Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Happy Short Fiction Day*

More amusements from my smart friend Anvar -- and *no, there's no official day by this name! Just made it up for the purpose of avoiding mention of the "V" word.

The World's Shortest Short Stories
There is the short story. And then there is the short short story.

Like this one written by Ernest Hemingway, which he once claimed was the best thing he had ever written:" For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Or this, more recent example:"The last man on earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock at the door. "

The short short story can be written in two words, one word … or, indeed, even less:


Death of a Duck Hunter

"Duck!"

"Where?"

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The Counter-Revolutionary

"Unite!"

"Why?"

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A Short Trip in the Woods

"What bear?"

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The Virgin

"No."

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The Last of the Cheyenne

Zzzwip!

Bang!

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A Day in the Life of a Man Who Dressed Like a Bear

"Don't shoot!"

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With Stanley in Africa, Part I

"Dr Livingstone?"

"Nope"

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The Day the World Ended

KA-BOOOOOOOOM!

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The Unhappiest Man Who Ever Lived

"Forgive? Never!"

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An Answer to Prayer

"Um... no."

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Joshua's Childhood

"P-Papa?"

Whack!

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A Perfect Moment in Time

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(The world's shortest short story: 0 words)


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