I’ve never particularly liked short stories. Admittedly, writing them can be a useful exercise, and they present a forum for experimenting with different ideas and techniques. On the other hand, you’ll note that those are benefits for the author, not the reader.
As a reader, I generally find short stories exasperating. Either they feel like the formalistic exercises they typically are, which leaves me counting pages, waiting for them to be over, or they leave me wanting more, which is frustrating. Generally, I really have to like an author a lot to tackle a collection of his or her short stories. Even then, I seldom find it terribly rewarding.
Writing fiction represents a huge investment of energy and time for me, and so I naturally prefer to write the sort of thing I would like to read. As a result, my interest in writing short stories is pretty limited. That said, I have a short story or two, presented here as an exercise for the curious reader.
The curiously titled “The Femme Fatale Who Failed to Be Fatal,” well… It was inspired by a casual comment a friend of mine made in the spring of 2008, which caused this odd little tale to appear in my head, fully formed. If it was an experiment or exercise, it wasn’t a conscious one, and I can’t tell you what it means. I suspect too much analysis or deliberation would likely prove lethal to its tenuous and peculiar charm.
THE STORIES:
- The Femme Fatale Who Failed to Be Fatal – You must confirm that you’re over 18 to view this story. (It’s not racy or explicit, but it contains adult themes.)
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The prose stories and novels presented or excerpted on this website may contain mature themes and/or adult content (including, but not limited to, depictions or discussions of sex, sexuality, and drug use). By accessing the stories or excerpts, you certify that you are of legal age to view such material in your area and that your access to such material does not violate any local law, ordinance, regulation, or company policy. The author accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for access to or use of the material on this website in violation of local laws, ordinances, regulations, or company policies.
These stories are works of fiction. The characters, events, and situations of the plots are inventions of the author, and all the names, places, institutions, and settings depicted or mentioned are either entirely fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental. Any textual reference or allusion to any actual person (living or dead), institution, or organization, or to the products, brand names, and/or trademarks thereof, is in no way intended to suggest or imply that the work is anything other than completely fictional; to disparage any actual person, institution, or organization; or to imply that the work has been endorsed, approved, or licensed by any such person, institution, or organization.
Except as otherwise noted, the stories and excerpts thereof are copyright © Aaron Severson. All rights reserved.