Short story about a man betting a group he could tell a story, and one of them would disappear and the others...
In about 1966 or so, a stand-in teacher at our primary school spent the afternoon reading short stories to us. There was a wide genre, but I was particularly fond a one which was science fiction/mystery.
It involved a group of people who were talking about mysteries, and another man from outside the group bet the he could tell a story, and one of them would disappear and the others would not notice. The final line was something like "he kicked over the stool and walked from the room".
story-identification short-stories
edited 15 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
43.9k15231286
asked 16 hours ago
Shane MilesShane Miles
9814
New contributor
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
In about 1966 or so, a stand-in teacher at our primary school spent the afternoon reading short stories to us. There was a wide genre, but I was particularly fond a one which was science fiction/mystery.
It involved a group of people who were talking about mysteries, and another man from outside the group bet the he could tell a story, and one of them would disappear and the others would not notice. The final line was something like "he kicked over the stool and walked from the room".
story-identification short-stories
edited 15 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
43.9k15231286
asked 16 hours ago
Shane MilesShane Miles
9814
New contributor
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Possible duplicate of Wiped from Memory
– Bjorn Eriksson
14 hours ago
1
@BjornEriksson The OP has not accepted the answer and so this is not a duplicate.
– TheLethalCarrot
14 hours ago
I don't think it eas an actual bet. He would have had a hard tme collecting, wouldn't he?
– user14111
11 hours ago
Another possible duplicate scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/180864/…
– rrauenza
8 hours ago
add a comment |
In about 1966 or so, a stand-in teacher at our primary school spent the afternoon reading short stories to us. There was a wide genre, but I was particularly fond a one which was science fiction/mystery.
It involved a group of people who were talking about mysteries, and another man from outside the group bet the he could tell a story, and one of them would disappear and the others would not notice. The final line was something like "he kicked over the stool and walked from the room".
story-identification short-stories
edited 15 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
43.9k15231286
asked 16 hours ago
Shane MilesShane Miles
9814
New contributor
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
In about 1966 or so, a stand-in teacher at our primary school spent the afternoon reading short stories to us. There was a wide genre, but I was particularly fond a one which was science fiction/mystery.
It involved a group of people who were talking about mysteries, and another man from outside the group bet the he could tell a story, and one of them would disappear and the others would not notice. The final line was something like "he kicked over the stool and walked from the room".
story-identification short-stories
story-identification short-stories
edited 15 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
43.9k15231286
asked 16 hours ago
Shane MilesShane Miles
9814
New contributor
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 15 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
43.9k15231286
asked 16 hours ago
Shane MilesShane Miles
9814
New contributor
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 15 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
43.9k15231286
edited 15 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
43.9k15231286
edited 15 hours ago
TheLethalCarrot
43.9k15231286
43.9k15231286
asked 16 hours ago
Shane MilesShane Miles
9814
New contributor
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 16 hours ago
Shane MilesShane Miles
9814
asked 16 hours ago
Shane MilesShane Miles
9814
9814
New contributor
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Shane Miles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Possible duplicate of Wiped from Memory
– Bjorn Eriksson
14 hours ago
1
@BjornEriksson The OP has not accepted the answer and so this is not a duplicate.
– TheLethalCarrot
14 hours ago
I don't think it eas an actual bet. He would have had a hard tme collecting, wouldn't he?
– user14111
11 hours ago
Another possible duplicate scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/180864/…
– rrauenza
8 hours ago
add a comment |
2
Possible duplicate of Wiped from Memory
– Bjorn Eriksson
14 hours ago
1
@BjornEriksson The OP has not accepted the answer and so this is not a duplicate.
– TheLethalCarrot
14 hours ago
I don't think it eas an actual bet. He would have had a hard tme collecting, wouldn't he?
– user14111
11 hours ago
Another possible duplicate scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/180864/…
– rrauenza
8 hours ago
2
2
Possible duplicate of Wiped from Memory
– Bjorn Eriksson
14 hours ago
Possible duplicate of Wiped from Memory
– Bjorn Eriksson
14 hours ago
1
1
@BjornEriksson The OP has not accepted the answer and so this is not a duplicate.
– TheLethalCarrot
14 hours ago
@BjornEriksson The OP has not accepted the answer and so this is not a duplicate.
– TheLethalCarrot
14 hours ago
I don't think it eas an actual bet. He would have had a hard tme collecting, wouldn't he?
– user14111
11 hours ago
I don't think it eas an actual bet. He would have had a hard tme collecting, wouldn't he?
