A character in some of these doppelganger short stories encounters their double or twin, usually in appearance and sometimes in behavior. They’re stories of doppelgangers, mirror images, “The Other”, or doubles. Or the duality might be present in a single person as an alter-ego, a split personality, someone with dual forms, or a character who lives a double life. See also:
Doppelganger Short Stories
“Selkie Stories Are for Losers” by Sofia Samatar
The narrator hates stories about selkies, mythological shape-shifters. Her mother left the family. The narrator works as a waitress at Le Pacha to help pay the bills at home. Her first night was difficult. She left her keys inside after it closed. The only other waitress, Mona, helped her get back in. They also took some wine. Mona cries a lot and is afraid her mother will take her to Egypt.
This story can be read in the collection Tender: Stories. (13% into preview)
“Charles” by Shirley Jackson
Laurie starts kindergarten and comes home every day with stories of a classmate, Charles, who’s constantly getting in trouble for being “fresh”. Laurie’s parents wonder about Charles’ parents and worry that he’s a bad influence on their son. (Summary & Analysis)
“Old Mr. Marblehall” by Eudora Welty
Mr. Marblehall didn’t get married until he was sixty. He’s known for walking and has to take traveling trips for his health. He also has a secret. (Summary)
“Changeling” by Ray Bradbury
Martha is ready for Leonard’s visit. She’s felt there’s been something different about him for a while. After hearing a news report, she’s sure of it now. She has a bottle of strychnine ready. (Summary)
“Rest Stop” by Stephen King
John Dykstra, a suspense novelist, drives home from a writer’s meeting. He thinks about who he is at different times—John Dykstra or his writing alter-ego Rick Hardin. He had several beers before leaving and desperately needs to stop somewhere. He pulls off at a rest stop he’s used before. There’s only one other car there. As he walks toward the men’s room he hears a commotion from the women’s room.
“William Wilson” by Edgar Allan Poe
William Wilson relates how he suddenly turned evil. He describes the large house where he went to school, and its strict principal, a pastor. There is another student just like William – he has the same name, build, and style of clothing.
“The Secret Sharer” by Joseph Conrad
The new captain of a ship is taking the night watch when he sees a man swimming to the side of the ship. The man comes aboard. The captain learns the man was under arrest on his own ship and escaped. The captain has to decide what to do with him.
“The Red-Headed League” by Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes is visited by Mr. Jabez Wilson, a man with striking red hair. Wilson had responded to an ad in the paper from the Red-Headed League. He was hired to copy from the encyclopedia for four hours a day. One day he showed up for work but the League was gone without explanation.
“Markheim” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Markheim goes to a shop under the guise of looking for a present for someone. He really has murder on his mind, so he can then steal the dealer’s money and goods.
“The Other” by Jorge Luis Borges
Borges recounts a meeting he had about three years prior. A man sat next to him on a bench. He believed it to be a younger version of himself. He tried to convince the other man of this.
“South of the Slot” by Jack London
Freddie Drummond is a professor of Sociology and completely orthodox in his views. He makes visits to the working-class part of town, South of the Slot, as research for his books. In this role he is “Big” Bill Tots. He begins to enjoy these trips more and more. Eventually, Freddie/Bill is a success in both worlds.
“Miriam” by Truman Capote
Mrs. Miller is an elderly widow living by herself in New York. She stays close to home and keeps a consistent routine. While standing in line for a movie one night, she meets a young girl, Miriam, which is also Mrs. Miller’s name. They have a conversation and part ways. A week later, Miriam shows up unannounced at Mrs. Miller’s home.
“Counterfeit Bills” by Richard Matheson
William Cook decides it would be nice to be two people—he could enjoy himself while his double carried out the obligatory chores of life. He devotes his time and resources to building a duplication machine. One Sunday afternoon, he tries it for the first time.
“Adam and Eve and Pinch Me” by A. E. Coppard
Jaffa is out walking and arrives at his garden, where there are three children playing. In his house, he finds his wife kissing a man. Feeling disembodied, he tries to get the attention of the maid and gardener, without success.
I’ll keep adding doppelganger short stories as I find more.