For all you belated shoppers out there, and for all two of you not already sickened by the blizzard of Best-Of lists, here’s my picks for the best short stories of 2008. I read a good chunk of them — most that I’ve read are in my sidebar, though I’ve neglected to add a few. So go buy these books. Give as gifts. Study as art. Read for laughs.
For those of you who like to quibble with the word “best,” I will add the caveat cheap drugs legal that these are much more recommendation than hierarchy. They’re only my preferences, and ones deliberately chosen to reflect a variety of forms and fictions. You’ll see a number of the usual suspects here, but also a few that might surprise you. Enjoy.
Sana Krasikov, One More Year
Cynthia Ozick, Dictation
Chris Adrian, A Better Angel
Steven Millhauser, Dangerous Laughter
Benjamin Rosenbaum, The Ant King
Donald Ray Pollock, Knockemstiff
Jhumpa Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth
Uwem Akpan, Say You’re One of Them
Nam Le, The Boat
