# Short Fiction — Chapters explained > Chapter companions for Short Fiction by H. G. Wells. - [In the Modern Vein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/in-the-modern-vein.md): Aubrey Vair, a minor poet and literary critic, becomes infatuated with Miss Smith, a mysterious and intelligent young woman, while trapped in a stifling marriage. Their intellectual and romantic affair culminates in a dr - [The Triumphs of a Taxidermist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-triumphs-of-a-taxidermist.md): A taxidermist, in a drunken confidence, boasts to the narrator about his fraudulent and creative exploits in taxidermy, including forging extinct birds like the great auk and moa, creating a nonsensical bird called the A - [The Stolen Bacillus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-stolen-bacillus.md): A bacteriologist shows a visitor a deadly cholera culture, which the visitor—an anarchist—steals with the intent to poison London's water supply. After swallowing the culture during a chase, the anarchist believes he has - [The Hammerpond Park Burglary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-hammerpond-park-burglary.md): Mr. Teddy Watkins, a burglar posing as a landscape artist named Smith, plans to steal Lady Aveling's diamonds during her honeymoon at Hammerpond Park. He sets up an easel as a cover, but his scheme goes awry when he and - [The Jilting of Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-jilting-of-jane.md): The narrator recounts the story of their maid Jane's three-year engagement to William, a draper's porter who rises in social status and eventually jilts her for a milliner who can play the piano. Jane's determined but ul > 93 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=short_fiction_25_se_1956kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest. - [The Flowering of the Strange Orchid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-flowering-of-the-strange-orchid.md) - [In the Avu Observatory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/in-the-avu-observatory.md) - [The Diamond Maker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-diamond-maker.md) - [The Treasure in the Forest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-treasure-in-the-forest.md) - [Through a Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/through-a-window.md) - [The Lord of the Dynamos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-lord-of-the-dynamos.md) - [Aepyornis Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/aepyornis-island.md) - [A Deal in Ostriches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/a-deal-in-ostriches.md) - [The Flying Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-flying-man.md) - [The Temptation of Harringay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-temptation-of-harringay.md) - [The Moth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-moth.md) - [The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-remarkable-case-of-davidson-s-eyes.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/v.md) - [A Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/a-catastrophe.md) - [Pollock and the Porroh Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/pollock-and-the-porroh-man.md) - [The Cone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-cone.md) - [The Argonauts of the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-argonauts-of-the-air.md) - [A Slip Under the Microscope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/a-slip-under-the-microscope.md) - [Under the Knife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/under-the-knife.md) - [The Red Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-red-room.md) - [The Plattner Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-plattner-story.md) - [The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-late-mr-elvesham.md) - [In the Abyss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/in-the-abyss.md) - [The Apple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-apple.md) - [The Purple Pileus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-purple-pileus.md) - [The Sea Raiders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-sea-raiders.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/i.md) - [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii.md) - [The Crystal Egg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-crystal-egg.md) - [The Lost Inheritance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-lost-inheritance.md) - [A Story of the Stone Age](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/a-story-of-the-stone-age.md) - [Ugh-Lomi and Uya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/i-ugh-lomi-and-uya.md) - [II: The Cave Bear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ii-the-cave-bear.md) - [III: The First Horseman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii-the-first-horseman.md) - [IV: Uya the Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iv-uya-the-lion.md) - [V: The Fight in the Lion’s Thicket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/v-the-fight-in-the-lion-s-thicket.md) - [A Story of the Days to Come](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/a-story-of-the-days-to-come.md) - [I: The Cure for Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/i-the-cure-for-love.md) - [II: The Vacant Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ii-the-vacant-country.md) - [III: The Ways of the City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii-the-ways-of-the-city.md) - [IV: Underneath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iv-underneath.md) - [V: Bindon Intervenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/v-bindon-intervenes.md) - [The Star](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-star.md) - [The Man Who Could Work Miracles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-man-who-could-work-miracles.md) - [Miss Winchelsea's Heart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/miss-winchelsea-s-heart.md) - [Mr. Ledbetter's Vacation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/mr-ledbetter-s-vacation.md) - [The Stolen Body](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-stolen-body.md) - [Jimmy Goggles the God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/jimmy-goggles-the-god.md) - [Mr. Brisher's Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/mr-brisher-s-treasure.md) - [A Vision of Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/a-vision-of-judgment.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/vi.md) - [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ix.md) - [A Dream of Armageddon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/a-dream-of-armageddon.md) - [The New Accelerator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-new-accelerator.md) - [Filmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/filmer.md) - [Mr. Skelmersdale in Fairyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/mr-skelmersdale-in-fairyland.md) - [The Land Ironclads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-land-ironclads.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/i.md) - [The Land Ironclads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/v.md) - [The Valley of Spiders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-valley-of-spiders.md) - [The Truth About Pyecraft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-truth-about-pyecraft.md) - [The Magic Shop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-magic-shop.md) - [The Country of the Blind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-country-of-the-blind.md) - [The Obliterated Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-obliterated-man.md) - [The Story of the Inexperienced Ghost](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-inexperienced-ghost.md) - [The Door in the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-door-in-the-wall.md) - [The Door in the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iv.md) - [The Empire of the Ants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-empire-of-the-ants.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iv.md) - [The Beautiful Suit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-beautiful-suit.md) - [The Pearl of Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/the-pearl-of-love.md) - [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/endnotes.md) HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters