World-renowned Short Story Anthology · Thriller

Author: Gao Xing, Jiao Zhongyuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: July 1, 2002
Features: To comprehensively reflect the panorama of world short stories and provide a rich and exquisite feast for readers engaged in the commercial tide in China, we have compiled this "World Famous Short Story Collection." Adhering to the principles of global perspective, renowned authors, famous works, and famous translations, we have selected 283 works from 41 countries worldwide. These are organized into 10 volumes titled "Social Realism," "Humor," "Love," "Philosophy," "Science Fiction," "Adventure," "Detective," "Tramp," "Absurd," and "War," totaling over 3.5 million words. These works include both classic masterpieces and innovative modern gems, covering a broad spectrum and rich in content, craftsmanship, and skill. They are like sparkling droplets of water, collectively reflecting a colorful world.
It is difficult to define adventure stories precisely. Generally, they are considered detective novels, spy novels, or political intrigue novels. The origins of such adventure stories inevitably bring to mind Edgar Allan Poe, an American poet, novelist, and critic. In 1841, Poe published the short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." The story tells a horrifying tale: one early morning, residents of the Saint-Roch district of Paris were suddenly woken by a series of chilling screams coming from the fourth floor of a house on Rue Morgue, where Madame Léonarde and her daughter, Camille, lived. Upon receiving the report, the police arrived at the building, broke down the door with an iron rod, and entered. They searched the only staircase, but the screams abruptly stopped. The police found a large back room on the fourth floor, where the door was locked from the inside. Breaking it open, they were met with a gruesome scene: the room was in disarray, furniture overturned, and scattered about. A bloody razor lay on a chair. On the fireplace were several locks of white hair, stained with blood, as if pulled out by the roots. From the chimney, the police retrieved Camille’s body, and in the small courtyard behind the house, they discovered Madame Léonarde’s corpse. Strangely, the room was locked from the inside, yet the killer had vanished without a trace. The police were baffled.
A young amateur detective named Dupin, who was an avid reader, became deeply interested in the case. He carefully reviewed the testimonies of all witnesses and conducted a thorough investigation at the scene, ultimately solving the mystery through logical reasoning. The murderer was, in fact, a gorilla. After escaping from its owner, it had come to Rue Morgue and broke into the mother and daughter’s room. After killing them, it leaped out the window but accidentally knocked against the blinds, causing the window to slam shut and creating a mystery.
In addition to this story, Poe wrote four other detective novels, including "The Gold Bug" and "The Purloined Letter." Though his output was limited, his influence was profound and far-reaching, earning him the title of the "father of detective fiction." Poe’s detective novels, as well as his horror and adventure stories like "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Masque of the Red Death," and "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym," are known for their unique plots, rigorous logic, and occasional poetic beauty and mysterious atmosphere, possessing high aesthetic value.
After Poe, detective novels rapidly flourished in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. Collins became a pioneer of British detective fiction with famous works like "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone." Conan Doyle, with his Sherlock Holmes series, swept the world with a series of waves.