Commences with an overview of the short story; origins, early forms, historical background; the modern short story; its place in the world of fiction; differences and similarities with other forms of the genre; guidelines on how to read a short story; analysis terminology, interpretation and evaluation.
The focus is on “speculative” fiction, a controversial term that eliminates the need for a separation between science fiction, fantasy, and horror and their own sub-genres. In speculative fiction the action of the story can take place in a culture that never existed, a world we know nothing of, or an earth that might have been or might be. We may also see the creation of complex societies and cultures as in the work of J.R.R. Tolkien’s creation of ‘Middle Earth’ in The Lord of the Rings. In good works nevertheless it is often the human condition that the author wants to analyse and say something about. Selections include works of some of the masters of the form.