The Most Dangerous Game - (Possible Spoilers)

[Adelaide]

Since this is so short, I'm just going to open one topic for in progress and finished discussions. If you are going to massively spoil something, please use the spoiler tags. (click the "some html is ok" link and it will show you how.)

[Adelaide]

I am not a huge fan of short stories because they're over just as soon as things get going for me. But this is a great example of the form; everything is pared down to its essentials, but all the right information is there.

What is the most dangerous game? (view spoiler)[ Why it is man of course. (hide spoiler)] I have been fascinated by this subject since I ran across a similar story in an old Hitchcock compilation book when I was a kid. (view spoiler)[ And most serial killer books are just a variation on this theme. I have a love/hate relationship with those kinds of books. They scare the crap out of me. (hide spoiler)] But this is perhaps the best of all these types of stories because it perfectly captures the arrogance of the big game hunter. (view spoiler)[ Which leads to the quest for needing an even greater challenge. Not to mention the disdain the General has for "lesser" men. They are just brutish animals - not much of a challenge, but better than a dumb beast. (hide spoiler)]

It's a quick read, but I understand why a lot of high-schools have it as required reading.

[Cheryl]

I just downloaded the free ebook right here on Goodreads. I have read the story years ago and thought it was good. I'll be reading it again as a refresher.

[Cheryl]

I just re-read it, and it's as good as I remembered it. The General was more calculating than I remembered him, especially in how he procured his prey. The ending was good but brief, however not going into details left things up to the reader's imagination. Worth reading!

[Gregory]

(view spoiler)[Wow, not a lot of effort put into the ending, I liked it though, basically one sentence. :-)

Now, how does he get away from the dogs in the morning?

More importantly, I am sure he decides to stay on the island and assumes the role of the hunter. He seems that type. Would make for a good follow up perhaps.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

This story was required reading when I was in middle school and I still remember it. (I think it's the only story I remember from middle school apart the one - I think by Bradbury - about the girl on Venus who misses seeing the sun).