Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author's brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.

In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted 'Top Tens' across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?

The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.

Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.

Most people will shrug at the name of 'Barry Pain', if you are one of them you are in for a treat. Pain was a brilliant storyteller who took on difficult issues and situations and handled each with aplomb and a knowing way that only true talent can.

01 - The Top 10 - Barry Pain - An Introduction

02 - The Diary of a God by Barry Pain

03 - The Act of Heroism by Barry Pain

04 - The Case of Vincent Pyrwhit by Barry Pain

05 - The Green Light by Barry Pain

06 - The Magnet by Barry Pain

07 - The End of a Show by Barry Pain

08 - A Complete Recovery by Barry Pain

09 - The Extermination by Barry Pain

10 - Murder, from The Memoirs of Constantine Dix by Barry Pain

11 - Post Mortem by Barry Pain