Showing results for "A Birthday" in Anthologies & Short Stories

Ursula K. Le Guin has enthralled fans with her imagination, clarity, and moral vision. The recipient of numerous literary prizes, including the National Book Award, the Kafka Award, and five Hugo and five Nebula Awards, this renowned writer has created a provocative, ever-evolving universe filled with diverse worlds and rich characters reminiscent of our earthly selves. Now, in The Birthday of the World, this gifted artist returns to these worlds in eight brilliant short works, including a never-before-published novella, each of which probes the essence of humanity.

It’s Shanaya’s birthday, and there has been a gala party in the office - good food, some drinks and a whole lot of fun. Slightly tipsy and looking forward to a nice evening with her friends, she finds a surprise gift on her desk. It’s beautiful and quite mysterious. No names, no wishes...just a small, seductive note with a couple of unusually sensuous gifts. Who could it be from? A secret admirer who promises a great time, or a prank by her colleagues? She is soon to find out the delicious truth behind The Surprise Birthday Gift.

It's the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but it's also a special year for Katherine Roberts and Warwick Lawton because they're getting married. But can Katherine put aside her fear about the future and can Warwick put his pen down long enough to actually make it up the aisle?

An everyday tragedy brought into stark relief and elevated to high drama by the skilled pen of Maria Krestovskaya, as she focuses her listeners' attention on someone whose life would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

It's Suzanne's 13th birthday, and Daisy is shocked and saddened to learn that she's never had a birthday party. So she sets out to give her one, complete with a cake, ice cream, soda, and balloons. But when Suzanne's mother shows up, the party's over. A poignant coming of age story where good will and alcoholism collide.

When his brother bumbles a burglary, Finn Bates blasts into space with the cops hot on his heels and his brother's DNA broadcast to every spaceport around. With the number of places he can land approaching zero, Finn must plan one final score that his brother can't possibly screw up, or risk getting kicked off every decent planet in the universe.

This is a story from the Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories collection.

Forget the French perfume and the boxes of candy, the Hallmark cards and the gift certificates. The birthdays in this collection are observed in more carnal ways, with suitably sexy presents for all. In Simone Harlow's "Happy Birthday", a tough policewoman gets the tables turned when naked Nick arrives to tame her. In Marilyn Jaye Lewis's "The Birthday Party", an unexpected menage a trois in the dark proves the perfect gift.