Short stories | Lecturia

Fritz Leiber: The Man Who Never Grew Young

“The Man Who Never Grew Young” is a short story by American writer Fritz Leiber, published in 1947 in the collection Night’s Black Agents. In a remote landscape along the Nile, an ageless man watches as the world around him slowly falls apart: the pyramids are returned to the hills, great thoughts are reabsorbed by the minds that conceived them, and humanity retreats toward its origins. An unchanging witness to vanishing civilizations, the protagonist reflects wistfully on his own existence in a time that seems to flow backward.

Theodore Sturgeon: Fluffy

“Fluffy” is a short story by Theodore Sturgeon, published in Weird Tales in March 1947. Ransome, a regular guest at social gatherings thanks to his talent for telling anecdotes, spends the weekend at the home of Mrs. Benedetto, an eccentric widow who is devoted to her enormous cat, Fluffy. Fascinated by his hostess’s devotion and amused by the animal’s indifference, Ransome amuses himself by reflecting on the nature of cats. However, during the night, a strange incident in the guest room will change the course of his stay.

Arthur C. Clarke: Reunion

“Reunion” is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, published in 1971 in the anthology Infinity Two. The story is presented as an interstellar message sent by an advanced civilization announcing its imminent arrival on Earth. In a calm and cordial tone, the emissaries reveal an ancient connection to humanity: millions of years ago, they colonized the planet before being forced to abandon it. Now, after a long evolutionary separation, they return to reestablish contact. Their message conveys a proposal for reconciliation and assistance, offering technological solutions and revelations about a shared past that humanity has forgotten.

H. P. Lovecraft: The White Ship

“The White Ship” is a short story by Howard Phillips Lovecraft, published in 1919 in the magazine The United Amateur. It recounts the experience of Basil Elton, a solitary lighthouse keeper at North Point, who, every full moon, witnesses the appearance of a mysterious vessel gliding across the silent waters. Drawn by its presence, one night he decides to board it and embarks on a fantastical journey to unknown lands, guided by an enigmatic bearded man. As the ship heads south, dreamlike landscapes and wonders unfold, evoking forgotten dreams and the promise of revelations beyond the limits of time and space.

Ray Bradbury: The Rocket

“The Rocket” is a science fiction story by American writer Ray Bradbury, published in March 1950 in the magazine Super Science Stories and later included in the book *The Illustrated Man* (1951). Fiorello Bodoni is a scrap dealer who is fascinated by the rockets streaking across the night sky and dreams of one day traveling to space. After years of sacrifice, he has managed to save enough money to pay for the trip for one member of his large family. But choosing who will fulfill that dream and who must stay on Earth soon turns the excitement into a painful dilemma.

Gabriel García Márquez: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings

“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” (Un señor muy viejo con unas alas enormes) is a short story by Gabriel García Márquez, published in 1972 in the book La increíble y triste historia de la cándida Eréndira y de su abuela desalmada. It tells the story of Pelayo and his wife Elisenda, who, after several days of rain, find an old man with enormous wings lying in their yard, fallen and wallowing in the mud. The couple, bewildered by his wretched appearance and the filthy state of his wings, do not know whether they are dealing with an angel or a castaway. The news spreads quickly, and the winged man becomes the center of attention in the neighborhood, arousing in visitors both a belief in the supernatural and sheer curiosity.