The perfect story?

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I wish I could write a story I felt was half as good as Lord Dunsany's SWORD OF WELLERAN. Does anyone else have a candidate for the perfect short story? I could use some reading suggestions.

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Perfect short story

I couldn't say it's perfect but just off the top of my head Heinlein's "All you zombies" was very good. Not a bad fit for this site or FM either.

Time is the longest distance to your destination.

... beat me to it ...

I would post "...Zombies" before you, but my time machine is in the shop, and it won't be fixed until last Thursday. Which makes it hard for me to get it ...
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Remember your Libraries. Don't even check it out, it's 5 pp or less. If anthologized, the rest of Heinlein's stories are worth checking out (both meanings).

Heinlein

I used to have a shelf full of his books. My brother borrowed them one by one without returning any.

Watership Down

Patricia Marie Allen's picture

One you may not have heard of is "Watership Down" by Richard Adams. It's an off beat story of the life of rabbits. The author creates a rabbit culture and language.

Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of friends, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

I found it interesting because the author subtly teaches you Lapine as the story progresses. Near the end you understand when one of the characters says, "Silfrey hackura uh umbar Rah."

Hugs
Patricia

Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt

The last command

I had forgotten the title but remembered the story very well. It is a great of example of science fiction at its' best.

The Nine Mile Walk...

by Harry Kemelman, first published in 1947 and collected in a 1967 book with that title, containing Kemelman's Nicky Welt mysteries.

Quite short, and posted online here .

Eric

An excellent story

I remember reading it in high school from the local library. That I remember it after this long is proof of how good it is.