Buzz
Although British authors have a special place in my heart, I often find myself returning to American writers. America has undoubtedly shaped modern English literature, not only in the realm of pulp fiction but also in serious literary works. From the moment American literature found its distinct voice, it has played a monumental role in global storytelling. This list explores ten of the finest American short story writers.
10. Chuck Palahniuk
While Chuck Palahniuk is primarily known for his novel 'Fight Club,' he is also an advocate of Ray Bradbury's method of writing a short story every day. Many of his short stories have seamlessly made their way into his novels, often without the reader realizing their original form. In 'Haunted,' he cleverly interweaves 23 separate short stories, one of which includes his infamous piece 'Guts,' a story that has shocked audiences so much that it’s caused people to faint at book signings.
9. Washington Irving
Washington Irving, an iconic American figure from the early 19th century, was not only an author but also an essayist, historian, and biographer. He is most recognized for his captivating short stories, particularly 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' and 'Rip Van Winkle,' both featured in his work 'The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.' Alongside his fictional works, Irving's historical contributions include biographies of prominent figures such as George Washington, Oliver Goldsmith, and Muhammad, as well as numerous accounts of 15th-century Spain, including narratives on Columbus, the Moors, and the Alhambra.
8. Isaac Asimov
Asimov stands out as one of the most prolific writers in the English language, having contributed a vast array of works from his iconic 'Foundation' series and 'Fantastic Voyage' to textbooks and everything in between. While primarily known for his science fiction writing, Asimov is one of the rare authors to have written extensively across nearly every category of the Dewey Decimal System, with the exception of Philosophy. Over his lifetime, he penned an estimated 515 books. Among his renowned short stories are 'I, Robot,' 'The Bicentennial Man,' and 'The Last Question,' with the first two being adapted into films. Asimov also wrote 19 short story collections, encompassing a total of 284 stories.
7. Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury is an acclaimed science fiction writer, celebrated for his disciplined habit of writing a short story every day—an endeavor that many others have tried to replicate. He wrote 11 novels, including three that feature loosely connected tales, and over 40 collections of short stories, adding up to more than 400 short stories and novellas. However, it’s not just his prolific output that secured his place on this list. His most famous short story, 'A Sound of Thunder,' gave birth to the well-known science fiction concept of the 'butterfly effect,' and it holds the title of the most republished science fiction story of all time.
6. Stephen King
Stephen King is one of America’s most beloved and prolific authors. A passionate advocate for the short story, King has had numerous works adapted into films, including well-known stories like '1408,' 'The Mist,' and 'Hearts in Atlantis.' His most famous short story adaptation, however, is 'Stand By Me.' Throughout his career, King has authored 8 story collections, with a total of 124 short stories and 17 novellas. He was also chosen to edit 'The Best American Short Stories of 2007' and received the O. Henry Award in 1996.
5. J.D. Salinger
J.D. Salinger is best known for his novel 'The Catcher in the Rye,' which remains his sole published novel. Though an enigmatic figure, Salinger wrote extensively, though much of his work has never been seen by anyone other than himself. In addition to his famous novel, he released three short story collections: 'Nine Stories,' 'Franny and Zooey,' and 'Raise High the Roof Beams, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction.' He is also credited with about two dozen other unpublished short stories. Many consider Salinger to be the greatest American writer of the 20th century.
4. O. Henry
William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, is celebrated for his mastery of flash fiction, often infused with wit and unexpected twist endings. His most famous story, 'The Gift of the Magi,' tells the tale of a young, impoverished couple who each sell their most cherished possession to buy a gift for the other, only to find that their sacrifices make their gifts useless. This story has been adapted in many forms over the years. The prestigious O. Henry Award, named in his honor, is given annually to exceptional short story writers. Two writers on this list have received this esteemed award.
3. Edgar Allan Poe
Poe is perhaps the most iconic short story writer in English literature. Though he only completed one novel in his lifetime, which remains relatively obscure, his short stories have achieved lasting fame. Tales such as 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' 'The Masque of the Red Death,' and 'The Pit and the Pendulum' are widely recognized. With over 65 short stories to his name, Poe is also credited with creating the detective genre.
2. F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald was a renowned American novelist and short story writer, famous for capturing the essence of the Jazz Age, a term he coined. Regarded as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, Fitzgerald was part of the 'Lost Generation' of the 1920s. He authored four novels, including the seminal 'The Great Gatsby,' along with many short stories exploring themes of youth, promise, despair, and aging. Two of his finest short stories, 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair' and 'The Diamond As Big As The Ritz,' are highly recommended and are sure to impress.
1. John Updike
Updike was an exceptionally talented short story writer, with over 150 stories published during his career. His final collection, 'Tears of My Father,' was released in June 2009, about six months after his passing. Throughout his life, he won more than 30 prestigious awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, the Rea Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award, and the O. Henry Award, among others.
