Introduction
The Best American Short Stories anthology has long served as a showcase for the incredible range and diversity found within the American short story genre. But what exactly constitutes “variety” when it comes to modern short fiction? In this essay, I will explore the multifaceted nature of narrative variety found within the pages of Best American Short Stories. Examining award-winning works from the past decade, I will analyze how contemporary authors employ varied literary elements like perspective, voice, structure, and subject matter to create short stories that captivate through their originality. The ultimate aim is to understand how the short story continues to evolve as an artform reflecting the rich plurality of American experiences.
A Century of Best American Short Stories: A Platform for Variety
The Best American Short Stories anthology was first published in 1915 and has since become a hallmark annual collection featuring remarkable short fiction by American authors. Established during the flowering of literary modernism, Best American Short Stories really came into its own as a platform for narrative variety in the mid-20th century. That period saw the rise of schools like Southern Gothic as well as the emergence of talented African-American voices in the Harlem Renaissance. Both literary movements pioneered new styles and perspectives, expanding the literary landscape. Today, Best American continues to publish wide-ranging stories from culturally, racially, and stylistically diverse writers across America. These selections highlight how variety strengthens contemporary short fiction.
Diverse Perspectives and Voices: A Window into Unique Experiences
One core element of narrative variety found in modern Best American Short Stories is the use of unique perspectives and voices. Many award-winning 21st century selections feature minority protagonists and introduce fully-formed worlds colored by their distinctive cultural experiences. For instance, Jai Chakrabarti’s 2015 story “A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness” follows a queer Bangladeshi-American anthropologist’s poignant journey to arrange a transcontinental marriage. Chakrabarti’s witty, introspective first-person narration transports readers into a very specific cross-cultural setting while still tapping into universal themes of love, family, and identity. Similarly, Laura Lee Smith’s 2017 piece “Larger Animals” offers a raw portrait of a troubled marriage from the point of view of a bored middle-aged housewife who begins hoarding live squirrels. Smith’s sympathetic exploration of her narrator’s unraveling psyche and stifled ambitions provides rare insight into overlooked female interiority. Both stories showcase how perspectives outside the mainstream enrich modern short fiction.
Structural Variety: Redefining Storytelling Forms
Diverse narrative structures also contribute to the overall variety celebrated yearly in the Best American Short Stories anthology. Many recent selections break free of traditional linear storytelling through techniques like fragmentation, vignettes, and frame narratives. For example, Anthony Doerr’s 2011 science fiction parable “The Deep” relates a dystopian allegory through a series of surreal oceanic scenes that blur reality. Similarly, Mai Al-Nakib’s 2016 “Pilgrims” jumps between times and places to weave together brief episodes from the lives of Muslim Indian immigrants to Kuwait, creating a collective portrait of cultural displacement and alienation. Both formally inventive stories showcase how playing with narrative structure allows contemporary authors to explore identity and the human condition through new lenses. From Doerr’s haunting futurism to Al-Nakib’s lyrical snapshots, structural variety expands the possibilities of the short story medium.
The Merits of Conventional Storytelling
Some may argue that narrative variety does not necessarily make short stories better or more meaningful. A story with conventional linear structure and voice could potentially hold just as much literary merit as experimental postmodern fiction, for instance. However, when we look at the kinds of stories honored by Best American Short Stories editors and guest judges over the past decade, stylistic variety emerges as a characteristic of some of the most compelling, thought-provoking short fiction being written today. While straightforward storytelling has its merits, there is no question that diverse narrative elements allow skilled authors to stretch the short story form to embrace perspectives, ideas, and voices not always found in mainstream literature. Variety not only entertains readers but pushes the boundaries of what short fiction can be and do.
Conclusion
The Best American Short Stories anthology continues to uphold variety as a hallmark of exceptional contemporary storytelling. As shown through recent award-winning selections, diversity in narrative perspective, voice, structure, and subject matter allows authors to capture distinctive cultural experiences while exploring universal themes. Variety not only makes short fiction more engaging, but also elevates the genre’s capacity for social commentary and insight into the human condition. The 21st century short story thrives on multiplicity - and variety will surely remain integral to Best American Short Stories as the literary form continues to evolve.