– user14111
11 hours ago
Another possible duplicate scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/180864/…
– rrauenza
8 hours ago
Another possible duplicate scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/180864/…
– rrauenza
8 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
This sounds like Exit by Harry Farjeon (adapted into a film in 2012)
It involves a group of people attending a dinner party, where one claims he can erase people from existence. Of course no one believes he can do this, as they are also wiped from all memory of ever having existed. He ends up trying to demonstrate his claim. At the end an empty chair is left where they had previously all been taken.
edited 7 hours ago
rrauenza
1174
answered 15 hours ago
Fifth_H0r5emanFifth_H0r5eman
873311
1
Also the answer to this question, unfortunately the source containing the text seems dead.
– Jenayah
14 hours ago
19
As if they have been erased from existence...
– SQB
14 hours ago
1
Yes, Exit by Harry Farjeon. Here it is as a short film. https://vimeo.com/76992293 Just watched it. Quality acting. But I find the story one-dimensional.
– Laurence Payne
13 hours ago
4
The book in question does indeed appear to be Exit, the line quoted in the question being "Jake stretched, and kicked the footstool aside." where the footstool had once been occupied by another member of their group. The source can be found here: web.archive.org/web/20160222090606/https://… and does appear to be a legitimate source of the text itself.
– brndn2k
9 hours ago
3
This story seems strangely hard to find. It's not listed in ISFDB. It doesn't seem to be at Project Gutenberg even though there's a good chance based on age that it's out of copyright. The author's Wikipedia page (assuming that the composer is the same person) doesn't mention it. However, I'm pretty sure that I read this in a print collection at some point. Weird.
– Otis
9 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
Maybe a stretch, but could it be Child of an Ancient City by Tad Williams?
This short book is about a group of men who are being stalked by a vampire in the woods as they travel. Eventually, the vampire gives them an ultimatum: If he can tell a story sadder than any story they tell, he gets to take one member of their party, then he will leave them alone.
The book is essentially a conglomeration of short stories, as the men attempt to tell the saddest story, but in the end the vampire wins by telling a true story of his own life, and how he became a vampire. However, when one of the men volunteers to be the one taken, the vampire leaves without a trace.
answered 10 hours ago
jared.nesbitjared.nesbit
1,230616
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
This sounds like Exit by Harry Farjeon (adapted into a film in 2012)
It involves a group of people attending a dinner party, where one claims he can erase people from existence. Of course no one believes he can do this, as they are also wiped from all memory of ever having existed. He ends up trying to demonstrate his claim. At the end an empty chair is left where they had previously all been taken.
edited 7 hours ago
rrauenza
1174
answered 15 hours ago
Fifth_H0r5emanFifth_H0r5eman
873311
1
Also the answer to this question, unfortunately the source containing the text seems dead.
– Jenayah
14 hours ago
19
As if they have been erased from existence...
– SQB
14 hours ago
1
Yes, Exit by Harry Farjeon. Here it is as a short film. https://vimeo.com/76992293 Just watched it. Quality acting. But I find the story one-dimensional.
– Laurence Payne
13 hours ago
4
The book in question does indeed appear to be Exit, the line quoted in the question being "Jake stretched, and kicked the footstool aside." where the footstool had once been occupied by another member of their group. The source can be found here: web.archive.org/web/20160222090606/https://… and does appear to be a legitimate source of the text itself.
– brndn2k
9 hours ago
3
This story seems strangely hard to find. It's not listed in ISFDB. It doesn't seem to be at Project Gutenberg even though there's a good chance based on age that it's out of copyright. The author's Wikipedia page (assuming that the composer is the same person) doesn't mention it. However, I'm pretty sure that I read this in a print collection at some point. Weird.
– Otis
9 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
This sounds like Exit by Harry Farjeon (adapted into a film in 2012)
It involves a group of people attending a dinner party, where one claims he can erase people from existence. Of course no one believes he can do this, as they are also wiped from all memory of ever having existed. He ends up trying to demonstrate his claim. At the end an empty chair is left where they had previously all been taken.
edited 7 hours ago
rrauenza
1174
answered 15 hours ago
Fifth_H0r5emanFifth_H0r5eman
873311
1
Also the answer to this question, unfortunately the source containing the text seems dead.
– Jenayah
14 hours ago
19
As if they have been erased from existence...
– SQB
14 hours ago
1
Yes, Exit by Harry Farjeon. Here it is as a short film. https://vimeo.com/76992293 Just watched it. Quality acting. But I find the story one-dimensional.
