Short Stories vs Novels

[Stillreading]

When I was 16 I was walking through a book store, just ambling, really, like an old John Wayne, when I came upon Nightmares and Dreamscapes. i took that collection home and to both my horror and surprise I found myself ploughing through the stories therein with a voracity I'd never had before. Shortly thereafter, and admittedly, several pairs of underwear later, I found myself enduring the harrowing/exhilarating joy of Night Shift. Although I have been steadily making progress on Sk's full body of work for the last 14 years or so, off and on, I must admit that for me, his short stories collections are what I enjoy most.

Therefore, I am interested in hearing opinions on the following: SK--Short Stories vs. Novels, which do you prefer? And why?

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Depends on my mood really, but you don't half get the maximum bang for buck out of the short story collections IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

[aptpupil]

For me, SK is primarily a novelist, with short story writing as a sideline.

It's a different skill-set. A great marathon runner would not make a world-class middle-distance athlete, even although all he's being asked to do is run.

So, for me, I much prefer his novels.

[rok]

i like both actually steve's latest just after sunset was really really good but i must say that one of my favroite short stories had to do with the idea that hell is repetition and that one was in everythings eventual there was a short one by steve in another one that was similar and has blanked my mind wich book if anyone can help me go for it

[Jojo87]

I like both. Short storie books are great in that way, because there is different stories in the book, and I always waiting for the next storie. But novel is also good if the storie is interesting and funny.

[JayneH]

I quite often have more than one book on the go... I prefer a good novel for when I have some quiet time and the short stories for when I am on the go and cant put my full mind into it. Those times when I know I only have 5 or 10 minutes....

(Of course sometimes that bites me on the you know what - like when one of his short stories really grabs me and then I cant put it down until I am done !!!)

[Mr Nobody]

Well, shorts are more like snapshots, aren't they? A novel is richer, somehow. More can be explored, details and multiple sub-plots brought out. (Hang on...'brought' = to bring; 'bought' = to buy...OK, just checking. )
Like aptpupil said, it's a different skill...but some ideas won't run to novel length, while others won't stay short (I've got one now that I thought was a short, and has run to 15,000 words without sign of let-up). You can't really say one is better than the other, IMO. Might as well ask 'which is better, chicken or cheese?'
Folks will have a preference, but there's no true comparison to be made.

Personally, I like a good short story - say like The Jaunt or The Raft - but I also like a good novel, like Duma Key, and I can't wait for the doorstop that will be Under the Dome.

[michal]

Love both. There's a certain charm to a well told short story - like a campfire tale you're taken by the story and a minute later - it's over, living you alone with your thoughts.

But my level of attachment to the characters... Well, no need saying, my level of intimacy with the folks from The Stand or the DT series, runs much dipper than my acquaintance with the sort story heroes. As lovable, or as disturbing, as they may be.