Horror Story Review: "Short and Nasty" by Darrell Schweitzer

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This story is a letter to the narrator’s friend Henry, who will never see it. Paul talks about the sound of rats (scrape-scrape thunk) following him as he descends the steps to the El. Henry would have liked the idea of the rats back in the days when they were in college. Paul goes on to talk about how they read Monk Lewis, Byron, Keats, and Mary Shelley while everyone else seemed to be reading Hermann Hesse. Things are different now, though. Paul has dreamed of Henry’s wife Gretta making this call. He goes to see Paul, who pulls him close to tell him something. But his voice is a ringing phone. Paul wakes up. When he answers the phone, Gretta tells him the news about Henry. He goes to see Henry again, who looks smaller this time. Henry grabs his shoulder… This dream repeats several times until Paul does indeed wake up and Gretta does indeed call. After all these year, Paul wants to see him now that he’s dying. Henry’s letter looks back on their days when they were friends. Paul blames Henry, Henry blames Paul for all the trouble that’s since come between them. There is a sadness in this little story that seems almost out of place but is at the same time integral to the work. The two men haven’t spoken in years, but they were once friends. Paul misses to friendship, even if he hates Henry, even if he’s done the unforgiveable. The short work is complex and speaks to human nature, without gore. Nicely done tale, if unpleasant. According to Wikipedia, author Darrell Schweitzer has edited, in turn, Isaac Asimov's SF Magazine, Amazing Stories, and Weird Tales. He’s written several short story collection, including Sir Julian and Tom O’Bedlam. His best known novel is The Shattered Goddess. To my regret, II could not find an online version of this story. However, there is an audio file imbedded in the page below. It takes about half an hour to play. ____ Title: “Short and Nasty” Author: Darrell Schweitzer (b. 1952) First published: Obsessions May 1991 Source: ISFDB