'Perfect' Stories

[Druidic]

There is a type of story that delights me greatly when I find it. It’s unassuming in nature, modest perhaps to a fault, and accomplishes precisely what it set out to do. It has no pretensions, no desire for classic in the genre status. In its own way, it creates a kind of perfection; and when encountered in our genre, delivers a delightful, shivery experience without ever once raising its voice or calling attention to its own uniqueness. No flash, no literary pretensions, no attempt at delivering Great Style or straining for poetic effects, it just delivers. And, in doing so, is often quite unforgettable as well.
I decided to make a short list of such ‘perfect’ and unpretentious stories that have, in my view, been overlooked or neglected by many readers, critics and anthologists for far too long. Here goes. I’d be interested in seeing what stories other members might include on such a list. I concentrated mostly on older stories that I never see mentioned anywhere, but others need not.


1.) The Wolves of God – Algernon Blackwood
2.) A Piece of Linoleum – David H. Keller
3.) Uneasy lie the Drowned – Donald Wandrei
4.) Space – John Buchan
5.) Death Waters – Frank Belknap Long
6.) The Cave – Basil Copper
7.) The Call in the Dawn– William Hope Hodgson
8.) The Oldest Soldier –Fritz Leiber
9.) A Drink of Water – Richard Matheson
10.)Ghost Lake – August Derleth

[njhorror]

Ah, very nice. I agree that there are "perfect" stories. When I finish reading them I'm astonished at how perfect they are sometimes. When I'm able to remember some I'll jot them down.



Oh, and that may be never.

[Druidic]

Oh, you'll think of a few, my friend. 'Perfect' and neglected, that's the price of admission. And Sorry, NJ, Harriet The Spy doesn't count...

[Piranesi]

Two recent (and recently read) perfections:

A Glimpse of the City - John Howard
The Small People - Thomas Ligotti

[njhorror]

Quote Originally Posted by Druidic

Oh, you'll think of a few, my friend. 'Perfect' and neglected, that's the price of admission. And Sorry, NJ, Harriet The Spy doesn't count...

HARDY HAR HAR!

[The Chairmaker]

Struwwelpeter - Glen Hirshberg

I fell in love with this short novella as soon as I finished it. On the web, there is an illuminating examination of the story as a perfectly executed weird/horror tale. I would link to the article if I could remember where it was located. It is a terrific story and has entered my yearly Halloween reading ever since I first read it.

[Druidic]

A friend of mine, who was also my Teacher for many years, once told me he liked Agatha Christie novels because they were "small" things that managed to be 'perfect.' It had been a long time since I had read anything by that good lady, but I knew what he meant. That was long years ago but I'm still delighted when a 'perfect' story comes my way. They so rarely do. Here, I'll add another:

Men Without Bones -- Gerald Kersh

[KrakenMundi]

Donatienne and her Destiny by Thomas Owen comes to mind. You can even read it online:
http://www.diseasedgardens.com/MyNew...d-her-destiny/

His Secret Sin by Aleister Crowley is another. Word for word, it's just about perfect. I count it as neglected only because, wherever Crowley's short stories are mentioned, The Stratagem steals the spotlight. The latter is an excellent story, for sure, but it lacks the economy of His Secret Sin.

Elsewhere, I've expressed my fondness for Thomas Strømsholt's In Search of the Hidden City.

Mise en Abyme by Quentin S. Crisp might be called neglected, given the attempt made to reveal it contents, bit by bit, on this forum. I think it's absolutely brilliant, having not a word out of place.

A Day's Work by Truman Capote is another favorite. I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned specifically in any review, it definitely tends to be overshadowed in reader's minds by his other work, but for my money it's the best thing he's ever written.

[Mr. D.]

May I suggest stories by two somewhat forgotten writers. At least they are not often mentioned on TLO.First, I have long been a fan of Ray Russell who wrote some superb Gothic stories. Two of my favorites are:
"Sardonicus," and
"Comet Wine."
Then ther is the great James Tiptree Jr./Alice Sheldon. She wrote at least three perfect stories. They are:
"The Last Flight of Dr. Ain,"
"The Screwfly Solution," and
"Love is the Plan and the Plan is Death."
I can't praise these works enough.

[Druidic]

Excellent choices. I'm also fond of Russell's Gothic tales.