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The World’s Shortest Stories Audiobook
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(3.04) - 391 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Murder. Love. Horror. Suspense. All this and much more in the most amazing short stories ever written--each one just 55 words long!Consider for a moment 55 words. It's an absurdly tiny number. No, it's an impossible tiny number. It's what O. Henry might have conjured up if he'd only had the back of a business card to write upon. You'll find murder and suspense, horror and intrigue, love and betrayal, plus distant worlds and inner demons.All in a measly 55 words!
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"Listening to this little book was the most fun I have had in a long time. Imagine telling a whole story in 55 words! There are some true masterpieces among these stories, some mysterious, some touching, some spiritual, some funny, some poignant, but nearly all containing an ironic twist at the end. I loved every minute of this book. It did not hurt that these little gems were read by some of the top narrators of all time, including Frank Muller, who was truly gifted."
— Sher (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“The perfect gift for those who claim to be too busy to read. For the rest of us, these stories are like literary canapes... Irresistible. ”
— Sue Grafton -
“A short story in 55 words—impossible! Yet these stories, the world's shortest, have setting, characters, conflict, and resolution. They address murder, love, suspense, horror, betrayal, and often end with a catchy turnaround. The answer lies in the author's ability to write with amazing compression and economy, making each word count…the haiku of short fiction.”
— Library Journal -
“Shorter and sassier are these tiny tales, all amazing for their telling brevity. There are dozen of stories, not one of which is longer than 55 words. Some are humorous, some are gory, some are romantic, and almost all have a twist.”
— New York Post -
“The readers bring much life to these concise yarns. Muller is fabulous as ever. His rich, resonant voice infuses the stories with emotion. All three readers add accents that inject these imaginative bits of wordplay with energy and verve.”
— Los Angeles Times
The World’s Shortest Stories Listener Reviews
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" Makes you think! Love it! "
— Monica, 2/3/2014 -
" These are fully-rounded stories that can be read in a few seconds. Fun. "
— Roxanne, 12/16/2013 -
" delicious sandwichesss!! "
— Kimia, 11/23/2013 -
" 55-word stories. They are not the world's most amazing short stories as the title states, but they may be the world's most amazing 55-word stories! I read this volume at one sitting and do not recommend that. Pick up the book, read a few, and set it down for days; repeat. The end. "
— Lotte, 11/18/2013 -
" couldn't stop reading , it was great "
— Bahareh, 8/5/2013 -
" Awesome little stories in here....loved it. I kept wanting to re-read it. "
— Leola, 7/19/2013 -
" All written to an exact length of 55 words, it's amazing what the writers in this collection have generated. From death and murder to love and joy and everything inbetween; this tiny collection uses quick twists to hammer home each tale. Inspirational to scribers both young and old as well! "
— M, 6/15/2013 -
" Every story is 55 words long, with an unexpected twist at the end - I loved it! "
— Judith, 5/8/2013 -
" Not all of the 55-Word-Stories in this Book are good or even worth reading. But it does contain some real gems, and the concept is refreshing enough to make for a mind opening experience. "
— Antihec, 12/26/2010 -
" This book was ok but it was not amazing "
— Sarah, 7/9/2010 -
" You know, you'd think this would work for me. But I really wasn't a big fan. A lot of the stories were pretty weak. If Scrawlers had like 50 more users I think we'd beat 'em. "
— Barry, 9/25/2009 -
" This is the l985 edition.....what a concept!!! Some of my VMs to friends aren't this short! "
— Pat, 9/21/2008 -
" Exactly 55 words, with a world of possibilities. This book is fabulous as long as you don't read it in one setting. I did not--just a few at a time, and you don't get bored of the format. Some of these stories are incredibly creative, and I was pleased overall with the execution of this concept. "
— Laura, 1/4/2008 -
" Fifty-five word stories. Amazing what writers can do with so little. Some very powerful and touching stories. "
— Kevin, 4/16/2007 -
" I loved almost every short story. It is truly amazing how much story can be packed into 55 words, some which are wickedly funny. "
— Yvensong, 11/18/2006 -
" I had forgotten how much I love this book. All of the short stories are 55 words long. Some are not so great, but most of them are. "
— Tammy, 4/23/2006 -
" Not the best flash fiction I've ever read, though there were a few notable stories in here. "
— Cat, 6/13/2005 -
" Interesting concept, but not a very interesting book. The mysteries were fine, some were actually really good, but once I got to the romance part I just gave up on it because it was so boring. "
— Stephanie, 11/10/2004 -
" The best of these are amazing. Short stories told from start to finish in just 55 words! Extra points for the excellent illustrations. "
— James, 6/29/2004 -
" I received this in a gift exchange and read it in half an evening. It's a fluffy marshmallow of a book--not a lot of depth but some of the stories are fun, while others are predictable or incomprehensible. No matter. After 55 words, you are on to the next one. "
— Jessica, 1/19/2003 -
" There are some good stories in here that can help with the teaching of making good inferences. "
— Lorie, 9/26/2000 -
" A great book, inspiring for flash fiction writers! "
— Nico, 8/17/2000
About Steve Moss
Alyssa Bresnahan is a dynamic dancer, actor, and audiobook narrator. She has narrated over two hundred audiobooks, has earned twenty Earphones Awards, and was named one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices. In 2009 she was a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best fiction narration.
About the Narrators
Frank Muller (1951–2008) was an Audie Award–winning narrator. A classically trained actor, Frank appeared on both television and the stage. His credits include Hamlet, The Crucible, The Taming of the Shrew, The Importance of Being Earnest, Law & Order, All My Children, and many, many more. In 1999 Frank was awarded the AudioFile Lifetime Achievement Award, the top honor in the audiobook community. He has also won twenty-three Earphones Awards.
Kathy Garver, the teenage heartthrob from the hit series Family Affair (1966–1971), has voiced numerous audiobooks, including biographies of Patty Duke and Frances Langford, and appeared in such classic films as Night of the Hunter and The Ten Commandments long before she became a television icon.
Suzanne Toren, award-winning narrator, has over thirty years of experience in narration. She was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She has won the American Foundation for the Blind’s Scourby Award for Narrator of the Year, AudioFile magazine named her the 2009 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture, and she is the recipient of multiple Earphones Awards. She performs on and off Broadway and in regional theaters and has appeared on Law & Order and in various soap operas.