Book Riot's 100 Must-Read Contemporary Short Story Collections

1.
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories
by: Ken Liu
4.36 avg rating β€” 36,812 ratings
2.
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky 4.09 avg rating β€” 16,025 ratings
3.
Stories of Your Life and Others
Stories of Your Life and Others 4.25 avg rating β€” 120,090 ratings
4.
A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories
A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories 4.19 avg rating β€” 35,022 ratings
5.
Night at the Fiestas
Night at the Fiestas 4.08 avg rating β€” 1,954 ratings
6.
The Thing Around Your Neck
The Thing Around Your Neck 4.23 avg rating β€” 48,394 ratings
7.
Tenth of December
Tenth of December 3.98 avg rating β€” 80,034 ratings
8.
Unaccustomed Earth
Unaccustomed Earth 4.14 avg rating β€” 95,607 ratings
9.
Battleborn
Battleborn 4.12 avg rating β€” 5,353 ratings
10.
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
by: ZZ Packer
3.88 avg rating β€” 7,777 ratings
11.
When the Emperor Was Divine
When the Emperor Was Divine 3.81 avg rating β€” 29,657 ratings
12.
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories 3.87 avg rating β€” 23,063 ratings
13.
Her Body and Other Parties: Stories
Her Body and Other Parties: Stories 3.82 avg rating β€” 102,302 ratings
14.
The Complete Stories of Leonora Carrington
The Complete Stories of Leonora Carrington really liked it 4.00 avg rating β€” 3,354 ratings
15.
The Refugees
The Refugees 3.87 avg rating β€” 21,717 ratings
16.
Ghost Summer
Ghost Summer 4.20 avg rating β€” 2,340 ratings
17.
The Complete Stories
The Complete Stories 4.36 avg rating β€” 3,899 ratings
18.
Falling in Love with Hominids
Falling in Love with Hominids 3.93 avg rating β€” 1,457 ratings
19.
Get in Trouble
Get in Trouble 3.67 avg rating β€” 12,778 ratings
20.
In the Country
In the Country
by: Mia Alvar
4.07 avg rating β€” 4,058 ratings
21.
Thunderstruck & Other Stories
Thunderstruck & Other Stories 3.90 avg rating β€” 2,516 ratings
22.
A Natural History of Hell
A Natural History of Hell 3.91 avg rating β€” 666 ratings
23.
Revenge
Revenge 4.02 avg rating β€” 27,951 ratings
24.
We Show What We Have Learned and Other Stories
We Show What We Have Learned and Other Stories 4.12 avg rating β€” 444 ratings
25.
Delicate Edible Birds and Other Stories
Delicate Edible Birds and Other Stories 4.02 avg rating β€” 5,794 ratings
26.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank
What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank 3.74 avg rating β€” 8,193 ratings
27.
Gutshot
Gutshot 3.59 avg rating β€” 2,242 ratings
28.
An Orchid in my Belly Button
An Orchid in my Belly Button 4.70 avg rating β€” 23 ratings
29.
The Birthday of the World and Other Stories (Hainish Cycle, #9)
The Birthday of the World and Other Stories (Hainish Cycle, #9) 4.33 avg rating β€” 6,031 ratings
30.
North American Lake Monsters
North American Lake Monsters 3.95 avg rating β€” 6,157 ratings
31.
Mothers, Tell Your Daughters: Stories
Mothers, Tell Your Daughters: Stories 3.76 avg rating β€” 1,818 ratings
32.
The Man Who Shot Out My Eye Is Dead
The Man Who Shot Out My Eye Is Dead 3.49 avg rating β€” 463 ratings
32.
After the Quake
After the Quake 3.77 avg rating β€” 57,206 ratings
34.
All the Names They Used for God
All the Names They Used for God 4.03 avg rating β€” 6,637 ratings
35.
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love?
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love? 3.84 avg rating β€” 4,387 ratings
36.
Ayiti
Ayiti 4.27 avg rating β€” 8,126 ratings
37.
Madame Zero: 9 Stories
Madame Zero: 9 Stories 3.70 avg rating β€” 1,390 ratings
38.
Bobcat and Other Stories
Bobcat and Other Stories 3.89 avg rating β€” 4,876 ratings
39.
You Are Not a Stranger Here
You Are Not a Stranger Here 3.96 avg rating β€” 4,358 ratings
40.
War by Candlelight
War by Candlelight 3.90 avg rating β€” 922 ratings
41.
Three Moments of an Explosion
Three Moments of an Explosion 3.65 avg rating β€” 4,460 ratings
42.
Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls
Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls 3.81 avg rating β€” 3,357 ratings
43.
The Redemption of Galen Pike
The Redemption of Galen Pike 4.07 avg rating β€” 1,126 ratings
43.
Knockout
Knockout 4.02 avg rating β€” 320 ratings
45.
Fortune Smiles
Fortune Smiles 4.02 avg rating β€” 11,011 ratings
46.
Mary and O'Neil
Mary and O'Neil 3.91 avg rating β€” 3,392 ratings
47.
Brief Encounters with Che Guevara: Stories
Brief Encounters with Che Guevara: Stories 3.94 avg rating β€” 3,289 ratings
47.
I Want to Show You More
I Want to Show You More 3.65 avg rating β€” 1,504 ratings
49.
20th Century Ghosts
20th Century Ghosts
by: Joe Hill
3.90 avg rating β€” 46,887 ratings
50.
The Unfinished World and Other Stories
The Unfinished World and Other Stories 3.77 avg rating β€” 1,249 ratings
51.
Single, Carefree, Mellow
Single, Carefree, Mellow 3.55 avg rating β€” 6,145 ratings
52.
