Short stories | Lecturia

Oscar Wilde: The Selfish Giant

In Oscar Wilde’s 1888 short story The Selfish Giant, a giant returns home to find that children are using his garden as a playground and drives them out, building a wall to keep them out. Without the children, the garden is plunged into a perpetual winter, deprived of life and joy. One day, a mysterious child enters the garden. The giant, seeing their sadness, is moved and decides to tear down the wall to allow the children to return and with them, spring. The story is a reflection on selfishness, kindness and the redeeming power of love and childlike innocence.

O. Henry: The Gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi is a short story by O. Henry, first published in The New York Sunday World on 10 December 1905. The narrative revolves around Delia and Jim, a young couple residing in a modest apartment. On Christmas Eve, with only a meagre sum of barely a dollar and eighty-seven cents to her name, Delia finds herself in a desperate situation, striving to procure a suitable gift for her husband. Driven by a profound sense of affection, she makes a decision that entails significant personal deprivation. The poignant and straightforward account illuminates the value of altruistic love and the sacrifices one is willing to make for those they hold most dear.

Algernon Blackwood: The Transfer

In Algernon Blackwood’s 1911 short story, “The Transfer,” the narrative revolves around a governess endowed with exceptional perceptive abilities who serves in the household of a wealthy family. The woman forms a unique bond with Jamie, one of the children in the household, who is particularly distressed by a visit from his father’s older brother. It appears that Jamie is experiencing a sense of apprehension towards his uncle, a sentiment that is not fully comprehended by the other members of the household, with the exception of the governess. She hypothesises that she is aware of the underlying cause of the child’s apprehension and its potential correlation with an isolated section of the garden, where, intriguingly, the flora exhibits a distinct lack of growth.

Arthur C. Clarke: The Star

The Star is a seminal work of science fiction, written by Arthur C. Clarke and first published in 1955. The narrative follows a Jesuit priest and astrophysicist who, during a space mission, discovers the remnants of a civilization that was annihilated by a cosmic catastrophe. This discovery profoundly challenges his faith, prompting him to question the beliefs he had previously accepted unquestioningly. Through this narrative, Clarke examines the tension between science and religion, raising questions about God’s role in the cosmos and human existence. Despite its brevity, the story is profoundly thought-provoking.

Algernon Blackwood: The Empty House

The Empty House is a chilling narrative by Algernon Blackwood, first published in 1906. The narrative examines the terror that arises from a seemingly innocuous location, yet one that is burdened with a sinister history. Jim Shorthouse accompanies his aunt, Julia, a paranormal enthusiast, on an investigation conducted at night within a house that has been the subject of rumour and speculation regarding its supposed curse. Despite the dwelling’s unremarkable appearance, those who visit it report an inexplicable sense of dread. As the couple progresses in their investigation, the atmosphere becomes increasingly oppressive, and the phenomena they encounter not only challenge their understanding but also threaten to erode their resolve.

Isaac Asimov: A Statue For Father

A Statue for Father is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov published in Satellite Science Fiction in February 1959. Through the voice of the son of a visionary scientist, it tells the fascinating story of an accidental discovery that revolutionized humanity. The father, a stubborn physicist passionate about time travel, works tirelessly on his research, facing ridicule and disinterest from the scientific community. Although the chronotunnels do not work as he had hoped, a stroke of luck brings about something extraordinary: a bridge between the past and the present. This finding, which initially seems like a modest step forward, changes history unexpectedly.