These short stories deal with war in different ways: some take place on the battlefield, others follow soldiers after they return, and some focus on civilians living in war’s shadow. The selections below include a mix of classic and modern stories—realistic, satirical, and speculative—and many include links where the full text is legally available online.
War Short Stories
“A Piece of Wood” by Ray Bradbury
A young sergeant is called to his superior’s office. The Official offers to transfer him somewhere more to his liking. The young soldier only wants to live in peace. They discuss what would happen if all the world’s guns suddenly rusted away. (Summary of “A Piece of Wood”)
“The Survivor’s Story” by Dino Buzzati
Survivors of wars and cataclysms in distant lands are returning home. They’re happy and looking forward to being home again. They especially want to tell their many stories. (Summary of “The Survivor’s Story”)
“Luck” by Mark Twain
The narrator attended a banquet in honor of an English military captain. An old acquaintance, a clergyman, told him that in private the man was a fool. Surprised, the narrator gets the story from him. It seems all the captain’s successful campaigns were the result of endless blunders. (Summary of “Luck)
“A Late Encounter with the Enemy” by Flannery O’Connor
General George Poker Sash is a 104-year-old American Civil War veteran. He gets invited to attend some events because of his age and veteran status. His granddaughter, 62-year-old Sally Poker Sash, prays that he will live to attend her college graduation so everyone will see she has a superior background. (Summary of “A Late Encounter with the Enemy”)
“The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty
A Republican sniper waits on a rooftop during the Irish Civil War, listening to the sounds of fighting in the streets below. When he risks a cigarette, he gives away his position and draws fire from an enemy sniper. The duel becomes a tense test of nerve, patience, and survival. (Read “The Sniper”)
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce
A civilian with Confederate sympathies stands on a bridge, hands bound, a noose around his neck, as Union soldiers prepare an execution. The story’s power comes from how it handles perception, time, and what the reader thinks is happening. (Read “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” + analysis)
“The King of Norway” by Cecelia Holland
Conn Corbansson fought for Sweyn Tjugas in his rise to King of Denmark. Sweyn had promised they would also take England, but now he’s hesitant. Sweyn has his sights set on Norway, and has enlisted the help of the Jomsvikings. Conn is upset with the change. While feasting, many of the notables make public oaths. Caught up in the moment, Conn makes one himself.
“The King of Norway” can be read in the Amazon preview of Warriors.
“The Defense of Free Mind” by Desirina Boskovich
is working a shift in the greenhouse when the sirens go off. She grabs a rifle from the locker and sets up at the wall, along with the other Defenders. Five people are approaching on a boat marked with the City insignia. The city people all look the same, and they want to conquer Free Mind and control them. The Defenders fire on the boat.
“The Garbage Collector” by Ray Bradbury
A garbage collector gets up at five every morning to do his job. He does it well, and some days he really likes it. One day after work he’s unusually quiet. Something happened that day that changed the job for him. A new directive was issued to garbage collectors. (Summary of “The Garbage Collector”)
“Happily Ever After” by Aldous Huxley
Jacobsen travels from Chicago to Wiltshire, in England, in the fourth year of the war to see his old tutor, Alfred Petherton. The old man is delighted to see Jacobsen and flattered that he’s come. Rather than having genuine affection for people, Jacobsen seems more amused by their mediocrity. Eventually, they get news that the fiance of Petherton’s daughter will be visiting on his leave, as well as another young friend of his.
“The Coup de Grace” by Ambrose Bierce
In a regiment are two brothers, Caffal and Creede Halcrow. Caffal is a sergeant under Captain Madwell, and they are long-time friends. Creede is a major and has a hostile relationship with Madwell. Madwell’s company is ordered to hold the head of a ravine, but they are driven from their position with heavy losses.
“It” by Norman Mailer
Soldiers are on the battlefield. (Story is less than 40 words)
“Stranger, Bear Word to the Spartans We . . .” by Heinrich Boll
The narrator arrives at what seems to be a school. There’s a place for the dead outside; the living are taken to the art room. He’s carried up the stairs on a stretcher. He’s feverish, hurts all over and is disoriented.
