Top 50 Classic Short Stories

What does an old man do when confronted with a danger? He remembers what he is, he remembers his oath to "fight all enemies, foreign and domestic." The story title says it all.

This is an old man's last rant to an anonymous visitor. You probably shouldn't read it.

The old veteran was feeble and frail. Would his final dream ever come true? I could make it happen. Would I take the time? Would those tired old eyes ever sparkle again?

Max Wagner, former carpenter, lives on the streets of San Francisco. His only goal is the next mug of moonshine. Fate intervenes in the persons of a famous singer and a friendly young widow, but then Max has to prove himself in the face of a catastrophe.

Father's been away 3 years. His young family's meeting him at the airport. --- Bad Fred, said --- It's poignant, and you hit the right notes. If I didn't know it was your story and trust you, I would have drifted away in the first few paragraphs. It moved slowly. It was lovely, but it wasn't hitting my "what happens next?" buttons. Well, until the end when it all comes together. Readers who stick with it will be rewarded.

The Ghost Reporter of the local newspaper is at the finish line of the 20 km City Fun Run. What he sees and reports moves his column from page three to the front page.

An old warrior is honored for his sacrifice.

Gordy and Weena (4)
Gordy and Weena visit the Hollisters in Queensland and encounter nasty insects and public health problems.

This is a very short story, more of a cameo. If I was to say anything more, there would be little point in anyone reading it.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
June 2002, a young woman from a family of warriors faces her destiny - head on. Through an unusual and close link to her young genius brother, he's more aware of events than you think. This story is part of a series that follows events that shape his life and destiny, this is one event at a critical time in his life. It answers the questions 'What IS a warrior?' 'Can a warrior also be a pacifist?'

A Story in the The Trilogy and More Western Universe
A tale of the old west in the turbulent times following the Civil War. A young man sort of follows in his father's footsteps.

The lovely woman sitting next to Jack on the plane shocked him when she told him her name was Felina. He was intrigued with the mystery presented by the proposition that maybe Faleena didn't die in the shootout behind Rosa's Cantina. Please read "El Paso - Jake Rivers" first.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
Gerry answers the question about how deeply ingrained training can become when he risks his life to save a young girl from a long fall onto the rocks below the cliff top. Her only hope is if he can catch her and reach the end of the headland to dive into the ocean there before they both slide off the side of the steep cliff face and fall to the rocks. Whatever happens, it's a long way down and sure to hurt when they get there.

A short tale -- very loosely -- based on an encounter I had with a childhood friend in that beautiful city one summer about ten or fifteen years ago; okay maybe a little longer. Only my encounter – whilst extremely enjoyable for both of us -- had a completely different outcome, neither of us are widowed.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
Gerry wants to build a boat, so he does - but only after inventing the materials to make it work. Before he can build what he wants he builds a luxury yacht to test out the design. However, the major test is when he's at sea during a Category 5 storm, and has to help rescue others caught out at sea.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
A young girl runs away from home in fear. But the trouble follows her. But a new friend, Gordie, helps out at a terrible cost to himself.

Gordy and Weena (10)
Patrick feels alone. Mary has died; Rob is very depressed; Weena is upset; Rachel is in Japan with her grandparents. It's a time of transition and growing into middle-school.

A Christmas Story
A grouchy old man is about to spend another Christmas alone,until there is a knock at the door. Is there a second chance for Christmas joy?

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
Many societies have a rite of passage where a boy is called a man and a girl is called a woman once they pass the rites. Young Gordie wishes to stand early, as is his right. However, there are things to be done to organise them, and the normal events of life don't stop just so he can do this. As is usual for Gordie, he does it all in his own way, and different to what others expect.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
It's time for Gerry to do the field testing of his skills as a commanding general in War Games, but Berant rarely has a need for a general to exercise diversified command. Thus it's a good thing the new king of Shukra wishes to have the Berant military test how well his army is after going through new training with new equipment. The event provided surprises for everyone involved.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
In November 2009, Gerry has to visit Europe to resolve some political issues, and has the bad luck to visit a school when some terrorists wish to use it for their purposes. Badly outnumbered, his security team do their duty. Sometimes, the best a warrior can do is to die hard, to help his friends who will arrive later. From the Clan Amir Book - The Falcon in Flight.

