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Short Stories of Jack London: Authorized One-Volume Edition
"He was a pfofessional who admittedly wrote for money"
738 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1990
4 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Jack London
7,735 books7,727 followersJohn Griffith Chaney, better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to become an international celebrity and earn a large fortune from writing. He was also an innovator in the genre that would later become known as science fiction.
London was part of the radical literary group "The Crowd" in San Francisco and a passionate advocate of animal rights, workers’ rights and socialism. London wrote several works dealing with these topics, such as his dystopian novel The Iron Heel, his non-fiction exposé The People of the Abyss, War of the Classes, and Before Adam.
His most famous works include The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in Alaska and the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as the short stories "To Build a Fire", "An Odyssey of the North", and "Love of Life". He also wrote about the South Pacific in stories such as "The Pearls of Parlay" and "The Heathen".
London was part of the radical literary group "The Crowd" in San Francisco and a passionate advocate of animal rights, workers’ rights and socialism. London wrote several works dealing with these topics, such as his dystopian novel The Iron Heel, his non-fiction exposé The People of the Abyss, War of the Classes, and Before Adam.
His most famous works include The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in Alaska and the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as the short stories "To Build a Fire", "An Odyssey of the North", and "Love of Life". He also wrote about the South Pacific in stories such as "The Pearls of Parlay" and "The Heathen".
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 14, 2021
A mix-match of stories, all full of adventure, the slang speak of the time, and the rougher side of things. Grungy tales of "the gold rush," time on the seas, and many other adventures. Once I absorbed the language I found myself there, freezing to death, drowning, and winning... depending on the story.
November 2, 2007
If you're looking for the best of Jack London, skip THE CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG and MARTIN EDEN. Those are all great books, but the cream of the Jack London crop is his short stories.
This book---co-edited by Earle Labor, the #1 Jack London scholar in America---is currently (criminally!) out of print. But you can find a good reading copy on Amazon for as little as $1.99. Believe me, it will be the best $1.99 you ever spent on a book.
London was among the finest of the short story writers of his day---at a time when short fiction was written for mass consumption. This isn't to say that the stories are simplistic; they are anything but. I'm just saying that the guy was writing for a "popular audience," in the best sense of the term.
If all you know about London is THE CALL OF THE WILD and "To Build a Fire" (incidentially, it's in here---in BOTH versions), you're in for a pleasant surprise. As a short story writer, London embraced adventure, science fiction, socio-political allegory ("War") and psychological drama ("The Water Baby"). You'll be surprised at how deep the pool of London's subject matter was, and how sensitively and intelligently he treated those subjects. He also knew how to construct what, in those times, was called a "ripping good yarn", and there are plenty of them in this book, as well.
My favorite? "The Shadow and the Flash". Of course, it doesn't stand up as science fiction today; but London took an interesting idea---two scientists who invent an 'invisibility cloak' using two different methods---and folded it into the timeless romantic triangle. The scientists, you see, also happen to be romantic rivals, competing for the hand of the same woman. It's a unique story which deserves a wider reputation.
This book will give you a lot of fun and food for thought for two bucks. I highly recommend it.
This book---co-edited by Earle Labor, the #1 Jack London scholar in America---is currently (criminally!) out of print. But you can find a good reading copy on Amazon for as little as $1.99. Believe me, it will be the best $1.99 you ever spent on a book.
London was among the finest of the short story writers of his day---at a time when short fiction was written for mass consumption. This isn't to say that the stories are simplistic; they are anything but. I'm just saying that the guy was writing for a "popular audience," in the best sense of the term.
If all you know about London is THE CALL OF THE WILD and "To Build a Fire" (incidentially, it's in here---in BOTH versions), you're in for a pleasant surprise. As a short story writer, London embraced adventure, science fiction, socio-political allegory ("War") and psychological drama ("The Water Baby"). You'll be surprised at how deep the pool of London's subject matter was, and how sensitively and intelligently he treated those subjects. He also knew how to construct what, in those times, was called a "ripping good yarn", and there are plenty of them in this book, as well.
