Largehearted Boy: Favorite Short Story Collections of 2021

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December 12, 2021

Favorite Short Story Collections of 2021

Largehearted Boy's Favorite Short Story Collections of 2021

Short fiction continues to fascinate me with its innovation in both form and content. 2021 produced a wealth of talented collections, all six of these are truly special.

These are the short story collections I have most recommended to friends, family, and anyone else who has crossed my path this year (my personal metric for "favorite").

Transmutation by Alex DiFrancesco

The stories in Alex DiFrancesco’s new collection Transmutation will break you apart then put you back together in ways you will be thankful for. A magnificent collection.

Machines of Another Era by Bess Winter

Bess Winter’s collection Machines of Another Era is truly wonderful and awe inspiring. The stories and characters still haunt me months after I finished the book.

A Dream of a Woman by Casey Plett

Casey Plett's A Dream of a Woman is easily one of the strongest short fiction collections of the year, a brilliant book.

Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz

Dantiel W. Moniz's Milk Blood Heat is the most striking debut story collection I have read since Claire Vaye Watkins' Battleborn. Lyrical, profound, and atmospheric, this is one of the year's best books.

Tales the Devil Told Me by Jen Fawkes

Awarded the 2020 Press 53 Award for Short Fiction, Jen Fawkes' story collection Tales the Devil Told Me brilliantly captures the lives of literary and fable villains with clarity and humanity. Another remarkable book from one of our most talented short fiction writers.