Short stories | Lecturia

Edgar Allan Poe: Eleonora

Eleonora is a gothic tale by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1841. It tells the story of a young man who lives in a paradisiacal valley with his cousin Eleonora. In this haven of beauty and isolation, the two share an existence of pure love and simple harmony, surrounded by dreamy landscapes and the silent flow of a magical river. However, a shadow threatens to break their idyllic life, forcing them to confront the fragility of happiness and the strength of the ties that bind them together.

Guy de Maupassant: The Dowry

“The Dowry” (La dot) is a short story by Guy de Maupassant published on September 9, 1884, in Gil Blas. It tells the story of Simon Lebrumet, a notary, who marries the young Jeanne Cordier in the village of Boutigny-le-Revours. Their marriage comes as no surprise to anyone, as Lebrumet needs money to buy a notary’s office and Jeanne has a considerable dowry. He is a pleasant man and she is an attractive woman, albeit somewhat provincial. The first days of their marriage are filled with sweetness and passion, and Lebrumet proves to be a tender and delicate husband. To enjoy their honeymoon, the couple plans to travel to Paris; however, a curious situation alters their plans.

Jorge Luis Borges: Emma Zunz

“Emma Zunz,” a short story by Jorge Luis Borges published in the book El Aleph (1949), tells the story of Emma, a young textile factory worker. Emma receives the news that her father, who was living far away after being unjustly accused of theft, has died due to an overdose of veronal. Grief-stricken and convinced that she knows the culprit behind her father’s misfortune, Emma embarks on a meticulous plan of revenge to restore her father’s honor.

Isaac Asimov: Dreaming Is a Private Thing

“Dreaming Is a Private Thing” is a science fiction story by Isaac Asimov, published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in December 1955. In a future where dreams have become the ultimate form of entertainment thanks to technology that allows them to be recorded and replayed, a small group of people with extraordinary imaginations create dream experiences that the rest of humanity can enjoy. In this context, Jesse Weill, director of Dreams Inc., is dedicated to finding new talent to feed this lucrative market. One day, a recruiter introduces him to Tommy Slutsky, a ten-year-old boy with promising abilities.

Philip K. Dick: The Father-Thing

The Father-Thing is a disturbing science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick published in December 1954 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. An eight-year-old, Charles, begins to suspect something terrible is happening to his father. One night, as he enters the garage, he witnesses a disturbing scene: next to his father is an identical replica of him. During dinner, Charles is confronted by the disturbing creature that, he is convinced, has usurped his father’s place. His mother’s incomprehension and the escalation of events that this provokes lead Charles to run away from home in search of help, triggering a desperate struggle to discover the truth in an environment that becomes increasingly oppressive and terrifying.

Ambrose Bierce: An Inhabitant of Carcosa

An Inhabitant of Carcosa is a haunting story by Ambrose Bierce, published in the San Francisco Newsletter on 25 December 1886. The story recounts the experience of a man who awakens in a desolate and mysterious landscape populated by withered grasses, dry trees, and ruins that seem to speak of a forgotten past. Lost in these bleak surroundings, the protagonist searches for the path to the ancient city of Carcosa as he ponders the nature of life, death, and his existence, confronting an enigma that transcends time and reality.