My favorite? "The Shadow and the Flash". Of course, it doesn't stand up as science fiction today; but London took an interesting idea---two scientists who invent an 'invisibility cloak' using two different methods---and folded it into the timeless romantic triangle. The scientists, you see, also happen to be romantic rivals, competing for the hand of the same woman. It's a unique story which deserves a wider reputation.
This book will give you a lot of fun and food for thought for two bucks. I highly recommend it.
March 30, 2022
Mīlestība vai draudzība ir liels spēks. Daudzi stāsti no Londonas slavē savstarpējas palīdzības vērtību, cēlumu un drosmi, gatavību upurēties. Kopumā Džekam Londonam patika aprakstīt cilvēkus sarežģītās situācijās. Pirmkārt, tas ir interesanti, otrkārt, tas ir nepatikšanas, ka vislabākais vai sliktākās īpašības persona...
September 1, 2022
This is a find edition of Jack London's short stories. It is perfect for perusal or for study.
March 1, 2025
Known, of course, for Call of the Wild, Martin Eden, and White Fang, London's short stories were surprisingly entertaining. Yukon stories, but many with a Hawaiian and Polynesian theme.
September 19, 2015
I started reading this book, and it hurt whenever I had to put it down. This is the first time I've read, and I know I'll be buying it from Amazon very soon.
OK, these short stories by Jack London are great! What more can I say with sounding nuts? But really, what makes this book better than just the contents, is the outstanding editing job done here.
The stories are arranged in the order of publication, so you can see London's work from the beginning of his career, to the end. Which adds a great deal to the reading pleasure. And there are the "Notes" at the end of the book. Do not over look them! These are a brief account, one or two paragraphs, about the publishing history of the story. Jack London submitted this story to (HOW MANY?) magazines before it was finally published. And he got paid-- I will admit my jaw did drop a few times as I learned this.
If you are looking for stories by Jack London, other than "White Fang," and "Call of the Wild," this is the edition you want to add to your collection.
OK, these short stories by Jack London are great! What more can I say with sounding nuts? But really, what makes this book better than just the contents, is the outstanding editing job done here.
The stories are arranged in the order of publication, so you can see London's work from the beginning of his career, to the end. Which adds a great deal to the reading pleasure. And there are the "Notes" at the end of the book. Do not over look them! These are a brief account, one or two paragraphs, about the publishing history of the story. Jack London submitted this story to (HOW MANY?) magazines before it was finally published. And he got paid-- I will admit my jaw did drop a few times as I learned this.
If you are looking for stories by Jack London, other than "White Fang," and "Call of the Wild," this is the edition you want to add to your collection.
April 23, 2011
Sorry no cover is available for this massive volume, for it is a wonderful comprehensive collection of stories by a great writer. I highly recommend it, especially for a young person (or young at heart) who loves a good adventure and colorful, bawdy, worldly characters. There are some stories that depict typhoons and hurricanes that are as riveting and awe-inspiring as anything I've read. The stories are arranged chronologically, and the quality thereof does tail off a bit toward the end (after "On The Makaloa Mat" was when I really noticed it), but that's after over 600 pages of wonderful prose.
February 21, 2013
So good they're ridiculous! Not a bad one in the 700+ page bunch. The stories are presented chronologically and jibe with the periodization of London's life: the Yukon/Arctic stories about dogs and natives; the South Seas/Hawaii tales; and the latter, less exotic as regards locale, but really outstanding. There's even a sci-fi story through into the mix. Collections like this for authors are renowned as London are a healthy corrective to the monolithic states one assumes the author to be moving within. His shorter works far surpass the "dog" books.
Want to read
March 27, 2014I long ago lost count of how many times I've read White Fang. Loved it. So, since I'm a huge fan of short stories, I figured this would be worth a try, and it was a Goodwill bargain, so what's there to lose?
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews