After Dinner Conversation - Examining the Past

Named Top 10 "Best Lit Mags of 2023" by Chill Subs

Carefully curated stories from After Dinner Conversation magazine to create a themed short story book about the philosophy and ethics of revisiting and examining our past as individuals. Perfect for classrooms and book clubs, each story is 1,500-7,000 words and comes with five suggested discussion questions.

Story Summary List

• The Man Who Killed The Dog: A man slowly goes crazy because he is unable to come to terms with his past.
• The Free Will of Professor Sturmhauser: A depressed philosophy professor is a deep believer in the lack of free will.
• Taps: A draft dodging trumpet player seeks redemption by playing at veteran funerals.
• They Got Their Show: A taxi driver is assigned to pick up the newly exonerated murderer of his 16-year-old daughter.
• Christmas In Ushuaia: A sorrowful man heads to the ends of the earth to dispose of his most painful memories.
• All My Tomorrows: A down on his luck man in his twilight comes into a "memory storage facility" to trade his remaining days for the chance to re-experience his "last good day."
• Momentary Paradise: The narrator watches a late-night movie that makes her question what moment in her life would be her personal framework for heaven.
• The Causes of the First World War: A gay romance causes a downward spiral for one partner, and questions of ethics and responsibility for the other.
• The Stone Piles: A young boy seeks the approval of his father through hunting, but finds he doesn't have the stomach for it.
• The Only Punishment: A street-hardened criminal is forced to live his crimes from the perspective of his victims.

After Dinner Conversation believes humanity is improved by ethics and morals grounded in philosophical truth. Philosophical truth is discovered through intentional reflection and respectful debate. In order to facilitate that process, we have created a growing series of short stories across genres, a monthly magazine, themed books, and two podcasts. These accessible examples of abstract ethical and philosophical ideas are intended to draw out deeper discussions with friends, family, and students.

Reviews 5/5 Stars!
"With Science fiction we can explore other galaxies and alien conflicts, but with philosophical fiction we can explore other minds and ethical conflicts. Let this book take you on a Phi-Fi adventure."
- William Irwin, Ph.D. - Philosophy Professor, King's College

"After Dinner Conversation collections can offer a spine for such courses as illustrative material to stimulate discussion. Lively and engaging, perfect for classrooms and educational contexts, the stories stimulate conversation in families, elder hostels, youth clubs, or book groups."
- Luc Bovens, Ph.D. - Philosophy Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

★★★ If you enjoy this story, subscribe via our website to "After Dinner Conversation Magazine" and get this, and other, similar ethical and philosophical short stories delivered straight to your inbox every month. (Just search "After Dinner Conversation Magazine")★★★