20 Best Short Story Audiobooks

Although brief in length, short stories have had a huge impact on the canon of great literature. In fact, some of the most historically revered novelists wrote short stories, which make excellent introductions to their work. Plus, these bite-size listens are the perfect way to get a big dose of literary inspiration even when you’re short on time. Here, we’ve compiled the greatest small-but-mighty short stories to get you started. From a wide variety of genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, romance, and more, here are the 20 best short story audiobooks available.

Fragile Things

De: Neil Gaiman

Narrado por: Neil Gaiman

Duración: 10 h y 47 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-26-06

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 3,505 calificaciones

Fragile Things is a New York Times best selling compilation of 32 short stories by Carnegie Medal-winning author Neil Gaiman. While selections range from ghost stories to love stories and from drama to comedy, Gaiman’s witty storytelling style remains constant throughout the collection. These short stories vary in length, but they’re all sure to have you utterly enraptured, due in large part to Gaiman’s effortless narration of his own stellar stories. He adds the perfect amount of mysticism into his voice, highlighting the fantastical nature of each story in a way that makes for an excellent listen on misty-morning drives and late-night walks.
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

Stories

De: Stephen King

Narrado por: Stephen King, Dylan Baker, Brooke Bloom, Hope Davis, Kathleen Chalfant, Santino Fontana, Peter Friedman

Duración: 20 h y 11 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 11-03-15

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 11,091 calificaciones

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, published in 2015, is Stephen King’s first collection of short stories since Night Shift in 1978. King weaves a common thread of themes and symbols through the 20 stories within, making The Bazaar of Bad Dreams feel like a finely curated exposition. The alluring stories are enhanced by a star-studded cast that includes Dylan Baker, Brooke Bloom, Hope Davis, Kathleen Chalfant, Santino Fontana, and Peter Friedman. As an extra bonus, King narrates the introduction to each story, adding an element of authority and intent to every chilling tale.
The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes

De: Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrado por: Charlton Griffin

Serie: Sherlock Holmes, Libro 1-6

Duración: 70 h y 48 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 12-12-13

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 2,996 calificaciones

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle was the 2014 Audie Award Winner for Classics. In addition to more than 40 short stories, this collection includes the five full-length novels that center around Doyle’s iconic master of deduction, Sherlock Holmes. The audiobook is neatly organized into four digestible volumes, each of which commences with a full-length story followed by a collection of short works. The listening experience is only further enhanced by the performance of Hall of Fame Narrator Simon Vance, a master of audiobook narration who has won 10 Audie Awards, and counting.
Tenth of December

Stories

De: George Saunders

Narrado por: George Saunders

Duración: 5 h y 40 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 01-08-13

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 1,718 calificaciones

Tenth of December is made up of 10 short stories in all, and each one is a delight that you’ll want to listen to again and again. Some of these tales use suspense to hook you, like in Escape from the Spiderhead, in which the protagonist finds himself in a prison that forces inmates to take experimental drugs. Others are more slow-paced, like Al Roosten, which revolves around the owner of an antique store. What each has in common is a wildly creative storyline and quirky characters. Saunders writes in a style conducive to spoken word, making his stories perfect for listening. And these best selling stories are narrated by the author himself, ensuring that the words are read with their intended tone and rhythm.
Interpreter of Maladies

De: Jhumpa Lahiri

Narrado por: Matilda Novak

Duración: 6 h y 15 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 01-29-07

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 1,747 calificaciones

The stories in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri are instantly relatable to anyone who has ever felt like a foreigner in their environment. The nine stories revolve around Indian immigrants in America and Americans of Indian descent. Lahiri, author of the acclaimed novel The Namesake, follows the emotional journeys of characters seeking love, belonging, and a sense of identity in a strange land. The result is a passionate, gorgeous collection of stories that, when coupled with the gentle narration by Matilda Novak, offer a melodic and emotional tribute to the process of finding familiarity.
A Rare Book of Cunning Device

De: Ben Aaronovitch

Narrado por: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Serie: Rivers of London Series, Libro 6.5

Duración: 29 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 04-27-17

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 3,471 calificaciones

Although this is Aaronovitch’s first audio short story, his background in television screenplay writing might explain why his first try was such a success. Aaronovitch also happens to be the author of the graphic novel series Rivers of London, centered on police officer (and apprentice wizard!) Peter Grant. A Rare Book of Cunning Device is an extension of this universe, and a great way to introduce yourself to the series if you’re not already a fan. Voice artist Kobna Holdbrook-Smith narrates the story with ease in a performance that listeners have called vocal genius, first rate, and a joy to listen to.
The Things They Carried

