Short stories | Lecturia

Jack London: A Thousand Deaths

“A Thousand Deaths” is a science fiction short story by Jack London, published in May 1899 in The Black Cat magazine. A shipwreck survivor is rescued from the sea and taken aboard a yacht, where he awakens connected to a machine designed to revive him. He soon discovers that his rescue was neither accidental nor altruistic. Taken to a deserted island with no means of escape, he becomes the subject of a series of extreme experiments designed to challenge the boundaries between life and death. Isolated and watched, he must face trials for which no one is prepared.

Harlan Ellison: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

“I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” is a science fiction horror short story written by Harlan Ellison, published in March 1967 in If magazine, and winner of the Hugo Award in 1968. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story tells of the desperate existence of five human survivors trapped in the bowels of a sentient supercomputer called AM. The machine, created by humans during the war, has exterminated almost all of humanity and keeps these five alive to torture them relentlessly. In this underground hell, there is no longer any trace of hope.

Robert Bloch: The Eyes of the Mummy

“The Eyes of the Mummy,” a short story by Robert Bloch published in Weird Tales in April 1938, tells the story of a man fascinated by ancient Egypt who embarks on a secret expedition with an archaeologist to plunder the tomb of a priest of the god Sobek. After discovering the mummy, they come across mysterious gems that have replaced the corpse’s eyes. These jewels possess hypnotic and supernatural properties related to ancient Egyptian beliefs about resurrection. What begins as a simple treasure hunt turns into a terrifying experience that challenges the protagonist’s understanding and pits him against dark forces beyond his comprehension, threatening his sanity and his very existence.

Hugh Walpole: The Silver Mask

“The Silver Mask” is a short story by British writer Hugh Walpole, first published in March 1932 in Harper’s Bazaar and later included in the collection All Souls’ Night (1933). The story begins on a cold night in London, when Miss Sonia Herries, a lonely fifty-year-old woman, encounters an extraordinarily handsome young beggar who begs her for help for his starving family. Moved by a compassionate impulse, Sonia invites him to her home, unaware that this gesture will draw her into a strange and disturbing situation, where emotional vulnerability becomes her greatest weakness.

Saki: Sredni Vashtar

“Sredni Vashtar” is a short story by British writer Saki (Hector Hugh Munro), first published on May 28, 1910, in the Westminster Gazette and later included in The Chronicles of Clovis (1911). The story centers on Conradin, a sickly and lonely boy who lives under the oppressive guardianship of his cousin, Mrs. De Ropp. In a hidden corner of the garden, Conradin finds refuge in a shed where he secretly raises a ferret, which he worships as a god named Sredni Vashtar. In this small sanctuary, Conradin builds a private world, the setting for his intimate and silent resistance.

Guy de Maupassant: Father Milon

“Father Milon” (Le Père Milon) is a short story by Guy de Maupassant published on May 22, 1883, in the newspaper Le Gaulois. Set during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, it tells the story of an elderly Norman peasant who lives with his family on a farm occupied by German troops. In the midst of the sweltering rural summer, the apparent calm of the surroundings contrasts with the growing tension among the inhabitants due to a series of mysterious murders in the area. The story begins with a military interrogation that leads to the revelation of a dark secret involving the older man.