Years after he had promised to visit the grave of a lovely girl who had died much too young, and aided by a few friends, Kent kept his word.

A Justiceman Episode (2)
Part of the The Post Sickness World of Phoenicia universe
In the post-Sickness Arizona territory, rape and murder are not uncommon. If you're going to commit these acts, though, you'd best be careful who your victims are. Bad guys are not always the baddest guys around.

Five short stories, entries in a contest for stories under 100 words with a twist on the end. See if you can guess the twist before you get to it.

If you're guilty, you better hope you don't come before the hanging judge

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
Medical students attend the Carmel Clinic to learn the new techniques taught there, but get involved in a major medical emergency on their day off. They also find the answer to a mystery the came across on their first day.

A Story in the The Trilogy and More Western Universe
Johnny Rawlings is in jail waiting for The Hangman

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
Children are going missing, it's believed they're being kidnapped for the child slave trade. The search is on to find out how they're getting them out of the country. RIS suspect it's by boat, so extra patrols are organised with additional troops on some of the boats. Gerry checks out a suspicious boat and catches up with it in International Waters. There are now political concerns here.

Just the ups and downs of one man's life. One of my older stories, and the first of mine that was posted widely on the internet.

A Dark Wars Tale
Edgar Laetham had enough. He had spent enough time shedding blood and losing friends for Queen and country. A chance encounter with an old friend from Australia while recovering from a wound in Bahrain a year after the First Gulf War sent his life on a different path. How different he would not know until one fateful, rain-soaked day while driving his new charge through the streets of Harrow. After that day, he knew life with Dame Alice Spencer-Killdare would never be the same. Or boring!

After Billy humiliates Jenny in an Ugly Girl contest, what happens to him? Can the Marines make him a man? Maybe a stint at Khe Sanh would help.

Meet the girl, love the girl, protect the girl

A young man has no choice in the matter of facing a fierce and deadly dragon threatening himself and everyone. He must go up into its mountain and do battle with the creature, or is it one?

An orphan girl encounters a horse in her forest. The horse will change her life

A Story in the Spider and Fly Universe
A little wander through realms of improbability, concerning a confused young man and his interactions with one particular member of female of our species. Of course it is possible that the young lady in question, had just came up with a novel approach to solving the problem of “not" being noticed, by her intended pray.

An older, bereaved man finds a new love.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
Some men want to rob a bank while Gordie is in there. Not a good idea. He's young, but tricky, and stops them in their tracks.

While driving home from a funeral, a bank branch manager stops for car troubles, gives blood while waiting for car repairs, and meets a shy, lovely girl probably half his age.

My stepfather and my Uncle Oscar had an interesting story they shared -- but there was something fishy about it.

A Magic at War Story
Con is back in Iraq and Shameera is being posted to the Pentagon to keep her out of harm's way. On her way to DC, Shameera decides to stop by her soon-to-be in-law's for a long talk with her love's sister about a cryptic comment Con made about why he ran so hard from her. What happened in Con's past that true love spooked him so? Is it something that will threaten his hastily bonded relationship with Shameera? She has decided she has to know the secret and only Maeve can enlighten her.

When Jerry's wife, Cindy, told him to "give it away," he couldn't. Would she ever come to him and ask him to "give it back?" This is a sequel to "Give It Away" please read that story first.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
Gerry runs into trouble while in command of an Military Police Patrol, and it's bad enough he has to call for help.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
A building collapses, people are trapped. Gerry is on hand and determined to help, despite what the current procedures say.

A Clan Amir of Berant Story
For the first time in his life Gordie meets some bullies and has to deal with them.

A Justiceman Episode (3)
Part of the The Post Sickness World of Phoenicia universe
Is it murder, or a justified killing? As the territory's new 'Justiceman', Alex must find a way to make that determination, but first he's got to bring the killer in without getting himself killed.

Four men attempt to do something evil. They picked the wrong man as a victim.

A man loses his wife and then loses the love of his life.

This story is my take on what the words for the Rolling Stones great song might mean. Sad and dark at the beginning but bright and sunny at the end. Follow Jim as he deals with his loss and gives up on love.