Monstress
Monstress 3.95 avg rating β€” 1,824 ratings
53.
You Should Pity Us Instead
You Should Pity Us Instead 3.70 avg rating β€” 374 ratings
54.
Daddy's
Daddy's 4.11 avg rating β€” 393 ratings
55.
After the People Lights Have Gone Off
After the People Lights Have Gone Off 3.67 avg rating β€” 2,680 ratings
56.
Honored Guest
Honored Guest 3.94 avg rating β€” 1,230 ratings
57.
Ade and The Giants of the East
Ade and The Giants of the East 4.89 avg rating β€” 9 ratings
58.
We Come to Our Senses: Stories
We Come to Our Senses: Stories 3.74 avg rating β€” 107 ratings
58.
Binocular Vision: New and Selected Stories
Binocular Vision: New and Selected Stories 3.93 avg rating β€” 2,275 ratings
58.
Diving Belles
Diving Belles
by: Lucy Wood
3.50 avg rating β€” 1,081 ratings
61.
A Collapse of Horses
A Collapse of Horses 4.02 avg rating β€” 2,775 ratings
62.
All Aunt Hagar's Children: Stories
All Aunt Hagar's Children: Stories 3.82 avg rating β€” 2,386 ratings
62.
Children of the New World
Children of the New World 3.75 avg rating β€” 3,977 ratings
64.
Virgin and Other Stories
Virgin and Other Stories 3.10 avg rating β€” 462 ratings
65.
Young Skins
Young Skins 4.02 avg rating β€” 2,492 ratings
66.
Music for Wartime
Music for Wartime 4.04 avg rating β€” 1,950 ratings
67.
Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It
Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It 3.83 avg rating β€” 6,308 ratings
68.
There are Little Kingdoms: Stories
There are Little Kingdoms: Stories 4.07 avg rating β€” 1,385 ratings
69.
I Was a Revolutionary
I Was a Revolutionary really liked it 4.00 avg rating β€” 123 ratings
70.
The Water Museum
The Water Museum 4.03 avg rating β€” 1,304 ratings
70.
Birds of a Lesser Paradise: Stories
Birds of a Lesser Paradise: Stories 3.85 avg rating β€” 3,128 ratings
72.
Things that Fall from the Sky
Things that Fall from the Sky 3.91 avg rating β€” 669 ratings
72.
Runaway: Stories
Runaway: Stories 3.97 avg rating β€” 27,361 ratings
74.
Heartbreaker
Heartbreaker 3.74 avg rating β€” 701 ratings
75.
Honeymoon and Other Stories
Honeymoon and Other Stories 3.95 avg rating β€” 243 ratings
76.
Among the Missing
Among the Missing
by: Dan Chaon
4.04 avg rating β€” 2,921 ratings
76.
We've Already Gone This Far
We've Already Gone This Far 3.69 avg rating β€” 243 ratings
78.
The Shell Collector
The Shell Collector 3.99 avg rating β€” 17,948 ratings
78.
The Wilds
The Wilds 3.80 avg rating β€” 1,172 ratings
80.
Ambiguity Machines and Other Stories
Ambiguity Machines and Other Stories 4.04 avg rating β€” 590 ratings
81.
Half an Inch of Water
Half an Inch of Water 4.02 avg rating β€” 1,409 ratings
82.
Dead Girls and Other Stories
Dead Girls and Other Stories 3.94 avg rating β€” 189 ratings
83.
The Bigness of the World
The Bigness of the World 3.82 avg rating β€” 359 ratings
84.
What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us
What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us 3.97 avg rating β€” 1,270 ratings
85.
Sour Heart
Sour Heart 3.69 avg rating β€” 8,185 ratings
86.
Telling the Map
Telling the Map 3.79 avg rating β€” 119 ratings
87.
The Assimilated Cuban's Guide to Quantum Santeria
The Assimilated Cuban's Guide to Quantum Santeria 4.09 avg rating β€” 688 ratings
88.
The Girl of the Lake
The Girl of the Lake 3.85 avg rating β€” 296 ratings
89.
Barbara the Slut and Other People
Barbara the Slut and Other People 3.54 avg rating β€” 5,273 ratings
90.
Deceit and Other Possibilities
Deceit and Other Possibilities 4.08 avg rating β€” 693 ratings
90.
Blueprints for Building Better Girls
Blueprints for Building Better Girls 3.57 avg rating β€” 2,732 ratings
92.
Half Wild: Stories
Half Wild: Stories 4.14 avg rating β€” 574 ratings
93.
Back Talk
Back Talk 3.72 avg rating β€” 1,350 ratings
93.
Swimmer Among the Stars: Stories
Swimmer Among the Stars: Stories 3.74 avg rating β€” 1,163 ratings
93.
The Mountain
The Mountain
by: Paul Yoon
3.75 avg rating β€” 750 ratings
96.
Without Expiration: A Personal Anthology
Without Expiration: A Personal Anthology 3.96 avg rating β€” 24 ratings
96.
My Life As A Woman: World Edition: Women Inspiring Women In 2020 And Beyond
My Life As A Woman: World Edition: Women Inspiring Women In 2020 And Beyond it was amazing 5.00 avg rating β€” 5 ratings
96.
Life’S Uncertain Journeys: A Lgbtq Short Story Collection
Life’S Uncertain Journeys: A Lgbtq Short Story Collection 4.20 avg rating β€” 5 ratings
96.
Tactics of Lost Minds
Tactics of Lost Minds
by: Tye M.T.
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating β€” 2 ratings
96.
The Old Men Who Row Boats and Other Stories
The Old Men Who Row Boats and Other Stories 4.25 avg rating β€” 61 ratings
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