– Laurence Payne
13 hours ago
4
The book in question does indeed appear to be Exit, the line quoted in the question being "Jake stretched, and kicked the footstool aside." where the footstool had once been occupied by another member of their group. The source can be found here: web.archive.org/web/20160222090606/https://… and does appear to be a legitimate source of the text itself.
– brndn2k
9 hours ago
3
This story seems strangely hard to find. It's not listed in ISFDB. It doesn't seem to be at Project Gutenberg even though there's a good chance based on age that it's out of copyright. The author's Wikipedia page (assuming that the composer is the same person) doesn't mention it. However, I'm pretty sure that I read this in a print collection at some point. Weird.
– Otis
9 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
This sounds like Exit by Harry Farjeon (adapted into a film in 2012)
It involves a group of people attending a dinner party, where one claims he can erase people from existence. Of course no one believes he can do this, as they are also wiped from all memory of ever having existed. He ends up trying to demonstrate his claim. At the end an empty chair is left where they had previously all been taken.
edited 7 hours ago
rrauenza
1174
answered 15 hours ago
Fifth_H0r5emanFifth_H0r5eman
873311
This sounds like Exit by Harry Farjeon (adapted into a film in 2012)
It involves a group of people attending a dinner party, where one claims he can erase people from existence. Of course no one believes he can do this, as they are also wiped from all memory of ever having existed. He ends up trying to demonstrate his claim. At the end an empty chair is left where they had previously all been taken.
edited 7 hours ago
rrauenza
1174
answered 15 hours ago
Fifth_H0r5emanFifth_H0r5eman
873311
edited 7 hours ago
rrauenza
1174
edited 7 hours ago
rrauenza
1174
edited 7 hours ago
rrauenza
1174
1174
answered 15 hours ago
Fifth_H0r5emanFifth_H0r5eman
873311
answered 15 hours ago
Fifth_H0r5emanFifth_H0r5eman
873311
answered 15 hours ago
Fifth_H0r5emanFifth_H0r5eman
873311
873311
1
Also the answer to this question, unfortunately the source containing the text seems dead.
– Jenayah
14 hours ago
19
As if they have been erased from existence...
– SQB
14 hours ago
1
Yes, Exit by Harry Farjeon. Here it is as a short film. https://vimeo.com/76992293 Just watched it. Quality acting. But I find the story one-dimensional.
– Laurence Payne
13 hours ago
4
The book in question does indeed appear to be Exit, the line quoted in the question being "Jake stretched, and kicked the footstool aside." where the footstool had once been occupied by another member of their group. The source can be found here: web.archive.org/web/20160222090606/https://… and does appear to be a legitimate source of the text itself.
– brndn2k
9 hours ago
3
This story seems strangely hard to find. It's not listed in ISFDB. It doesn't seem to be at Project Gutenberg even though there's a good chance based on age that it's out of copyright. The author's Wikipedia page (assuming that the composer is the same person) doesn't mention it. However, I'm pretty sure that I read this in a print collection at some point. Weird.
– Otis
9 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
1
Also the answer to this question, unfortunately the source containing the text seems dead.
– Jenayah
14 hours ago
19
As if they have been erased from existence...
– SQB
14 hours ago
1
Yes, Exit by Harry Farjeon. Here it is as a short film. https://vimeo.com/76992293 Just watched it. Quality acting. But I find the story one-dimensional.
– Laurence Payne
13 hours ago
4
The book in question does indeed appear to be Exit, the line quoted in the question being "Jake stretched, and kicked the footstool aside." where the footstool had once been occupied by another member of their group. The source can be found here: web.archive.org/web/20160222090606/https://… and does appear to be a legitimate source of the text itself.
– brndn2k
9 hours ago
3
This story seems strangely hard to find. It's not listed in ISFDB. It doesn't seem to be at Project Gutenberg even though there's a good chance based on age that it's out of copyright. The author's Wikipedia page (assuming that the composer is the same person) doesn't mention it. However, I'm pretty sure that I read this in a print collection at some point. Weird.
– Otis
9 hours ago
1
1
Also the answer to this question, unfortunately the source containing the text seems dead.
– Jenayah
14 hours ago
Also the answer to this question, unfortunately the source containing the text seems dead.
– Jenayah
14 hours ago
19
19
As if they have been erased from existence...
– SQB
14 hours ago
As if they have been erased from existence...
– SQB
14 hours ago
1
1
Yes, Exit by Harry Farjeon. Here it is as a short film. https://vimeo.com/76992293 Just watched it. Quality acting. But I find the story one-dimensional.
– Laurence Payne
13 hours ago
Yes, Exit by Harry Farjeon. Here it is as a short film. https://vimeo.com/76992293 Just watched it. Quality acting. But I find the story one-dimensional.
