+14 | Lecturia

Brian Aldiss: The New Father Christmas

“The New Father Christmas” is a short story by Brian Aldiss published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in January 1958. Set in the year 2388, it tells the story of Roberta and Robin, an elderly couple who live on the upper floors of a gigantic factory. When Roberta discovers that it is Christmas, she decides to share the news with three homeless people hiding in the basement of the factory, which continues to operate tirelessly. However, by inviting them up to her home, she sets off a chain of events that will forever change the fate of the inhabitants of this oppressive mechanized world.

Patricia Highsmith: The Perfect Little Lady

The Perfect Little Lady is a short story by Patricia Highsmith, published in 1975 in the collection Kleine Geschichtgen für Weiberfeinde. It tells the story of Theadora, a girl who, from birth, is considered a model of perfection. She is always impeccable, polite, and charming and embodies elegance and good manners. However, her reserved nature keeps her from other children, who view her suspiciously. While the others play and have fun, Theadora forges her path in a world that does not always accept her.

José María Arguedas: The Pongo’s Dream

José María Arguedas - El sueño del pongo 2

The Pongo’s Dream (El sueño del pongo), a folk tale compiled by José María Arguedas, narrates the life of a pongo, an indigenous servant in a hacienda, who suffers constant humiliation and abuse at the hands of his master. Despite his humble status and frail appearance, the pongo carries out his tasks diligently, although always surrounded by an aura of sadness and resignation. One day, the pongo tells his boss about a dream in which they both appear dead and are judged very peculiarly by San Francisco, revealing a profound reflection on justice and human dignity.

Jorge Luis Borges: The House of Asterion

The House of Asterion, a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, published in 1947 in Los Anales de Buenos Aires and later included in the collection El Aleph (1949), explores the life of Asterion, a mythical and enigmatic character who lives in a unique, vast and labyrinthine house. Through a first-person narrative, Asterion describes his solitary existence in this mysterious house, where he entertains himself with various games and reflections while awaiting the arrival of the promised Redeemer.

Ray Bradbury: Bright Phoenix

Bright Phoenix is a story by Ray Bradbury, written in 1947 and published in 1963 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. This story is considered the seed of Bradbury’s most famous novel, Fahrenheit 451. Set in Green Town, the story begins when the quiet library routine is interrupted by Jonathan Barnes, the Chief Censor, who arrives to confiscate and destroy books under the pretext of protecting society. Tom, the librarian, accompanied by a group of regular readers, responds with silent but firm resistance, transforming the library into a symbol of intellectual struggle against authoritarianism.

Juan Rulfo: Luvina

In “Luvina,” a story published in El llano en llamas (1953), Juan Rulfo describes an inhospitable village lashed by the constant wind and the aridity of its surroundings. Through the memories of a man who narrates his experience in it, a place is presented where nature and time seem to have stopped, leaving only the echo of loneliness and sadness. The inhabitants, marked by resignation, live a hard and monotonous life tied to the barren land and the weight of their dead. In the middle of this desolate landscape, the narrator shares his melancholy reflection on the futile struggle against an implacable destiny.