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Book Review: "My Oedipus Complex and Other Stories" by Frank O'Connor
I'm going to admit it: I've never read any Frank O'Connor before and I'm not really sure what to think of him. I was kind of avoiding it because of the title - not sure I wanted to read more of this stuff after having recently encountered The Holy Sinner by Thomas Mann. Anyways, at least this book was remotely funny which is more than could be said for the Thomas Mann text I read. I wasn't really looking for a short story anthology and to be honest, I'm biding my time until Tim Curry's autobiography comes out. I'm writing this on the 9th of October 2025 and so, there's not long to wait now. Oh fine, back to Frank O'Connor.
By Annie Kapur3 months ago in Geeks
Black Scales
Every evening, the small children were sent to the shore to collect the dragon scales. When the pink warmth and light of the evening had finally faded, mothers kissed chubby cheeks and held back tears. Some shot fearful glances towards the lake, and others were steadfast in avoiding looking in that direction.
By L.C. Schäfer3 months ago in Fiction
Contemporaneous Cognates
In the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, the United States………in the first dimension Sarah looked in the mirror, leaned closer and with a smooth, clean handkerchief carefully smudged the immaculately applied red lipstick staining her lips. She took a moment to appreciate their glorious perfection, all too recently plumped by the top local plastic surgeon. This, along with all the other means the surgeon had employed to guarantee facial perfection, had cost a handsome penny, but it had been well worth the expense. What was this life worth if you couldn’t attain perfection and enjoy such things at thirty-two? After all, it wouldn’t be long before she had to face the dreaded middle age years, so she needed to be sure she approached them in excellent condition.
By Cindy Calder3 months ago in Fiction
He Thought He Knew All There Was To Know About His Long Time Friend
We were friends in high school living parellel lives. And we got married, had children, and went to college. It was a struggle at times, but we did a lot of partying on weekends and that was our time for just us, until he stopped the partying.
By Denise E Lindquist3 months ago in Fiction
The Keyhole Marriage
I was that kid who used to sneak glimpses of her friends and family through the keyhole, to see what they were up to. I would put my eye against the hole and catch a glimpse of their world, like a tiny television that never revealed the complete story.
By Sam H Arnold3 months ago in Fiction
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 10/23/2025
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
By Raise Your Voice by Vocal3 months ago in Resources
Tales From Beyond: The Haunted Letter Challenge: The Entries
Greetings to the demented, the disturbed, the deranged. The entries for the “Tales from Beyond: The Haunted Letter Challenge” have been received and are festering in the dark deluded dungeons of the supernatural judges who are currently being haunted and disillusioned as we read each and every entry. There are 34 spooktastic letters in total.
By Rick Henry Christopher 3 months ago in Writers
200 Stories on Vocal.Media
Once again I struggle to find the words to describe what this accomplishment means to me. Even now I flounder in the deep end of my doubts, wondering if I can support myself in the future with my writing, and yet I still haven't given up on the dream.
By Amanda Starks3 months ago in Writers
Capitalism Ate the Internet (and I'm Still Hungry)
The internet used to be stupid in the best way. We spent hours playing free minigames on sites that would give modern cybersecurity experts night terrors, their sleep paralysis demon in the corner asking, “What’s ‘Taters’, eh?”. (Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew!) We watched pure stupidity to the tune of Charlie the Unicorn and Salad Fingers and Old Gregg. We thought we’d achieved the heights of comedy. And in some ways, we had.
By Autumn Stew3 months ago in The Swamp
The Smoke of Their Torment . Content Warning.
Mama, I’m so sorry. I’m so damned sorry. I tried to wash up but in this poor lamplight I can hardly tell whats ink and whats his blood. I ain’t bad, mama. I swear I aint. And I’ll always be your boy. Remember that time I caught us that whopper of a catfish. You and daddy was so proud, we was all so hungry.
By Sandor Szabo3 months ago in Fiction
A Knock at the Door Challenge Winners
Sometimes a story begins with a sound. A quiet knock, a pause, that single moment when everything shifts. For the A Knock at the Door Challenge, we asked writers to start there and follow the mystery wherever it led. The result was a collection of stories that pulled us into the unknown and kept us there until the very last word.
By Vocal Curation Team3 months ago in Resources
The Painting. Runner-Up in Parallel Lives Challenge.
I used to paint. I used to have hobbies, friends. A life. But I knew he wouldn’t stop hitting me, so I left. I could put up with the rages. It was kinda comforting, in a way. Just like my dad all over again, so I mostly ignored it. But I told him after the first hit that it was his once. He’ll never get another. Well, that promise lasted exactly till the next paycheck, and the bender that came with it.
By Meredith Harmon3 months ago in Fiction
