Top 50 Classic Short Stories

What does an old man do when confronted with a danger? He remembers what he is, he remembers his oath to "fight all enemies, foreign and domestic." The story title says it all.

This is an old man's last rant to an anonymous visitor. You probably shouldn't read it.

An old warrior is honored for his sacrifice.

Lawyers go out on dates just like normal people or do they? Things are a little different when the lawyer is an Anders.

There were snakes, bugs, leeches, and other pleasures to be found on walks in the delta nights.

A young priest ministers to an elderly parishioner in the last months of her life. His heart is engaged with hers... and her great-niece who arrives to care for her.

Father's been away 3 years. His young family's meeting him at the airport. --- Bad Fred, said --- It's poignant, and you hit the right notes. If I didn't know it was your story and trust you, I would have drifted away in the first few paragraphs. It moved slowly. It was lovely, but it wasn't hitting my "what happens next?" buttons. Well, until the end when it all comes together. Readers who stick with it will be rewarded. Set in Australia.

Terrorists attack the Mall of America.

The old veteran was feeble and frail. Would his final dream ever come true? I could make it happen. Would I take the time? Would those tired old eyes ever sparkle again?

Max Wagner, former carpenter, lives on the streets of San Francisco. His only goal is the next mug of moonshine. Fate intervenes in the persons of a famous singer and a friendly young widow, but then Max has to prove himself in the face of a catastrophe.

The Ghost Reporter of the local newspaper is at the finish line of the 20 km City Fun Run. What he sees and reports moves his column from page three to the front page. Set in Australia.

Edward loves his daughter. Collecting her from school each afternoon and walking home with her is a highlight of his day. Then one day, on the way from work to school, he meets a blind man in the park.

Every Christmas, Father McEvoy – the humble priest of an inner-city church – assembles a small crib or tableau for his people. It features the usual characters – Mary, Joseph, the Christ-child, animals and shepherds. But this year it comes to life in an unexpected fashion.

A Christmas Story
A man takes a flight into a fantasy world that defies explanation.

A Dark Wars Tale
Edgar Laetham had enough. He had spent enough time shedding blood and losing friends for Queen and country. A chance encounter with an old friend from Australia while recovering from a wound in Bahrain a year after the First Gulf War sent his life on a different path. How different he would not know until one fateful, rain-soaked day while driving his new charge through the streets of Harrow. After that day, he knew life with Dame Alice Spencer-Killdare would never be the same. Or boring!

Two super-smart guys do the impossible.

Four men attempt to do something evil. They picked the wrong man as a victim.

A Christmas Story
A man is the sum of his actions, most times the little things seem to go unnoticed. But noticed they are by special beings

It wasn't revenge: It was justice

Happy Harry, last of the Hobos, stops at a Colorado stream to take a bath. Instead of bathing, he ends up meeting the Goddess and becomes her servant. This introduces Happy Harry for the stories told by those that he helps.

Everyone has experiences they talk about. Here are three of mine.

A Mountain Man Story
An unexpected short story set in the Matt Reynolds universe.

One of the USA's Founding Fathers offers sage advice just as appropriate now as when it was first penned more than 250 years ago.

Some smart people invent a way to dispose of rubbish, and a few other things. The CIA want their technology, and they won't hand it over. Things heat up. Set in Australia.

Gordy and Weena
Gordy and Weena visit the Hollisters in Queensland and encounter nasty insects and public health problems.

The crime was committed long ago and the suspects thought they got away with it...But they can't hide forever.

Home invaders aren't prepared for the homeowner's response.

A Rage Story
After a hard night at Exposé, dancer Candy goes home and has a sexily strange dream that leaves her sweat-covered and worried. Going into work that night, she learns Angus never showed up at opening after being wounded the night before and the police are now looking for him, worried he might be missing. Candy sets out to discover what happened to Angus by searching his apartment only to discover the weirdness from the night before hasn't ended but only expanded to engulf her.

Into every life a bit of truth may fall. The truths of life fell into mine. This is my homage to the creed called the 'Facts of Life' that Lazlo Zalezac invented for his novel, 'The Millionaire Next Door'. I recommend the story as one of Zalezac's best. BTW, TeNderLoin points out that "The Millionaire Next Door" is posted right here on the Fine Stories website.

Crane Hanson fights alcoholism bought on by the hell he found in WWII. A man's journey through a personal hell towards redemption and love.

A bounty hunter rescues a girl kidnapped by outlaws. He gets more than he counted on. This story tells of their adventures on the way home.

This is a short story about Mary Jackson, little sister to Rick Jackson of The Richard Jackson Saga. We learn about some of her trials and tribulations growing up in the Jackson household

Grandpa Jones - An Experiment
Another Grandpa Jones Story. God decides to pull the plug on mankind. His angels remind him that he needs to follow the rules before destroying Man. God has to interview a human before he can destroy Man. The selection process is onerous, but they finally settle on Grandpa Jones. Does God know what he's in for?

Always stay heads-up, and have a Plan B: leave yourself a way out. A true story.

When the lies outweigh the truth can revenge and death not follow far behind?

This is a very short story, more of a cameo. If I was to say anything more, there would be little point in anyone reading it.

Jason started out as a farm boy and ends up owning a fleet of spaceships. This is his story.

Mary has a bang up Fourth of July.

Night sounds: a remembrance of things long past.

Muggers think an older couple will be easy prey. WRONG!!

My first story submitted on this site. This story features no sex, some non-sexual nudity, and some of that soppy, sentimental stuff that some of you may like-okay, me too!

A young orphan dreams of a different life than what the Goddess seems to have laid before him. Something more than that of a poor farmer toiling beside his extended family. The young boy daydreams of fabulous adventures in faraway lands even as he plods through his tedious existence, moving from family to family as each of his relatives shares the burden of his care. He revels in his grandfather's fantastic stories until one day he finds himself facing the very subject of one of those stories.