A recent conversation reminded me of something I once read. It was in a Playboy magazine, likely mid-80s, and it was either a short story or an excerpt from a novel if Playboy even does that kind of thing. From what I remember it was written in the first person about a guy (a reporter?) who hears about this Vietnam vet that has learned some art of tattooing which acts as the perfect camouflage. [more inside]
posted by komara on Jun 20, 2011 - 8 answers

I'm trying to come up with the name of a short story I read eight or ten years ago. It is a first-person narrative of the domestic life of a cynically detached man who lives with his wife and kid. [more inside]
posted by churl on Jun 4, 2011 - 2 answers

Help me find the name/author of a short story with the following plot: human children are the work slaves of gremlins (goblins?), and made to do manual labor underground. Those with good behavior and who are getting older are "graduated" and told that they're being freed, but after a gremlin-only "ceremony," are killed for food instead. [more inside]
posted by NucleophilicAttack on Feb 12, 2011 - 3 answers

Help me identify a dimly remembered short story... A scientist has created or evolved a race of tiny super intelligent creatures. By setting cruel puzzles for them (such as a descending weight that threatens to crush them) he gets them to invent things for him, one of which was a super strong material made out of banana peel. It most likely ends badly for the scientist.
posted by Artw on Aug 4, 2010 - 6 answers

What is the name of this really disturbing science fiction short story? (potentially NSFW description) [more inside]
posted by brundlefly on Jun 25, 2010 - 14 answers

TeenAngstFilter: Can you help me identify a short story about a student who blows up a pool? [more inside]
posted by burnmp3s on Nov 29, 2007 - 2 answers