Short stories | Lecturia

Philip K. Dick: The Pre-Persons

“The Pre-Persons” is a controversial short story by Philip K. Dick, published in October 1974 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Set in a dystopian future where abortion is legal up to the age of twelve, a boy flees when he sees the truck that collects unwanted children to take them to a state institution, where an algebra test determines whether or not they have a “soul.” Although his mother tries to calm him with legal arguments, the fear persists. In this tale, Dick presents a disturbing premise where the right to life and human dignity are subjected to bureaucratic and arbitrary criteria.

Arthur C. Clarke: The Forgotten Enemy

“The Forgotten Enemy” is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, published in December 1948 in King’s College Review. In a post-apocalyptic world covered in snow and ice, Professor Millward lives in isolation in a deserted London, surrounded by the books he has preserved for years. One night, a mysterious sound coming from the north interrupts the stillness and awakens in him the hope that there might be other human beings returning. Millward ventures into the abandoned city and tries to discover the origin of the noises, while confronting his solitude and the dangers of a hostile environment.

Mary Shelley: The Brother and Sister

“The Brother and Sister: An Italian Story” is a short story by Mary Shelley, first published in 1832 in The Keepsake and later included in the collection “Tales and Stories” (1891). Set in medieval Siena, it tells the story of Lorenzo and Flora Mancini, two young siblings marked by exile, family ruin, and the enmity between rival clans. Orphaned and impoverished, they decide to return to their native city to restore their fortune and reclaim their lost honor. There, Lorenzo must face the young Count Fabian Tolomei; however, a twist of fate leads to a new misfortune, forcing him to entrust the care of his beloved sister to the hands of their enemies.

Isabel Allende: If You Touched My Heart

“If You Touched My Heart” (Si me tocaras el corazón) is a short story by Isabel Allende, published in 1989 in the book Cuentos de Eva Luna. Amadeo Peralta, raised in a family of violent and authoritarian men, learns from childhood that power is imposed with cunning and brutality. Forced by his father to improve the family reputation, he must marry a young woman with a respectable surname. During a trip to the provinces, amid the heat and tedium of a forgotten village, Amadeo discovers a teenager playing a psaltery, an encounter that will eventually mark a decisive turning point in his destiny.

Ray Bradbury: A Touch of Petulance

“A Touch of Petulance” is a short story by Ray Bradbury, published in 1980 in the anthology Dark Forces. The story begins on an ordinary afternoon when Johnathen Hughes, a young, newlywed accountant, takes his usual train and sits next to an older man reading a newspaper with a future date. Intrigued, Hughes strikes up a conversation that leads him to discover disturbing details about his life, his marriage, and his destiny. What seemed like a chance encounter turns into a disturbing warning about a possible future.

Robert E. Howard: The Tower of the Elephant

“The Tower of the Elephant” is a sword and sorcery story written by Robert E. Howard, published in 1933 in the magazine Weird Tales. This story is one of the first adventures of the iconic character Conan the Barbarian, a Cimmerian warrior who faces the dangers of a world filled with dark magic, monstrous creatures, and forgotten gods. In this story, Conan ventures into the mystical Tower of the Elephant in search of a fabulous treasure, facing deadly challenges and discovering cosmic secrets that will test his strength and cunning. It is a masterpiece of the genre, notable for its intense atmosphere and plot full of action and mystery.