Top Ten Greatest American Short Story Writers.

[dupersuper]

I meant like, erm, comparatively scum. As in, King is probably a better writer than me, but next to Eudora Welty, he's scum.

Maybe Weltys short stories are better, but I couldn't even really finish Delta Wedding.

[T Hedge Coke]

I can't stand most of Updike and find Bruce Sterling's criticisms of him (the objectification of anyone not a straight White American man, primary among them) spot on, but then, maybe I just don't wear enough cardigans while drinking highballs.

And, I can't believe Philip Dick didn't make the list. Or, Flannery O'Connor, C.L. Moore, Gertrude Stein, James Baldwin, Shirley Jackson, Robert Heinlein, John Cheever, Ursula K Le Guin, among others.

I like a lot of Asimov's short fiction, though not nearly as much as I like his essays or some of the novels, but I don't see him in the top ten of American short story writers. Especially not when Flannery O'Connor and Ambrose Bierce don't make the cut.

But, Updike! Just, no.

[Bradley]

I'm going to echo everyone who has argued for Hemingway, Carver, and especially O'Connor. You just can't make a list of great American short story writers and leave O'Connor off, as far as I'm concerned.

Most of the other people I'd include on my list-- Baldwin, Cheever, Welty-- have been mentioned before. I'm not sure if anyone said Faulkner, though. His novels are probably more notable achievements, but "A Rose for Emily" is pretty darn significant.

It's maybe too soon to say for sure, but I think Lorrie Moore might someday belong on a list of greatest American short story writers. Ann Beattie's pretty great too.

[Justin D.]

Every school kid reads at least a little bit of Poe. He just doesn't get the accolades.

Honestly, I think a lot of people may assume he's British.

I'd take King off and add his son Joe Hill. Seriously, if you haven't read "20th Century Ghosts", you need to right away. They're some of the best short stories I've ever read.

However, that list is just one guy's opinion and it doesn't seem to be by an established writer, editor, critic, or even a professor. That said, if such a list existed, Eudora Welty should be on it too.

[Salvester]

I love "Hills Like White Elephants". A study of it's subtexts really shows you how much of a master Hemmingway was. Less is more.

I read that in high school, and thought it was pretty dumb. I understood what it was about, but still thought it was dumb.

I went to college, read some more Hemmingway, and really enjoyed most it and thought I would give it another try.

Read it, and sadly, thought it was dumb again. Oh well.

And although I disagree with the list on the site, I respect and enjoy all of the authors listed =)

[DrewTheXenocide]

Most of the other people I'd include on my list-- Baldwin, Cheever, Welty-- have been mentioned before. I'm not sure if anyone said Faulkner, though. His novels are probably more notable achievements, but "A Rose for Emily" is pretty darn significant.

Though I agree with you when it comes to "A Rose for Emily," Faulkner doesn't really come into my mind when I think "short story." I can't honestly think of another one.

[Infra-Man]

No Cheever? No Carver? No Welty? No Hemingway?

What a turdy turd of a turdy turding list.

/list also needs more Jim Shepard and George Saunders

[Bradley]

Though I agree with you when it comes to "A Rose for Emily," Faulkner doesn't really come into my mind when I think "short story." I can't honestly think of another one.

Well, "Barn Burning" and "That Evening Sun" get anthologized occasionally, but they're probably not nearly as important (or well known). I probably wouldn't put Faulkner in my personal top ten short story writers, but he'd rank higher than Stephen King or Chuck Palahniuk if I were to, you know, rank every writer who had ever written a short story.

[Karl O'Neill]

No Cheever? No Carver? No Welty? No Hemingway?

What a turdy turd of a turdy turding list.

/list also needs more Jim Shepard and George Saunders

Havn't seen you post in a long time. How are you keeping?
What are you reading lately?

[Infra-Man]

Havn't seen you post in a long time. How are you keeping?
What are you reading lately?

Yeah, grad school and work's been keeping me really busy. Things are keen on my end for the most part. Yourself?

Outside of school reading (so far have done Tristram Shandy, Pale Fire, and The Third Policeman), been reading weird sideshow history stuff from Ricky Jay, back issues of Granta I got real cheap, Mystery Train by Greil Marcus, and the music criticism of Lester Bangs.

Reading non-fiction in between all the fiction in class helps keep me sane in an odd way.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Well, "Barn Burning" and "That Evening Sun" get anthologized occasionally, but they're probably not nearly as important (or well known). I probably wouldn't put Faulkner in my personal top ten short story writers, but he'd rank higher than Stephen King or Chuck Palahniuk if I were to, you know, rank every writer who had ever written a short story.

Hahaha. I've written a 20-page paper on "That Evening Sun," as well as a shorter one on "Barn Burning." I'm just dumb, I guess.

[Karl O'Neill]

Yeah, grad school and work's been keeping me really busy. Things are keen on my end for the most part. Yourself?

Outside of school reading (so far have done Tristram Shandy

All good. Tired with new child and a 2 year old.

I love Laurence Sterne's A Sentimental Journey so far which I am half way through.

Thanks for introducing me to Italo Calvino! He is awesome.

[TradePaperbackTraitor]

The author left off some great ones, but I did get one good thing out of this link. I had to search for "Guts" after all the comments about it and I have to say, that is ummm.... definitely one short story to remember.