The Storyteller" is a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, who went by the pen name of Saki. The story uses multilayered storytelling to tell a tale about a man on a train who weaves a tale about the potential pitfalls of living life's extremes. The story explores the idea that although being especially bad has its pitfalls, anyone who is exceptionally good also can attract misfortune simply by standing out from the crowd. Saki's storytelling mechanics are subtle, but his strong use of symbolism goes a long way in conveying the underlying meanings of the piece.