Fantasy | Lecturia

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.

H. G. Wells: The Country of the Blind

“The Country of the Blind” is a short story by H. G. Wells, published in April 1904 in The Strand Magazine. It tells the story of a mountain guide who, during an expedition in the Andes, suffers an accident that leads him to a remote valley, isolated from the outside world. There, he discovers a population that has lived for centuries without the sense of sight and has developed its life, customs, and beliefs without any reference to the visible world. Convinced that his ability to see will give him an advantage, he tries to impose himself as a leader, unaware that he will face challenges for which he may not be prepared.

Arthur Conan Doyle: Lot No. 249

“Lot No. 249” is a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in September 1892 in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine. Set in Oxford, the story follows medical student Abercrombie Smith, whose academic routine is disrupted by disturbing news about his neighbor Edward Bellingham, an eccentric scholar, expert in Oriental languages, and fascinated by the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Gradually, inexplicable events disturb the quiet life at the university, and Smith begins to suspect that his neighbor is hiding more than just academic eccentricities.

Jack London: A Thousand Deaths

“A Thousand Deaths” is a science fiction short story by Jack London, published in May 1899 in The Black Cat magazine. A shipwreck survivor is rescued from the sea and taken aboard a yacht, where he awakens connected to a machine designed to revive him. He soon discovers that his rescue was neither accidental nor altruistic. Taken to a deserted island with no means of escape, he becomes the subject of a series of extreme experiments designed to challenge the boundaries between life and death. Isolated and watched, he must face trials for which no one is prepared.

Bram Stoker: Dracula’s Guest

“Dracula’s Guest” is a short story by Bram Stoker, published in 1914 in the collection Dracula’s Guest and Other Weird Stories. Originally conceived as the first chapter of the novel Dracula, it was discarded by the author and published independently after his death. Set in the vicinity of Munich, the story follows a young Englishman who, ignoring the warnings of his coachman, ventures into a desolate landscape on Walpurgis Night. As the snow falls and the surroundings become increasingly threatening, the traveler finds a forgotten mausoleum and begins to sense strange presences that herald the approach of a dark power.

Ambrose Bierce: Beyond the Wall

“Beyond the Wall” is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, published in December 1907 in Cosmopolitan magazine. The story begins with a man visiting his old friend Mohun Dampier on a stormy night in San Francisco. Upon arriving at the gloomy and lonely house where Dampier lives, the visitor realizes that his old companion has undergone disturbing changes. In the dim light of a tower battered by wind and rain, a knock on the wall arouses his curiosity. Intrigued, he listens intently to his friend’s story, which reveals a painful memory related to that mysterious signal.