“The Monkey’s Paw,” a short story by W. W. Jacobs, is a classic tale of horror and fantasy. It is notable for its tense atmosphere and reflection on the implications of altering destiny. The story revolves around the White family, who receive a mysterious magic talisman as a gift, with the ability to grant three wishes. Despite their skepticism, they decide to use the amulet, which leads to a series of catastrophic events.
“The Emissary” is a short story by Ray Bradbury, first published in 1947 in the collection Dark Carnival. It tells the story of Martin Christie, a boy confined to his bed by illness whose only connection to the outside world is his dog, Torry. Each day, the animal goes out to explore the neighborhood and returns carrying scents, textures, and echoes of places Martin can no longer visit. One day, Torry disappears without a trace. When Martin has lost all hope of ever seeing his friend again, something unexpected happens.
“Ligeia” is a Gothic horror tale by Edgar Allan Poe, published on September 18, 1838, in the magazine American Museum. It recounts the intense relationship between the narrator and Ligeia, a woman of extraordinary beauty and intelligence, whom he met in a ruined city near the Rhine. In their union, they share love, passion, and a profound intellectual respect. Ligeia’s death plunges the narrator into a spiral of decay from which not even his marriage to the beautiful Rowena can rescue him. The memory of—and obsession with—Ligeia haunts the narrator, tormenting him even though she rests in her grave.
“The Devoted Friend” is a short story by Oscar Wilde, published in 1888 in the collection The Happy Prince and Other Tales. Presented as a fable within a fable, the story begins when a lark tells a water rat and a duck the story of little Hans, a kind-hearted young man who carefully tends his garden and maintains an unequal relationship with a miller who takes advantage of his generosity and unconditional devotion. Through this allegorical structure, Wilde critiques the hypocrisy and selfishness hidden behind discourses of virtue, and shows how true friendship can be corrupted by self-interest and manipulation.
The Stolen Bacillus is a short story by H. G. Wells, published on June 21, 1894, in The Pall Mall Budget. The story begins in the laboratory of a bacteriologist who shows a visitor a live culture of the cholera bacillus, explaining its ability to devastate entire cities. The visitor, fascinated by the destructive power of the microorganism, listens attentively as the scientist describes the consequences of its spread. However, a momentary distraction allows the stranger to leave in a hurry, which triggers a frantic chase through London. As the tension mounts, the story takes an unexpected turn.
«The Trial of Love» is a story by Mary Shelley, published in 1834. It tells the story of Angeline, a young orphan who lives in a convent and maintains a secret love with Ippolito, a young aristocrat. Both undergo a year’s trial of separation without communicating, promised to Ippolito’s father, to prove the constancy of their feelings. The arrival of Faustina, Angeline’s childhood friend, tests the lovers’ loyalty and destiny.