Opening Lines

The first line of a short story is very important. A good one can hook the reader and make them want to read on. A weak first line and they might pass your story by.

"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." – from “Neuromancer”

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." – from “1984”

"We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. – from “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect." – from “The Metamorphosis

"It was the day my Grandmother exploded." – attributed to “The Crow”

This one was brought to my attention by Writeous:
"The last camel died at noon." - from "The Key to Rebecca"

This one is mine:
It was 9:00 am and he was on his third scotch and water.