#prebrackets

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Edgar Allen Poe Brackets

METZENGERSTEIN (1850) (link) - tw: death

The origin of this enmity seems to be found in the words of an ancient prophecy- "A lofty name shall have a fearful fall when, as the rider over his horse, the mortality of Metzengerstein shall triumph over the immortality of Berlifitzing."

THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO (1846) (link) - tw: death

“I drink,” he said, “to the buried that repose around us.”

[jokersexymancompetition]

Another Prebracket

Jeremiah (Left) Or Jerome (Right)

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-tournament: Edgar Allen Poe Brackets

HOP FROG (1849) (link) - tw: ableism, death

I never knew anyone so keenly alive to a joke as the king was. He seemed to live only for joking. To tell a good story of the joke kind, and to tell it well, was the surest road to his favor.

THE RAVEN (1845) (link)

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Arthur Conan Doyle Brackets

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MUSGRAVE RITUAL (1894) (link) - tw: death

“Whose was it?” “His who is gone.” “Who shall have it?” “He who will come.” “Where was the sun?” “Over the oak.”

THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES (1892) (link) - tw: death

“I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of sacrificing it in this offhand fashion."

THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND (1892) (link) - tw: death

"At first I thought that she had not recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget, ‘Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The speckled band!’"

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Edgar Allen Poe Brackets

THE OVAL PORTRAIT (1850) (link) - tw: death

The portrait, I have already said, was that of a young girl. It was a mere head and shoulders, done in what is technically termed a vignette manner; much in the style of the favorite heads of Sully.

THE TELL-TALE HEART (1843) (link) - tw: murder

True! — nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses — not destroyed — not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Neil Gaiman Brackets

CLICK-CLACK THE RATTLEBAG (2013) (link) - tw: death

"I don't think it should be too scary, because then when I go up to bed, I will just be thinking about monsters the whole time. But if it isn't just a little bit scary then I won't be interested."

MAKING A CHAIR (2011) (link)

Making a book is a little like making a chair.

A STUDY IN EMERALD (2003) (link) - tw: death

A murder had been committed in that little bedsit. The body, what was left of it, was still there, on the floor. I saw it, but, at first, somehow, I did not see it.

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Neil Gaiman Brackets

CHIVALRY (1992) (link)

Mrs. Whitaker found the Holy Grail; it was under a fur coat.

THE PROBLEM OF SUSAN (2004) (link) - tw: death

None of the bodies are human; she can see a centaur, its throat slit, on the grass near her.

WITCH WORK (2012) (link)

The witch was as old as the mulberry tree She lived in the house of a hundred clocks She sold storms and sorrows and calmed the sea And she kept her life in a box

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Ken Liu Brackets

QUALITY TIME (2020) (link)

“Like all their competitors in the Valley, they’ve got the shuttle buses and free nuts and fruits and ToDoGenie credits, and I’m sure they’ll give you as much responsibility as you can handle, plus the stock options to keep you here. But no one really succeeds here without believing the One True Myth.”

ASK EMILY (2012) (link)

Dear Wishing, Every month I get more questions about these memory-erasing machines. You're lucky that I'm very familiar with them, as I have a weekly appointment to erase truly disturbing letters from angry readers.

THE ALGORITHMS FOR LOVE (2004) (link) - tw: self harm

"I love you." He says this quietly, the way he has always done, as if it were the sound of breathing and heartbeat. I wait a few seconds. I picture myself opening the door and throwing my body onto the highway but of course I don't do anything. I can't even surprise myself.

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Edgar Allen Poe Brackets

THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1850) (link) - tw: death, disease

It was toward the close of the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion, and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad, that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence.

LIGEIA (1838) (link) - tw: death

How poignant, then, must have been the grief with which, after some years, I beheld my well-grounded expectations take wings to themselves and fly away! Without Ligeia I was but as a child groping benighted.

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Neil Gaiman Brackets

FEMININE ENDINGS (2007) (link)

You do not know me (although you have seen me, smiled at me, placed coins in the palm of my hand). I know you (although not so well as I would like. I want to be there when your eyes flutter open in the morning, and you see me, and you smile. Surely this would be paradise enough?).