“Roger Malvin’s Burial” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
In 1725, two wounded soldiers have been struggling to safety for three days. The older one, Roger, is hurt worse; he knows he won’t make it. While resting by a rock, he tells the younger one, Rueben, to go on without him. They argue about it, and Roger tells a story to persuade the younger man to leave. (Read “Roger Malvin’s Burial”)
“Frustration” by Isaac Asimov
Herman gets a visit from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Hargrove. He’s working on a computer program that would determine how to fight the most efficient war possible. (Read “Frustration”)
“Nightfall (The Curse)” by Arthur C. Clarke
The little town had stood through many hard times, but now it’s gone. It was hit by a stray rocket, one of the last ones fired. Everything is ruined.
This story can be read in the preview of The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke.
“A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J. D. Salinger
Muriel speaks on the phone with her mother about her husband, Seymour, who has returned from the war. Her mother is worried about Seymour’s driving and his general mental condition. Meanwhile, Seymour is on the beach, where he meets a young girl and tells her about the bananafish.
This is the first story in the preview of Nine Stories.
“Two Friends” by Guy de Maupassant
Two men, now members of the Paris National Guard because of an attack by Prussian soldiers, meet up with each other in the street. They long for an ordinary pleasure from before the war: fishing. They decide to risk crossing into a dangerous area to do it. The outing becomes a brutal reminder of what war does to ordinary people.
“When We Harvested the Nacre-Rice” by Benjanun Sriduangkaew
Jiratar and Sujari are fighting an un-war. They’re not fighting with traditional weapons. One day, Pahayal spots a body floating among catfish. It’s not a leftover from an illogic burst—it’s really there. Going to a hospital is hopeless. Pahayal takes the stranger back to her own place.
“A Brief Guide to Other Histories” by Paul McAuley
The narrator’s platoon went through the Turing gate to another America. There are recognizable elements in this New York—buildings, taxis and various landmarks. This world is every bit as real as their own. It was taken over by a rogue General who made himself President-for-Life. The narrator’s reality offered assistance in the civil war against this tyrant. Now, they’re dealing with guerilla fighters.
“Guests of the Nation” by Frank O’Connor
Two English prisoners are held by Irish rebels during the War of Independence. Over time, captors and captives fall into an uneasy routine and develop genuine familiarity. The story’s tension comes from how ordinary companionship collides with the realities of duty and retaliation.
“For Esmé—with Love and Squalor” by J. D. Salinger
The narrator is invited to a wedding in England that he won’t be able to attend. He writes a few things about the bride, whom he knew about six years earlier. In 1944 he was with the American forces in Devon. After his training, he walked into town. He went into a church where a children’s choir was practicing. He was affected by the performance, particularly that of a thirteen-year-old girl named Esmé.
“Old Man at the Bridge” by Ernest Hemingway
An exhausted old man sits by a bridge as refugees stream past and enemy forces approach. He can’t bring himself to move on, fixated on what he has left behind. In a few pages, the story captures war’s human cost through restraint and understatement.
This is the fourth story in the preview of The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway.
“Cold Moonlight” by Carla Neggers
Ryan Taylor, a former Navy SEAL, is out in the Vermont snow looking for Marissa Neal, daughter of the vice-president. He rounds a corner and sees Elijah Cameron, a Special Forces soldier. Cameron spotted Marissa, but then someone shot at him.
“The Sound of Secrecy” by Martin Edwards
Wilf sees Lina at the funeral of their old friend, Edward. He can recognize her even after all these years. Lina drove Edward to murder. Wilf thinks back to when they were all together at Bletchley Park, a code-breaking facility used during WWII.
“A Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane
Under heavy fire, a young soldier becomes obsessed with the idea of fetching water from a well in a deadly exposed area. What begins as thirst turns into a private test of courage and identity. Crane’s focus is less on strategy than on the psychology of fear and pride.
