheever, no Flannery O’Connor, no Thurber, no Barthelme, no Carver, no Tobias Wolff… This is the top ten ‘third-stingers’; Chuck’s books make good doorstops though, and Stephen King’s pages are easy on the buttocks.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:01 am
It’s Edgar ALLAN Poe, by the way…
November 12th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
No Flannery O’Connor? No Cheever? No Amy Hempel? No Fitzgerald or Hemingway? No Carver? No Andre Dubus? No Henry James, who has written some wonderful stories?
November 28th, 2009 at 8:27 am
roald dahl needs to be on this list.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Honestly? I love this site but I can’t agree with most of these.
Raymond Carver, Larry Brown, Richard Ford, and Barry Hannah all deserve places on this list.
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 am
@kiwiboi (170): So finally I got to read some of the latest comments here and I wholeheartedly agree with you!
December 18th, 2009 at 1:39 am
this list cannot be taken seriously. ernest hemmingway IS the greatest american short story writer. not only did he produce some of the greatest short stories in history, he changed the art forever. ever since hemmingway, writers have been trying to duplicate what he mastered– the ‘ice berg effect’. “Big Two-Hearted River” is the best short story ever written. no list of american short story writers is complete without hemmingway at the top.
December 19th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
@ 165:
The two you’re thinking of are “The Shadow over Innsmouth” and “Facts Concerning The Late Arthur Jermyn And His Family”
December 21st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
what about Kurt Vonnegut??
December 23rd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
F. Scott Fitzgerald was a hack and everyone knows it. his work is a load of shit.
December 24th, 2009 at 7:00 am
I howled. No Carver? A list of the 10 greatest American short story writers should list Carver at least 3 times, if not more. He told his stories were so simple, you could almost call them perfect. There’s such a lack of unnecessary words you’d think he was practicing for twitter, but their length never endangered their depth.
January 13th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
I know it’s very hard to make a TOP 10 list, especially in literature. Short stories, even harder.
But seriously, you should title “My Favourite Top 10 …”
p.s. I salute your courage to make such list.
January 23rd, 2010 at 11:16 pm
It’s “Frannie and Zooey,” not “Frannie and Zoey.”
January 30th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
I have never heard anyone put Fitz above Hemingway when it comes to short stories. Flannery and Hemingway have to be on there before O’Henry, Salinger, Updike, and Chuck.