The Best Small Fictions 2019

The Best Small Fictions 2019 is an anthology of flash fiction and micro-fiction selected by editor Nathan Leslie. This collection features works from both emerging and established writers, with stories ranging from 100 to 1000 words in length. The anthology includes pieces originally published in literary magazines and journals throughout 2018, representing diverse styles and approaches to the short form. Writers experiment with structure, perspective, and genre while working within tight constraints. Award-winning authors appear alongside fresh voices, creating a snapshot of contemporary flash fiction from around the world. The collection spans multiple genres including literary fiction, magical realism, and experimental prose. These concentrated narratives explore universal themes of identity, loss, and human connection through precise language and economy of words. The flash fiction format allows for intensified moments of revelation while leaving space for readers to find meaning in what remains unsaid.

Readers appreciate this anthology's tight curation of flash fiction, with stories ranging from 100-1000 words. Several reviewers noted the collection's emotional depth despite the brief format. Positive comments focused on: - Diverse voices and perspectives - Experimental narrative approaches - Quality of writing matches longer-form fiction Main criticisms: - Some stories felt incomplete or fragmented - Uneven quality across selections - A few readers found certain pieces too abstract Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (14 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (6 ratings) One reader on Goodreads said the collection "demonstrates how much can be accomplished in a small space," while another noted it serves as "an excellent sampling of contemporary flash fiction." A review on Amazon mentioned that a few stories "seemed more like writing exercises than complete works." The limited number of total reviews makes it difficult to draw broader conclusions about reader reception.

Flash Fiction International by James Thomas, Robert Shapard, and Christopher Merrill Stories from 50 countries demonstrate the same concise, impactful storytelling found in Best Small Fictions 2019.

Sudden Fiction: American Short-Short Stories by Robert Shapard and James Thomas This collection presents the foundations of contemporary flash fiction through works by established American writers.

New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction by James Thomas and Robert Scotellaro The anthology contains 300 micro-fiction pieces under 300 words that showcase the possibilities of extreme brevity in storytelling.

Palm-of-the-Hand Stories by Yasunari Kawabata These miniature narratives written over Kawabata's career prove the lasting power of compressed fiction.

Severance by Robert Olen Butler The collection presents 62 monologues of exactly 240 words each, capturing the final thoughts of decapitated heads.

🏆 The Best Small Fictions series is the first contemporary anthology dedicated solely to featuring the best flash fiction and micro-fiction of the year. 📝 Flash fiction, featured throughout this collection, typically consists of stories under 1,000 words, challenging writers to create complete narratives with extreme brevity. 🌟 Nathan Leslie, the editor, has authored nine short story collections and three collections of flash fiction, bringing extensive expertise to the selection process. 📚 The 2019 edition includes work from both established authors and emerging voices, selected from thousands of submissions from literary journals worldwide. 🎓 The anthology serves as a teaching tool in many creative writing programs, demonstrating how powerful storytelling can be achieved in extremely limited word counts.