“The Children’s Campaign” by Par Lagerkvist
An unnamed country maintains an army of children between six and fourteen, who run their training and organization without any adult help. When an inferior nation insults this country, war is declared and the children’s army launches an attack.
“The Dog of Tithwal” by Saadat Hasan Manto
Entrenched Indian and Pakistani soldiers send a stray dog to the others camp.
“How to Tell a True War Story” by Tim O’Brien
The narrator explains that war stories don’t behave like normal stories: they resist neat morals, clear endings, and tidy truths. He tells and retells episodes to show how meaning shifts depending on what’s said and what isn’t. The piece is as much about storytelling as it is about Vietnam. (Read “How to Tell a True War Story”)
“The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich
Two brothers share a deep bond centered on a red convertible they fix up and drive together. After one brother returns from Vietnam, the relationship changes in ways the narrator struggles to understand or repair. The story is a powerful look at loss, love, and the aftereffects of war at home.
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
A platoon in Vietnam is described through the objects they carry. The inventory becomes a way of revealing personality, fear, superstition, and grief. The story blends the literal weight of equipment with the intangible weight of memory. (Read “The Things They Carried”)
“The Canal” by Richard Yates
While mingling at a cocktail party, two husbands discover they were part of the same military action in WW II. They reminisce, with one of the men eager to share and describe his heroism, while the other is reticent.
The following 4 Roald Dahl stories are in The Complete Short Stories Volume 1.
“Beware of the Dog” by Roald Dahl
Peter Williamson, an injured WW II pilot, bails out of his plane. He wakes up in a Brighton hospital, in a comfortable room with his wounds tended.
“Only This”
In an English cottage, an old woman lies in bed. She hears bombers flying overhead, and thinks of her son in the Royal Air Force, imagining that she’s in the plane with him.
“Yesterday was Beautiful”
An English pilot ejected from his plane and landed on a Greek island. He searches the deserted town for a boat that can take him to the mainland.
“Katina”
Peter, Fin and the narrator, RAF pilots, help at a Greek village in the aftermath of a German bombing. They find a little girl sitting on a stone not moving. She’s bleeding fast; they take her back to the landing field to see the doctor. Her name is Katina, and she lost her family in the bombing. She becomes a member of the squadron.
“A Horseman in the Sky” by Ambrose Bierce
A Union sentry in the Civil War spots a lone rider silhouetted against the sky. He must decide whether to shoot despite the distance and uncertainty. The story builds to a moral shock rooted in duty and recognition.
“Chickamauga” by Ambrose Bierce
A small child wanders away from home and wakes to a horrifying scene after a battle. Because of the child’s limited understanding, the truth of what’s happening emerges gradually for the reader. It’s one of Bierce’s most devastating depictions of war’s aftermath.
“A Son of the Gods” by Ambrose Bierce
A group of soldiers advances to a difficult point. There’s a clearing ahead. At the far end is a stone wall. Behind the wall is a hedge and behind that are some trees. The enemy could be concealed somewhere within. Something must be done.
“Snowflake” by Ruth Ware
Leah’s father wants a wall built around their island. She’s not sure why. They lug back all the rocks they can find. Wood won’t be strong enough for what’s coming. They fled a war on the mainland. Uniformed men came to their home at night, but her father was prepared so they escaped.
“The First Year of My Life” by Muriel Spark
The narrator, a baby, is able to relate the first year of its life because, as we’re told, babies are omniscient in their first year. Born late in WW I, the baby reports on its caregivers, famous people’s lives, and the war.
