Explore our collection of short stories!

Short stories can achieve such a range of effects in relatively few pages: some are just a slice of life, some engage with heavy themes with surprising brevity, and some take us to entirely new worlds. If you're looking for a book to dip in and out of, or a range of stories within its pages, we've got just what you need.

‘Don’t Want Caste', collected by M R Renukumar, and translated by Abhirami Girija Sriram and Ravi Shanker, collects twenty-three stories from seven decades written by Malayalam Dalit writers. This is an astonishing glimpse into a rich history of writing from the margins. These stories reflect on quiet domesticities, weave in folklore, and above all, deeply explore the consequences and experiences of being Dalit in an unfair world.

‘Along With The Sun’, edited by Ki. Rajanarayanan and translated by Padma Narayanan, collects stories from the ‘Black Soil’ region of Tamil Nadu. Written by celebrated Tamil authors in a range of styles, this is an unmissable collection for readers of Tamil literature and new readers alike.

‘Cutting Edge’ is an anthology of noir stories by women writers, put together by Joyce Carol Oates. A genre often known for its less-than-feminist tropes are refreshingly updated in this collection, by authors like Margaret Atwood and Aimee Bender. 

And finally, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention one of our favourite short story writers, Ali Smith. Her stories delightfully blend fiction and memoir. While seeming breezy and effortless—and eminently readable—her writing is also urgent, and political. ‘Free Love And Other Stories’, her award-winning first collection of short stories, is a great introduction to a writer known for her empathy, and focus on the power of ambiguity.