De: Tim O'Brien

Narrado por: Bryan Cranston

Duración: 7 h y 47 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-15-13

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 13,258 calificaciones

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien is a literary classic and has been a best seller since its publication in 1990. The collection of stories, which follows the on-the-ground experiences of Vietnam War soldiers, is made more credible and emotive by O’Brien’s personal experiences fighting in the Vietnam War. Brought to painful, vivid life by Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston (best known for his starring role in the television series Breaking Bad), this listen is marked by an indisputably captivating performance. This edition also includes an exclusive recording of The Vietnam in Me, O’Brien’s account of his visit back to Vietnam in 1994, read by the author himself.
Murder Under the Sun

13 Summer Mysteries by The Queen of Crime

De: Agatha Christie

Narrado por: Hugh Fraser

Duración: 7 h y 15 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 09-24-19

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 267 calificaciones

Murder Under the Sun: 13 Summer Mysteries by the Queen of Crime is a collection by mystery icon Agatha Christie, the best selling fiction author of all time. The stories are grouped together based on their summertime settings, so they’re great for vacation or when winter’s bite has been getting the best of you. Throughout the collection, you’ll encounter some of Christie’s most famous characters, such as Harley Quin, Christopher Parker Pyne, and Hercule Poirot. Narrator Hugh Fraser is a Christie-alum, having played Captain Arthur Hastings on the television show Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Fraser knows the ins and outs of Christie crime stories, making his narration spot-on. It’s a listen full of stories each as crisp and exciting as the next.
Randomize

Forward collection

De: Andy Weir

Narrado por: Janina Gavankar

Serie: Forward Collection

Duración: 50 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 09-17-19

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 3,832 calificaciones

Andy Weir, best selling author of The Martian, started out as a computer programmer after studying computer science in college, a professional background he utilizes in Randomize. The story revolves around a hacker who plans to steal from a Las Vegas casino using quantum physics. Computer jargon is pivotal in this story, so it’s helpful that narrator Janina Gavankar understands the topic’s intricacies. Gavankar, who played Luna Garza on HBO’s True Blood, is a self-proclaimed gamer, who co-hosted G4’s Attack of the Show!
Stories of Your Life and Others

De: Ted Chiang

Narrado por: Abby Craden, Todd McLaren

Duración: 10 h y 23 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 02-10-14

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 3,991 calificaciones

Stories of Your Life and Others is a collection of Ted Chiang’s first eight published stories. Chiang won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1992, since then, his works have continued to be lauded—in fact, the title story for this collection won the Nebula Award for Best Novella in 2000. Though each story is very different in terms of plot and characters, they all share a common thread, as each follows a character who is forced to deal with a sudden change. The two narrators, Abby Craden and Todd McLaren, offer precise and authentic performances of each story. Their vocal variations throughout the collection link the tales together while giving each an individual feel and personality.
The Largesse of the Sea Maiden

Stories

De: Denis Johnson

Narrado por: Nick Offerman, Michael Shannon, Dermot Mulroney, Will Patton

Duración: 5 h y 17 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 01-16-18

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 402 calificaciones

The Largesse of the Sea Maiden was the very last collection of short stories written by the prolific American author and National Book Award winner, Denis Johnson. The Largesse of the Sea Maiden combines five short stories that are not connected in plot but linked together by themes concerning misconceptions and identity. Each short story is read by a different actor, including Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman, Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon, My Best Friend’s Wedding’s Dermot Mulroney, Obie Award winner Will Patton, and Drama Desk winner Liev Shreiber. Though well-known for their on-screen presence, their readings of Johnson’s work prove they also have a knack for the spoken word, as each actor highlights his narration with a vastly different (though universally excellent) performance.
Necronomicon

De: H. P. Lovecraft

Narrado por: Richard Powers, Bronson Pinchot, Stephen R. Thorne, Keith Szarabajka, Adam Verner, Tom Weiner, Patrick Cullen

Duración: 21 h y 1 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 08-14-14

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 7,053 calificaciones

Necronomicon is the definitive collection of the legendary work of H. P. Lovecraft. Though Lovecraft first gained popularity in the 1920s when he published his stories in pulp magazines, he has endured as the master of mixing science fiction, horror, and the bizarre to create thrilling, captivating tales—in fact, many consider H. P. Lovecraft’s work as a genre of its own. The robustly talented full cast of performers makes the listening experience enjoyable for connoisseurs and newcomers alike, bringing to life the author’s macabre world. Also commendable? The narrators’ ability to speak fictional languages, their genuine recitation of every Lovecraftian phrase and sentiment, adding a layer of believability to the far-fetched stories.
Edgar Allan Poe - The Complete Short Stories

De: Edgar Allan Poe

Narrado por: Bob Thomley

Duración: 16 h y 34 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 05-13-11