“The Upturned Face” by Stephen Crane
Two soldiers decide to bury a fallen comrade even though fighting continues nearby. The act is simple, dangerous, and deeply human. The story turns on the clash between the brutality around them and the dignity they try to preserve. (Read “The Upturned Face”)
“Civil Peace” by Chinua Achebe
After the Nigerian Civil War, Jonathan Iwegbu focuses on rebuilding—finding work, repairing his home, and protecting what little his family has. His optimism is practical, not sentimental. The story shows recovery as fragile, hard-earned, and constantly threatened. (Read “Civil Peace”)
“Editha” by W. D. Howells
Editha romanticizes war and pushes her fiancé to enlist, imagining honor and glory. He is hesitant, but the public mood and her expectations pull him in. The story is a sharp critique of sentimental patriotism and the distance between rhetoric and consequences.
“Soldier’s Home” by Ernest Hemingway
A young veteran returns home after WWI and finds it difficult to connect with anyone or feel motivated by ordinary life. His family wants him to rejoin the community, but he can’t make himself pretend. The story is a clear, early depiction of emotional numbness after war.
“The Old Demon” by Pearl S. Buck
Mrs. Wang lives in a remote Chinese village. They have heard the talk of a war with the Japanese, but they haven’t seen it firsthand. Mrs. Wang is more concerned with the river; it is higher than it’s ever been at this time of year. (Read “The Old Demon”)
“Dish Night” by Michael Martone
WWII interrupts a couple’s courtship, including their routine of going to a movie on Dish Night so they could get a complete set of crockery. (Read “Dish Night”)
“Stockings” by Tim O’Brien
Henry Dobbins is a good man, and great soldier, but unsophisticated. He views a pair of his girlfriend’s pantyhose as a good-luck charm. (Read “Stockings”)
“Three Soldiers” by Bruce Holland Rogers
Soldiers face difficult situations at various stages of their careers.
“Prisoner of War” by Muna Fadhil
Saleh was captured by the Iranians and held for seventeen years. He now lives with his daughter, Sahira, who was only five when he was captured.
“War” by Luigi Pirandello
On a train, parents argue about who has suffered most because of the sons they’ve lost to war. Their grief becomes competitive, then collapses into something more raw and universal. The story hits hard because it refuses easy consolation. (Read “War”)
“Snow” by Julia Alvarez
A young girl is attending Catholic school her first year in the United States. She learns some English words, eventually becoming aware of the communist threat.
“The Soul of a Regiment” by Talbot Mundy
Sergeant-Instructor William Grogram comes out of retirement to lead the First Egyptian Foot, a lowly regiment that the Colonel believes is hopeless. Grogram is devoted to duty and honor, and makes it his aim to turn them into a respectable unit. (Read “The Soul of a Regiment”)
“Big Bertha Stories” by Bobbie Ann Mason
Donald comes home, occasionally and unannounced, to see his family. He seemed to adjust after the Vietnam War, but then he lost his job and deteriorated. He tells his son, Rodney, tall tales of Big Bertha, a huge strip-mining machine. The stories start out light but always turn dark.
“The Ensign” by Alphonse Daudet
A French regiment is holding their position on the banks of a railway. They keep their flag flying despite the advance of the Prussian force. Twenty-two officers fall before Sergeant Hornus takes over the job.
“The Paper House” by Norman Mailer
Nicholson and Hayes are Army cooks, stationed in Japan after the war. Hayes is divorced and bitter about it. They often visit the geisha house where they each have a regular woman.
“The Track” by Walter McDonald
It is a sweltering day in Vietnam during the war after many of the troops have been withdrawn. The narrator and Lebowitz are running around a track with other soldiers.
“The Language of Men” by Norman Mailer
After failing at a variety of assignments, Carter becomes an Army cook. He does well and is promoted. After a while, he puts more effort into the meals, improving the taste and quality of his dishes. He doesn’t think the men appreciate what they’re getting.
“An Episode of War” by Stephen Crane
A lieutenant is dividing the coffee supply for the squads. Suddenly he cries out as if attacked. The other officers see blood on his sleeve. (Read “An Episode of War”)
“Why Does the Child Cry?” by Mulk Raj Anand
Abdul, a young boy, is known for being late because he likes to bird-watch and go fishing. One day on the way home from school he sees his friend Ali. He calls out to him but Ali ignores him and runs off. Abdul wonders what is wrong. He notices some things are different.
