THE WRITERS WHO INSPIRED FLASH
I can't speak for everyone of course but I can tell you which Flash writers inspired my work. Micro-fiction is a more recent invention so the works I am about to talk about are longer than 100 wrds. GUY DE MAUPASSANT (1850-1893) The French author who shed the Gothic trappings of earlier writers and embraced Flaubert's "naturalist" school of writing. De Maupassant began by writing short, often tragic or nasty, stories of the Franco-Prussian War. Later he wrote stories that poked fun at society and its pretentions and even some horror tales. He died young from syphilis, in an insane asylum.
O. HENRY (WILLIAM SYDNEY PORTER) (1862-1910)- The Best of O. Henry O. Henry, known as the American de Maupassant, made a stock-in-trade of witty short tales with twist endings. This lead to the expression 'an O. Henry ending'. Being very prolific, he had to develop certain tricks to bring stories to a quick, satisfying ending. His own end was similar, cirrhosis of the liver.
SAKI (H. H. MUNRO) (1870-1916)- Complete Stories Christopher Morley wrote: "There is no greater compliment to be paid to the right kind of friend than to hand him Saki without comment." Saki loved to slay the hypocrites, the stuffed shirts and the addled-witted with his wry, sardonic Reginald or Clovis Sangrill characters. He also liked writing very short stories. He died in WWI, where he served as a Lance-Sergeant. His last words were: "Put that bloody cigarette out."
JAMES THURBER (1894-1961) Thurber wrote short humorous stories, often about timid heroes, as well as drew cartoons for The New Yorker. His story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" was made into a film in 1947, starring Danny Kaye. The Thurber Prize is awarded for American Humor. Thurber's last words were "God Bless. God damn."
"The Little Girl and the Wolf"
JOHN COLLIER (1901-1980) Collier was a novelist who wrote stories for The New Yorker. These were collected in Fancies and Goodnights (1951). His story "The Chaser" may be the most perfect piece of Flash ever written. He lived a long and productive life. He wrote near the end: "I sometimes marvel that a third-rate writer like me has been able to palm himself off as a second-rate writer."
FREDRIC BROWN (1906-1972) Fredric Brown was a Mystery writer by trade but a Science Fiction writer for fun. He experimented in the 1960s with shorter and shorter works. He wrote some of these with Mack Reynolds. His Nightmare in Black, White, Red, etc. series is perhaps his best flash work. Favorite books include Space On My Hands (1951). His short SF has been collected in From These Ashes (2000). Brown retired to Taos, New Mexico, effectively ending his writing career in 1965.
ROALD DAHL (1916-1990) Roald Dahl's career as a children's writer has entirely overshadowed his earlier career as a writer of short and nasty stories. Favorite books include Someone Like You (1953), Kiss Kiss (1960), Tales of the Unexpected (1979). Dahl's brand of nasty humor defined his life as well. He enjoyed re-filling expensive wine bottles with cheap plonk then serving it to guests and asking them their opinions. He died of a rare blood disease.
C. M. KORNBLUTH (1923-1958) Science Fiction writer who wrote with a sardonic pen. He wrote several minoir classics such as The Space Merchants with Fredrick Pohl. His stories have been collected in His Share of Glory (1997). Kornbluth strained his heart during WWII and died from a massive heart attack at only 34.
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