+14 | Lecturia

Bram Stoker: Gibbet Hill

“Gibbet Hill” is a short story by Bram Stoker, published on December 17, 1890, in the Daily Express of Dublin. On an autumn day, a traveler explores the hills of Surrey. As he admires the beauty of the place, three figures catch his attention: two girls of exotic appearance, who seem to have come from India, and a fair-haired boy with an angelic smile. After speaking with them, they climb together to the summit of Gibbet Hill, a place of breathtaking views where a cross stands in memory of the execution of a former criminal. Intoxicated by the landscape, the traveler wanders into a wood and falls into a brief sleep. Upon waking, he will witness a disturbing scene.

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.

H. G. Wells: The Flowering of the Strange Orchid

The Flowering of the Strange Orchid is a short story by H. G. Wells, first published on August 2, 1894, in Pall Mall Budget. The story follows Winter-Wedderburn, a quiet and solitary man who finds excitement in his hobby of cultivating exotic orchids. One day, he acquires a strange plant collected from remote regions, which awakens in him a sense of mystery. Fascinated by its unusual growth, he spends his days tending to the greenhouse, unaware that the orchid holds more than just beauty. The tale blends the ordinary with the unsettling, drawing the reader into an atmosphere of growing suspense.

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.