Why? or Why not?

[Op_Cit]

OK, I got bored and looked at a thread longer than six pages....

Anyway, I noted that Raphy posed an interesting question, but it didn't get picked up and discussed much. Is it too easy to just be emotional?

Anyway, his question leads to a personal favorite philosophical consideration. Which in turn brought to mind some short stories, and this made me wonder:

How many here are familiar with UK LeGuin's story about Omelas? Or Shirley Jackson's story about a lottery (now, what was the name of that one...?). (I'll admit that as a sixth grader reading Jackson's tale the first time, I thought it was a simple horror story, probably because of all the Poe we'd been getting. Did anyone get Omelas assigned in shool? I had to find out about that one on my own.)

Similar themes... Who's read 'em? Got any others on the same topic that I'm forgetting to mention or (best yet) I haven't read yet? (I've already started a list of the ones I haven't written yet.)

 

[Stella_Omega]

The Shirley Jackson story is called "The Lottery" and I hope it's still famous. If you have ever read any of her other works, they are always about horror hiding in the mundane- she was a far better writer that Steven King, in my personal opinion. Even her two humorous books about her family- give me a chill once in a while.
But what's the LeGuin book about? I've read many of her books, but I know- not all.

 

[Op_Cit]

It's a classic short story (really short). And you can find it posted many places on the internet.

 

[cantdog]

What is this about?

Anyway, I noted that Raphy posed an interesting question, but it didn't get picked up and discussed much. Is it too easy to just be emotional?

 

[glynndah]

Shirley Jackson does have a quasiautobiographical novel called Life Among the Savages. It is a very funny book and I would highly recommend it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Shirley Jackson does have a quasiautobiographical novel called Life Among the Savages. It is a very funny book and I would highly recommend it.

Yep, that's the one- and another called "Raising Demons"
She makes her children seem mighty spooky....