THE DAUGHTER OF OWLS (1996) (link)

A newly-born girl was left one night on the steps of the Church, where the Sexton found her there the next morning, and she had hold of a curious thing, viz.: ye pellet of an Owle.

NICHOLAS WAS... (1989) (link)

Older than sin, and his beard could grow no whiter. He wanted to die.

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Ken Liu Brackets

THE PAPER MENAGERIE (2011) (link) - tw: racism, death

A little paper tiger stood on the table, the size of two fists placed together. The skin of the tiger was the pattern on the wrapping paper, white background with red candy canes and green Christmas trees.

GOOD HUNTING (2012) (link) - tw: racism, rape, death

"The world's changing," Yan said. "Hong Kong, iron roads, foreigners with wires that carry speech and machines that belch smoke. More and more, storytellers in the teahouses speak of these wonders. I think that's why the old magic is leaving. A more powerful kind of magic has come."

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Neil Gaiman Brackets

INSTRUCTIONS (2000) (link)

Touch the wooden wall in the gate you never saw before. Say "please" before you open the latch, go through, walk down the path.

A CALENDAR OF TALES (2013) (link)

"They're getting more dangerous every year. The seconds, and the things behind them. But I like the new kid. I think he's going to do fine."

HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES (2006) (link)

I did not know how to talk to girls, and I told him so. "They're just girls," said Vic. "They don't come from another planet."

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Neil Gaiman Brackets

The first week of our tournament will be between stories by @neil-gaiman! To start us off:

HARLEQUIN VALENTINE (1999) (link)

She removes the pin from the heart, and puts the heart into the plastic sandwich bag.

CHANGES (1998) (link) - tw: cancer, potentially dysphoria-inducing content

"Side effects?" he replies to himself in an echoing bathroom voice. "Yes, there are some side effects. But as far as we have been able to ascertain, nothing that will create any permanent changes."

BABYCAKES (1990) (link) - tw: child abuse

After all, there were still babies.

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Ken Liu Brackets

THE TRUSTLESS (2018) (link)

Smart contracts and cryptocurrency: funny how both the rich and the poor have come to rely on them.

ARC (2012) (link) - tw: death

"Lena Auzenne's oldest son was born when she was sixteen. A hundred years later, she gave birth to her youngest daughter."

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Arthur Conan Doyle Brackets

Sorry for how bulky this one is! For Doyle to have five fighters in the tournament, with the submissions I got, there had to be a 4 story fight.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE THREE GARRIDEBS (1924) (link) - tw: death

"I was in the law at Topeka, and one day I had a visit from the old man, and he was tickled to death to meet another man with his own name. It was his pet fad, and he was dead set to find out if there were any more Garridebs in the world. ‘Find me another!’ said he."

THE ADVENTURE OF CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON (1905) (link) - tw: death

"“I’ll tell you, Watson. He is the king of all the blackmailers. Heaven help the man, and still more the woman, whose secret and reputation come into the power of Milverton."

THE ADVENTURE OF THE THREE STUDENTS (1904) (link)

"When once the law is evoked it cannot be stayed again, and this is just one of those cases where, for the credit of the college, it is most essential to avoid scandal."

THE ADVENTURE OF THE DYING DETECTIVE (1913) (link) - tw: death, disease

"Well, Watson, we seem to have fallen upon evil days," said he in a feeble voice, but with something of his old carelessness of manner.

[shortstorytournament]

Pre-Tournament: Arthur Conan Doyle Brackets

THE ADVENTURE OF THE DEVIL'S FOOT (1910) (link) - tw: death

Many of my readers may retain some recollection of what was called at the time “The Cornish Horror,” though a most imperfect account of the matter reached the London press. Now, after thirteen years, I will give the true details of this inconceivable affair to the public.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE YELLOW FACE (1894) (link)

"A man can tell easily enough when a woman loves him. But there’s this secret between us, and we can never be the same until it is cleared.”

THE FINAL PROBLEM (1893) (link) - tw: death

It is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write these the last words in which I shall ever record the singular gifts by which my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes was distinguished.