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 1,311 calificaciones

This 16-hour, Audible exclusive collection offers 29 short stories, including all of Poe’s most well-loved works—The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, The Raven, and The House of Usher—as well as lesser-known gems like the satirical The Angel of the Odd and the terrifying The Murders in the Rue Morgue. The narrator, Bob Thomley, is a veteran voice actor, whose training and extensive experience allow him to understand and showcase the rhythm, tone, and illusion that are so important in Poe’s writing.
The Lottery, and Other Stories

De: Shirley Jackson

Narrado por: Cassandra Campbell, Gabrielle de Cuir, Kathe Mazur, Stefan Rudnicki

Duración: 9 h y 34 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-28-14

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 1,220 calificaciones

Author Shirley Jackson is renowned for her strange, horrific, and bewitching storytelling. The title story, The Lottery, is a thriller about a typical American small town that draws from a lottery every year to pick a sacrificial victim. The other 24 stories in the collection are built upon equally bizarre and terrifying premises, and some are speckled with delightfully dark humor. Because Jackson wrote her characters as a proxy for the reader, the narrators—including Hall of Fame Narrator Cassandra Campbell—perform each tale in a way that allows the listener to step into their shoes, making the audiobook experience even more chilling. Don’t listen to this audiobook if you’re prone to nightmares—but definitely take this listen on if you love to be scared!
Everything That Rises Must Converge

De: Flannery O’Connor

Narrado por: Bronson Pinchot, Karen White, Mark Bramhall, Lorna Raver

Duración: 9 h y 6 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 09-24-10

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,307 calificaciones

While Jackson was known for her horror, O’Connor is famed for her social commentaries surrounding American morals and ethics. Her characters can be described as grotesque and intrinsically flawed. (For instance, the main character in one of the stories, The Comforts of Home, has an Oedipus complex—which leads to a tragic accidental murder.) The audiobook highlights the levity and satirical moments of each searing tragicomedy. Each skillful narrative performance brings O’Connor’s intricate language to life, leaving listeners raving that the well chosen cast managed to capture the biting tone of some and the simpering of others, underscoring both the range of stories in this collection and the talent of the narrators who perform it.
Men Without Women

Stories

De: Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel - translator, Ted Goossen - translator

Narrado por: Kirby Heyborne

Duración: 7 h y 18 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 05-09-17

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,118 calificaciones

Men Without Women is a collection of seven short stories written by Japanese author Haruki Murakami, translated into English by Philip Gabriel and Ted Goossen. The stories in the collection are true to Murakami’s dreamlike tone while staying grounded and relatable to the listener. Kirby Heyborne narrates Murakami’s work with authenticity and warmth. His congenial voice allows the listener to enter the wonderful, meditative world of Murakami, crafting what one listener called poetic recital, almost effortless to absorb.
The Short Stories, Volume I

De: Ernest Hemingway

Narrado por: Stacy Keach

Serie: The Short Stories, Libro 1

Duración: 5 h y 5 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 11-15-02

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 630 calificaciones

Ernest Hemingway is best known for his classic novels like The Sun Also Rises, The Old Man and the Sea, and A Moveable Feast. But before he was a novelist, he was a short story writer, and The Short Stories, Volume I, includes 18 of his early works. As fans of Hemingway know, his terse language is not bare, but rather uses each word in the most economical, thoughtful way possible. One brilliant aspect of Hemingway’s writing is his ability to give personality to his characters without using long, inflated character descriptions. Luckily, voice actor Stacy Keach does an impeccable job of adding life to the characters in the way Hemingway surely intended.
The Refugees

De: Viet Thanh Nguyen

Narrado por: Viet Thanh Nguyen

Duración: 5 h y 5 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 02-07-17

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 900 calificaciones

The Refugees is the second published work of fiction by author Viet Thanh Nguyen, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his debut novel, The Sympathizer, in 2016. It is an assembly of stories about immigration that confronts questions of identity, diaspora, and nostalgia. Each story follows the life of a different character, usually a Vietnamese immigrant in America, through their struggles and successes. Nguyen writes in beautiful, staggering prose, and hearing his voice narrate the stories is truly exquisite. He captures the emotion ingrained in his words in a way no one else could accomplish, while his gentle tone makes the stories approachable to those who may not understand the complexities of being an immigrant.
The Yellow Wallpaper (AmazonClassics Edition)

De: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Narrado por: Amanda Leigh Cobb

Duración: 47 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 01-02-20

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 76 calificaciones

Now a classic work of literature, The Yellow Wallpaper is formed through journal entries of a woman suffering from postpartum depression who is instructed to abandon her intellectual life and focus on her mental health. Her stifled mind, however, only drives her to deeper depression and to develop a nervous disorder that gives way to startling delusions. For one of the foremost works of feminist literature, Jo Myddleton is an excellent choice for a narrator. Her strong and assertive, yet sympathetic voice is a great match for Gilman’s writing. She expertly mirrors the protagonist’s gradual plummet into a nervous breakdown by adding intensity incrementally throughout the story.