“New Year for Fong Wing” by Monfoon Leong
Fong and Lee, restaurant workers, get paid. Lee wants to gamble, but Fong is worried about what his wife will think. Fong’s sons were killed in wars, and now he has no male heir. Feeling depressed, he agrees to go gamble with Lee.
“Train to Harbin” by Asako Serizawa
The narrator tells of a time forty years prior in 1939 when Japan and China were at war. He was a doctor, recruited by his country for some patriotic service. His group’s goal was to preserve lives. He hasn’t fully come to terms with his past. The fact that it was wartime doesn’t settle things in his mind. (Read “Train to Harbin”)
“The Northern Lights” by Joy Harjo
Whirling Soldier is a Native American Vietnam War veteran. In flashbacks, we see his childhood, his war days and his post-war life. He has struggled with drug and alcohol use.
“A Curious Experience” by Mark Twain
In the winter of 1962-63, a boy, aged fourteen or fifteen, shows up at the recruiting office at Fort Trumbull, wanting to enlist. The commandant objects, saying the boy is too young and too small. He feels for the boy, though, and allows him to stay a while. He listens to the boy’s story. He relents, and let’s the boy join, although not as a soldier. (Read “A Curious Experience”)
“North Light: A Recollection in the Present Tense” by Mark Helprin
An Israeli soldier’s unit has been called into action. They watch their target site until dark. He expounds on the differences between the new and experienced soldiers.
“No Trace” by David Madden
Ernest Foster is inspecting his son’s dorm room before the police and other authorities get a look. It’s dirty, has revolutionary-type items and has a hippie-vibe. He finds his son’s relationship with his roommate, who was against the Vietnam War, puzzling. The odor that assaults him from the closet makes him picture his son at graduation with a grenade in his hand.
“The Pacific” by Mark Helprin
Paulette Ferry, a young woman, is a precision welder in a factory making altimeters for planes. Her husband, Lee, is a Marine stationed overseas, in combat. Paulette devotes herself to her work while waiting, and hoping, for Lee to return.
“Act of Faith” by Irwin Shaw
WW II is over. Sergeant Seeger and his friends, both privates, are getting together what money they can for a weekend trip to Paris. Seeger was awarded a Purple Heart, and has saved the lives of his friends. They’re still short on funds. Luger pistols are selling at high prices, and Seeger has one.
“The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Ray Bradbury
A fourteen-year-old boy is awakened by a sound at midnight. He’s with an encampment of soldiers at Shiloh. About a mile away, an opposing army waits. The boy is afraid. The soldiers have rifles and shields; he only has his drum and two sticks.
“A Natural History of the Dead” by Ernest Hemingway
The narrator furnishes the reader with some facts about the war-dead. He talks about the preponderance of male casualties, the fate of mules, the decomposition of bodies, how people die, and other related things. (Read “A Natural History of the Dead”)
“A Way You’ll Never Be” by Ernest Hemingway
Nick Adams was wounded in battle and is shell-shocked. He rides a bicycle to his old Captain’s encampment. On the way, he passes numerous war-dead and military debris. He’s able to recreate the main action of the battle. (Read “A Way You’ll Never Be”)
“The Aqueduct” by Ray Bradbury
A huge aqueduct from the North to the South is almost constructed. Citizens of the South look forward to everything they’ll be able to do with this ready water source. There’s a war between the two Northern countries.
“The Enemy” by Pearl Buck
A Japanese doctor and his wife discover a wounded American soldier washed ashore during WWII. Treating him may be treason; turning him in feels like a different kind of betrayal. The story’s tension comes from moral duty, fear, and what “enemy” really means.
War stories aren’t only about battles—they’re about pressure, fear, loyalty, propaganda, and what people carry afterward. The stories above approach war from many angles, from frontline action to home-front aftermath, and together they show how conflict reshapes both individuals and communities. See also: