So I'm sure that all readers know that the end on any fiction is the most critical point of the narrative. If the beginning and middle of the work are bad, but the ending is strong, then it'll leave a good taste in the reader's mouth. Now if the beginning and middle are strong, but the ending is bad, the overall work will leave a bad impression.
And it's been a while I've read a work with the heck of a good ending. The last one I remember is The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, by Ursula Le Guin. And I'm talking about a short story who's way stronger than many novels.
The only criteria I have is a strong ending. The work can be a short story, a novella, or a novel.
by CircusOfCaos
6 Comments
The Girl With All The Gifts. It left me cored like an apple, so it depends on your taste, but it also felt strangely hopeful in a way I can’t justify.
*God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater* by Kurt Vonnegut. I loved the whole book, but that ending plastered the biggest smile across my face.
I’ll give you two Arthur C Clarke short stories that really capture the theme of this question, because the ending completely reframes everything else.
Rescue Party
Before Eden
h{{The Magic Mountain}} has the strongest, most poignant final chapter I have ever read in any novel, ever.
The Trees by Percival Everett.
Use of Weapons – Iain M Banks
Brighton Rock – Graham Greene
The Heart of the Matter – Graham Greene
The Quiet American – Graham Greene
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – John Le Carré
The Contortionist’s Handbook – Craig Clevenger