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Really, Really Short Stories

Perhaps the most famous piece of very short fiction is the story Ernest Hemingway apparently considered his best prose:

"For sale: baby shoes, never used."

Like most things Hemingway, the few words expand into a massive picture in one’s mind.  A real work of art and, in this case, very sad.

While cruising around the ‘Net the other day, I ran into an old Wired Magazine blog post which had similarly short pieces by various sci-fi, fantasy and horror writers.

My favorites are:

“Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.”
- William Shatner

“Machine. Unexpectedly, I’d invented a time”
- Alan Moore

“Internet “wakes up?” Ridicu –
no carrier.”
- Charles Stross

For those that remember actually needing a carrier signal.

“It’s behind you! Hurry before it “
- Rockne S. O’Bannon

“Easy. Just touch the match to”
- Ursula K. Le Guin

Loads of fun ones.  Check ‘em out.

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  • Kendall Herman

    Very funny. Particularly related to:

    “The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.”
    - Orson Scott Card

  • Kendall Herman

    Very funny. Particularly related to:

    “The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.”
    - Orson Scott Card

  • http://www.accurev.com/blog Lorne

    Small canvas; great art. Limited attention.

  • http://www.accurev.com/blog Lorne

    Small canvas; great art. Limited attention.

  • http://www.2-speed.com/ Will

    Kendall,

    That’s a great one. Six words. Huge story.

  • http://www.2-speed.com Will

    Kendall,

    That’s a great one. Six words. Huge story.

  • http://www.2-speed.com/ Will

    Lorne,

    Creative as always. I presume you’re referring to my blog, of course. :-)

  • http://www.2-speed.com Will

    Lorne,

    Creative as always. I presume you’re referring to my blog, of course. :-)

  • http://darcknyt.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/updates-on-life/ Updates on Life « DarcKnyt

    [...] Really, Really Short Stories [...]

  • http://darcknyt.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/library-woes/ Library Woes « DarcKnyt

    [...] Really, Really Short Stories (2-speed.com) [...]

  • http://www.accurev.com/blog Lorne

    Eight word story … sorry for wasting space:

    “I hate my mother. I’m running away! Tomorrow.”

  • http://www.accurev.com/blog Lorne

    Eight word story … sorry for wasting space:

    “I hate my mother. I’m running away! Tomorrow.”