– Laurence Payne
13 hours ago
4
4
The book in question does indeed appear to be Exit, the line quoted in the question being "Jake stretched, and kicked the footstool aside." where the footstool had once been occupied by another member of their group. The source can be found here: web.archive.org/web/20160222090606/https://… and does appear to be a legitimate source of the text itself.
– brndn2k
9 hours ago
The book in question does indeed appear to be Exit, the line quoted in the question being "Jake stretched, and kicked the footstool aside." where the footstool had once been occupied by another member of their group. The source can be found here: web.archive.org/web/20160222090606/https://… and does appear to be a legitimate source of the text itself.
– brndn2k
9 hours ago
3
3
This story seems strangely hard to find. It's not listed in ISFDB. It doesn't seem to be at Project Gutenberg even though there's a good chance based on age that it's out of copyright. The author's Wikipedia page (assuming that the composer is the same person) doesn't mention it. However, I'm pretty sure that I read this in a print collection at some point. Weird.
– Otis
9 hours ago
This story seems strangely hard to find. It's not listed in ISFDB. It doesn't seem to be at Project Gutenberg even though there's a good chance based on age that it's out of copyright. The author's Wikipedia page (assuming that the composer is the same person) doesn't mention it. However, I'm pretty sure that I read this in a print collection at some point. Weird.
– Otis
9 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
Maybe a stretch, but could it be Child of an Ancient City by Tad Williams?
This short book is about a group of men who are being stalked by a vampire in the woods as they travel. Eventually, the vampire gives them an ultimatum: If he can tell a story sadder than any story they tell, he gets to take one member of their party, then he will leave them alone.
The book is essentially a conglomeration of short stories, as the men attempt to tell the saddest story, but in the end the vampire wins by telling a true story of his own life, and how he became a vampire. However, when one of the men volunteers to be the one taken, the vampire leaves without a trace.
answered 10 hours ago
jared.nesbitjared.nesbit
1,230616
add a comment |
Maybe a stretch, but could it be Child of an Ancient City by Tad Williams?
This short book is about a group of men who are being stalked by a vampire in the woods as they travel. Eventually, the vampire gives them an ultimatum: If he can tell a story sadder than any story they tell, he gets to take one member of their party, then he will leave them alone.
The book is essentially a conglomeration of short stories, as the men attempt to tell the saddest story, but in the end the vampire wins by telling a true story of his own life, and how he became a vampire. However, when one of the men volunteers to be the one taken, the vampire leaves without a trace.
answered 10 hours ago
jared.nesbitjared.nesbit
1,230616
add a comment |
Maybe a stretch, but could it be Child of an Ancient City by Tad Williams?
This short book is about a group of men who are being stalked by a vampire in the woods as they travel. Eventually, the vampire gives them an ultimatum: If he can tell a story sadder than any story they tell, he gets to take one member of their party, then he will leave them alone.
The book is essentially a conglomeration of short stories, as the men attempt to tell the saddest story, but in the end the vampire wins by telling a true story of his own life, and how he became a vampire. However, when one of the men volunteers to be the one taken, the vampire leaves without a trace.
answered 10 hours ago
jared.nesbitjared.nesbit
1,230616
Maybe a stretch, but could it be Child of an Ancient City by Tad Williams?
This short book is about a group of men who are being stalked by a vampire in the woods as they travel. Eventually, the vampire gives them an ultimatum: If he can tell a story sadder than any story they tell, he gets to take one member of their party, then he will leave them alone.
The book is essentially a conglomeration of short stories, as the men attempt to tell the saddest story, but in the end the vampire wins by telling a true story of his own life, and how he became a vampire. However, when one of the men volunteers to be the one taken, the vampire leaves without a trace.
answered 10 hours ago
jared.nesbitjared.nesbit
1,230616
answered 10 hours ago
jared.nesbitjared.nesbit
1,230616
answered 10 hours ago
jared.nesbitjared.nesbit
1,230616
answered 10 hours ago
jared.nesbitjared.nesbit
1,230616
1,230616
add a comment |
add a comment |
Shane Miles is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Shane Miles is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Shane Miles is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Shane Miles is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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2
Possible duplicate of Wiped from Memory
– Bjorn Eriksson
14 hours ago
1
@BjornEriksson The OP has not accepted the answer and so this is not a duplicate.
– TheLethalCarrot
14 hours ago
I don't think it eas an actual bet. He would have had a hard tme collecting, wouldn't he?
– user14111
11 hours ago
Another possible duplicate scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/180864/…
– rrauenza
8 hours ago