Save the Short Story

When I was growing up, I actually thought that Superman existed because I watched a show about Superman that was set up like a fake news report and the anchorwoman looked right at the camera and said, “So, if you happen to be on this street corner, look up, because you just might see Superman.”

I also believed in The Incredible Hulk because my parents took me to Hollywood and I actually met him. He was green, with what appeared to be very real greenish hair, large muscles, and I saw him lift a car up with one arm. I saw this with my own eyes. My parents got me an Incredible Hulk mug, cereal bowl, and dinner plate and I ate almost every childhood meal out of dishware emblazoned with The Hulk. The school week was bookended by Little House on the Prairie on Mondays and The Incredible Hulk on Fridays. The only two hours of television I was allowed to watch. Why can’t they make a decent movie about my favorite green superhero?
I believe in the power of superheroes. And now superheroes are in short stories.

Owen King, the author of One Story Issue 85, “The Cure,” is the editor of a new book of short stories about superheroes. It’s called (very appropriately) Who Can Save Us Now?  One of my favorite One Story stories, “Girl Reporter” by Stephanie Harrell, is also included in the anthology.

If you’re in NYC, stop by Piano’s on September 5th . Owen King, Kelly Braffet and Stephanie Harrell will be reading at around 7pm. Afterwards, we are also holding a Superhero costume contest, so bring your capes!

Read up on what the press is saying about this book in the NY Post, Paste Magazine, bookgasm, & The New Yorker.

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