Does anyone have any novella recommendations? I'm in a bit of a reading slump, and like to go through some shorter books or novellas when this happens. I'm in the mood for something with a little dark/weird history vibes if anyone has any, but any novella recs will be appreciated!
by MochaMellie
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– The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
– The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker
Different Seasons by Stephen King. A collection of 4 novellas. All are excellent only 1-2 of then are horror adjacent.
Angels and Insects by AS Byatt is a collection of two novellas, both EXCELLENT though Morpho Eugenia is the one that I think about the most.
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells are short but good!
Murderbot diaries
I second The Ballad of Black Tom, especially if you’ve read any Lovecraft (specifically The Horror at Red Hook, not a prerequisite, but would enhance your experience).
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clarke is a fantasy horror set in the Jim Crow South.
Starter Villain by Jon Scalzi if you want something funny and devourable. Not dark, but a little weird.
T Kingfisher has a few novellas that I enjoy. Thornehedge was great. What Moves the Dead is the first in a novella trilogy.
If you like horror, Eric Larocca has a several short story collections and novellas.
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw.
The Monk and Robot Duology by Becky Chambers.
Rizzio by Denise Mina
Penric’s Demon by Lois Macmaster Bujold. If you like it, there are others in the series.
The Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio – mystery with a little bit of horror.
China Mieville – This Census Taker or New Paris
Both great trippy novellas.
Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia Butler
The Yellow Wallpaper
Mothering Sunday
Solaris
If you haven’t read it yet, The Metamorphosis by Kafka is a novella that is dark, weird and unforgettable
Chronicles of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez.
The Wayward Children series by shawnan McGuire are all novellas. If you like portal fantasy, they’re very good. The first book is Every Heart a Doorway.
Yellow Wallpaper
The Country of Pointed Firs – Sarah Orne Jewett
Train Dreams – Denis Johnson
I echo recommendations for the yellow wallpaper!
Others:
Galatea, Comfort me with apples, The night guest, and Graveyard shift
The Bridge of San Luis Rey. One of the most finely crafted books ever written (and the theme is very thought provoking).
– Carrie by Stephen King is very small
– Call of the Wild by Jack London
– Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankle
– The original Conan books by Rob Howard are actually a collection of short stories. Howard was a an uneducated man who hated the Texas Oil Industry. When I read a conan like character I always notice that the character is surrounded by educated nobles who go through lengths to explain how complicated the world is, but the barbarians simple value system seems to work in all settings.
– Anything Shel Silverstien
It’s a play, but it is novella length, ***The Importance of Being Earnest*** by Oscar Wilde is hilarious!
Monk & Robot
My Death
Fair Play
Lemon
*All Systems Red* by Martha Wells
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Clear by Carys Davies
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Tolstoy is my favorite novella. The Old Man and the Sea is up there too
Foster by Claire Keegan