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(oddwick/flickr)
A man’s past envelops his present in this eerie tale.
This entire program is given over to the reading of a sensational horror tale by Dan Chaon, “The Bees.” The story comes from the world in between nightmare and reality, and was inspired, Chaon tells SHORTS host Isaiah Sheffer in the accompanying interview, by the idea of exploring secrets in a marriage. Michael Chabon, another SHORTS-featured writer, provided a catalyst when he approached Chaon to contribute to an anthology of horror stories by “literary” writers.
Click here to hear Isaiah Sheffer’s complete interview with Dan Chaon.
Chaon is certainly that—his most recent novel, Await Your Reply has been critically acclaimed, with The New York Times calling it “both a ghost story and a valentine.” His work has appeared in many journals and collections including The Best American Short Stories, The Pushcart Prize, and the O.Henry Prize stories. He is also the author of the novel You Remind Me of Me and the story collection Among the Missing , which was a finalist for the National Book Award. Chaon is a Professor of Creative Writing at Oberlin College.
This compelling and disturbing tale is read by four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines, the most recent of these awards coming for playing opposite Patti Lupone in a Broadway revival of “GYPSY.”
The SELECTED SHORTS theme is Roger Kellaway’s “Come to the Meadow.”
“The Bees,” by Dan Chaon, read by Boyd Gaines
For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space
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About Selected Shorts
Selected Shorts features some of the finest artists of the American theater reading contemporary and classic short fiction-the most distinguished works of the early masters such as Chekhov, Maupassant, Malamud and dozens of others.
To listen to this program, and other recent programs, subscribe to the Selected Shorts podcast
Hosted by Isaiah Sheffer
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Comments [7]
I felt let down by this story. No explanation of what happened to his first son. No explanation for how he's doing things like making a phone call to the house, stripping his father, making the second son scream, lighting the house on fire. It's just a lot of creepy things happening and guilty feelings, and little pay-off at the end. I was disappointed.
I loved this story, and yes, I had trouble going to sleep after hearing it! So creepy. His writing is so tight and direct; he brings the story to its startling conclusion so skillfully, it snuck up on me!
This was an outstanding tale -- I'm urging everyone I know to listen to it -- Can't wait for Dan Chaon's next story collection, "Stay Awake." A master of the short horror form.
A great, dark and chilling story. Just like the main character, I had trouble getting to sleep after listening, but no bees.
Wonderful story--creepy, engaging, a tad frightening, just right!
I loved today's selected short story - it was mesmerizing- and in the end, disturbing, everything you want a story to be. I am not familiar w/Dan Chaon's work, but I am now inspired to read it. I have listened to your show for years, and I am never disappointed. True, some stories are more interesting than others, but they are always terrific. And your readers bring them to life. I now have to read this story for myself, as it is spooky and troublesome. Of course it is tragic too - and that is reality. I look forward to next week. Bravo!
Love the show, but I did not care for today's show with A Tale of Terror. First, the story was too long and convoluted and would have been more effective if it were shorter. But also, I missed having multiple SHORT stories on the show. One LONG story does not work as well in this format.
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