Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Reading for the Bradbury Year #write1sub1

I'm calling my Write 1/Sub 1 year the Bradbury Year. It helps as a motivator to feel the great one's presence.

In addition to writing and submitting 52 stories next year (crazy much?), I want to read a collection of short fiction each month. Santa's helpers have suggested I might receive Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King for Christmas. That will be first in the queue. But then what?

I'm looking for single author collections but anthologies will do, too. I find I'm most motivated to write when I'm reading great work. Any horror, fantasy, or science fiction book is welcome.

What should I feed my brain?

15 comments:

Barry Napier said...

Keep in mind that the stories within Full Dark No Stars aren't exactly short...

A few suggestions...

While it isn't classified as a collection, it reads like one: Chuck Palahniuk's "Haunted"

Rick Moody's "Demonology" - not horror, but some dark themes

Cate Gardner said...

I guess in a way you're resurrecting your own version of 52 Stitches.

Will you be workng on longer stuff too?

Aaron Polson said...

I know, Barry. Mostly Novellas. But King inspires me, and I can read one, put it down, move on...

Cate - I plan on it (sort of). Don't tell anyone, but I will work in a flurry, turning out 52 stories in the first month, then focus on writing ten bestselling novels in the rest of the year. Should be easy. ;)

Anonymous said...

Jack Ketchum's Peaceable Kingdom is one of my favorite collections.

I read Tim Lebbon's Last Exit for the Lost recently, and although it's maybe over-long, it has some really incredible pieces in it.

Best non-horror (but nonetheless horrific) collection I've read in ages is Among the Missing by Dan Chaon.

Good luck with this. It sounds like a hell of an undertaking.

Cate Gardner said...

And thus balance in the universe is restored.

Aaron Polson said...

Great suggestions, Brady. I've been needing to read some Ketchum.

Cate - This universe or an alternate?

Lee Thompson/Thomas Morgan/James Logan/Julian Vaughn said...

Man, that's such a great challenge. I'm just going to try for the one-a-month challenge. I like shorts but longer work is taking up more time (and I get more satisfaction from it.)

Haunted Legends (edited by Ellen Datlow) is a great antho.

Inferno (edited by Ellen Datlow) another great one.

You've already enjoyed Cate's collection. Maybe re-read it?

Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts...

Tom Piccirilli's Deep into that Darkness Peering...

Anything by Steve Rasnic Tem...

Sam W. Anderson's Postcards from Purgatory...

I could probably list a lot more if I wasn't so lazy and went over to my bookshelf. :D

Unknown said...

I always see praise for Laird Barron's Occultation.

I've got Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts and Bentley Little's The Collection sitting on my TBR pile.

Simon Kewin said...

Great idea Aaron. And some marvellous suggestions there. I'm tempted to do something similar along with Write1Sub1. Just got one of those "Year's best Fantasy" collections that will do as a start ...

Danielle Birch said...

I always like to revisit Shirley Jackson for great inspiration.

Danielle Birch said...

I always like to revisit Shirley Jackson for great inspiration.

K. Allen Wood said...

Aaron, do yourself a favor and pick up Jennifer Pelland's Unwelcome Bodies. That collection is brilliant.

K. Allen Wood said...

Oh, and I second the recommendation of Ketchum's Peaceable Kingdom and Hill's 20th Century Ghosts. Both are fantastic.

Hill's stuff still pops into my head from time to time, very subtle but powerful. And Ketchum...well, the range of his work is amazing. He can be so brutal, yet so touching, you know. Great stuff.

Aaron Polson said...

Man...awesome suggestions. I'm going to have to get the Ketchum book. I've read much of 20th Century Ghosts already...might want to revisit.

Katey said...

Have you read Vonnegut's collection Welcome to the Monkey House? God, it's good.