Tenth of December
A collection of darkly humorous and surreal stories that explore the human condition in a failing America, blending past, present, and futur…
Penguin Random House's Must-Read Short Story Collections
A curated list of highly acclaimed short story collections from renowned authors, offering a diverse range of narratives and styles.
Exhalation
Ted Chiang's groundbreaking collection of short stories explores profound questions about humanity, reality, and the universe with poignant …
All the Names They Used for God
A mesmerizing collection of stories that blend science, myth, and imagination, exploring the human struggle with fate and the pursuit of the…
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
A stunning collection of short stories that blend magic and reality, exploring the resilience and yearning of women in extraordinary circums…
The Rock Eaters
A mesmerizing collection of strange and speculative stories that explore themes of identity, love, and the human condition through magical r…
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed
Explore the dark and eerie streets of Buenos Aires where the supernatural and the macabre collide in these chilling tales of witchcraft, rev…
Dear Life
A young soldier's life takes an unexpected turn when he steps off the train at the wrong stop, leading to a journey of love, loss, and self-…
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
A mesmerizing collection of interconnected stories that weave together tales of love, loss, and transformation, set in a world of lost libra…
A Phoenix First Must Burn
Sixteen powerful tales by acclaimed authors that reimagine the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and magic, centering Black…
Table for Two
Amor Towles, bestselling author of 'A Gentleman in Moscow,' invites readers into a world of brief encounters and Hollywood glamour with his …
Partners in Crime
Join Tommy and Tuppence Beresford as they take over Blunt's International Detective Agency and dive into a world of thrilling adventures and…
Homesick for Another World
Ottessa Moshfegh's debut collection of short stories explores the darkly humorous and unsettling aspects of human nature, blending grotesque…
Sabrina & Corina
A haunting debut collection of stories that explores the lives of Latinas of Indigenous descent in the American West, blending themes of her…
First Person Singular
Dive into a mesmerizing collection of short stories by Haruki Murakami, where reality blurs with dreams and memory, leaving you questioning …
Roman Stories
A captivating collection of stories where Rome becomes a character, weaving tales of identity, community, and transformation.
Five-Carat Soul
A collection of evocative short stories that explore identity, humanity, and history through the lens of diverse and compelling characters.
The Largesse of the Sea Maiden
A haunting and luminous collection of stories from the acclaimed author of Jesus’ Son, exploring mortality and the mysteries of the universe…
Grand Union
A dazzling collection of stories that spans genres and perspectives, exploring identity, time, and the uncanny futures that await us.
Penguin Random House's Must-Read Short Story Collections is a carefully curated list that showcases the best in contemporary and classic short fiction. This collection features works from celebrated authors such as Zadie Smith, William Trevor, and Jhumpa Lahiri, among others. Each story offers a unique perspective, exploring themes of identity, love, loss, and the human condition. From magical realism to literary fiction, these collections transport readers to different worlds and cultures, providing a rich and varied reading experience. Whether you're a fan of short stories or looking to explore new authors, this list is a must-read for anyone seeking high-quality, thought-provoking literature.
Source: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/must-read-short-story-collections/