As with popular albums, many great collections of American short fiction are best known for one or two widely-anthologized hits, while the remaining stories fall by the wayside. But a true fan knows the best stuff is often on the B-side. All three of the following collections of short stories were named by a New York Times Book Review poll as one of the top works of fiction in the last 25 years, but here are a few of their best short stories that have largely been overlooked.
The Best B-Side American Short Stories: “Work”
(from Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson)
What started as an assortment of barroom tales became one of the most important collections of American short fiction to date. With his gutshot-poetic sensibility, Johnson renders the bizarre underworld of a heroin junky with astonishing power and brevity.
While most anthologies highlight the stories “Car Crash While Hitchhiking” and “Emergency,” the wandering, transcendent narrative of “Work” is perhaps the finest of the litter, showcasing Johnson’s incredible knack for the non-sequitur, and his ability to infuse any moment—immediately—with devastating emotional depth.
The Best B-Side American Short Stories: “How to Tell a True War Story”
(from The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien)
With this collection, and with his National Book Award-winning novel Going After Cacciato, O’Brien established himself as one of the most talented interpreters of the Vietnam War, and a master of his craft.
While most may be familiar with the title story, the real thrust of the book is best encapsulated in “How to Tell a True War Story,” which delves fully into the meta-fictional twists that give the collection its most satisfying moments of complexity.
The Best B-Side American Short Stories: "Nobody Said Anything"
(from Where I'm Calling From by Raymond Carver)
Widely considered one of the greatest short-story writers in recent history, Raymond Carver was a master of uncovering—through subtle turns—rich emotional landscapes within the most mundane encounters. His style may be called minimalist, but the effect of his stories is anything but.
While most readers may be familiar with his later titles, such as "Cathedral," "Where I'm Calling From," and "A Small, Good Thing," Carver's earlier career gave birth to many incredible stories as well, including "Nobody Said Anything." The story is narrated by a child—a rare perspective in Carver's repertoire—and it ends with one of Carver's most incredible, distilled, staccato-rhythmic finishes.
Further American Short Story Reading:
The aforementioned selections are merely the tip of the iceberg. Many great short stories go relatively unnoticed in popular short story collections.
Of course, all three short story collections mentioned above deserve a thorough reading from front to back—especially as Jesus' Son and The Things They Carried are both collections of interrelated stories—but if you’re looking for a great way into them, start with the dark-horse selections.
Related Articles:
The Best Short Stories of Vladimir Nabokov
The Best Short Stories of Leonard Michaels
William Litton - Will Litton is a writer and comedian living in Chicago, IL. He holds a B.A. in creative writing from Brown University and serves as the ...
