“The Dead,” Part 2 by James Joyce is performed by Rene Auberjonois, Fionnula Flanagan and Isaiah Sheffer.

From James Thurber’s classic story of misunderstanding, “The Night the Ghost Got In,” to Alice Hoffman’s whimsical tale of bad karma turned good, “Examining the Evidence,” to Alan Gurganus's reverse Annunciation tale, “It Had Wings,” the line between the real and the numinous is both funny and fine.

This special program recognizes the 10th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the character of New York City. "UFO in Kushiro" by Haruki Murakami will be read by Ken Leung and "Lost and Found" by Colson Whitehead will be read by Alec Baldwin.

Look out! Mayhem! Cops and robbers in a hard-boiled classic, and a comic take on burglary make zesty listening. That's for this week's episode of SELECTED SHORTS, featuring "Double Check" by Thomas Walsh, read by James Naughton and "False Alarm" by Dave Barry, read by Larry Keith.

A restless schoolteacher flirts with scandal, and a young girl craves freedom, in two tales about wanting what you can’t have. This week's episode will feature "Yurt" by Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, read by Joanna Gleason, and "Wild Plums" by Grace Stone Coates, read by Mia Dillon.

This program is devoted to two classic tales of terror by two masters of the genre. "Dracula’s Guest" by Bram Stoker is read by Aasif Mandvi and "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe is read by Fionnula Flanagan.

This special edition of SELECTED SHORTS was inspired by a remarkable exhibition of photography at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. “Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans,” which was on display at the museum between September 22, 2009 and January 3, 2010, recreated Frank’s legendary book The Americans.

Unique points of view in an award-winning novel and a serio-comic short story prompted us to call this program VANTAGE POINTS.    

Four tales with a hint of fantasy -- from a fateful encounter on a bus, to a lovesick monster.

Contemporary and classic American authors jingle their bells in this summertime look back at Christmas.

In two stories from contemporary American writers, people seek direction in their lives.

Listen closely and you’ll hear heartbeats throughout this program of SELECTED SHORTS, in tales ranging from a horror classic to a contemporary miniature.

An émigré wanders through London, looking for home, and Cary Grant’s suit travels America, pursued by villains in “North by Northwest.”

Unusual stories from Yiddish writers, and a contemporary take on Job make up this program.

This program features four contemporary tales with unexpected plot twists and emotional surprises.

Holiday cheer from three American masters--Ron Carlson, John Cheever and James Thurber--about good families, good cheer, and a visit from St. Nick.