Fantasy | Lecturia

J. D. Beresford: The Misanthrope

“The Misanthrope” is a short story by the English writer J. D. Beresford, published in 1918 in the book Nineteen Impressions. Intrigued by the stories about a mysterious hermit living on the remote islet of Gulland, a man decides to travel there. Once there, he meets William Copley, who has chosen to live apart from society. Invited to spend the night with him, the visitor gradually becomes Copley’s confidant, who reveals the disturbing condition that afflicts him: a peculiar faculty of perception that has driven him into a profound rejection of humanity.

H. G. Wells: The Stolen Body

“The Stolen Body” is a short story by H. G. Wells published in 1898 in The Strand Magazine, combining science fiction with supernatural horror. Mr. Bessel and his colleague Vincey are deeply interested in the study of psychic and spiritual phenomena. Driven by his curiosity, Bessel decides to experiment with astral projection, attempting to separate his mind from his physical body. However, during one of these attempts, something goes wrong and Bessel finds himself outside his body, facing mysterious and puzzling situations as he searches for a way to return to his normal state.

Jorge Luis Borges: The Aleph

“The Aleph” (El Aleph) is one of the most iconic short stories by Jorge Luis Borges, originally published in 1945 in the magazine Sur and later included in the 1949 collection of the same name. In this work, Borges explores the intersection between the infinite and the everyday. The story follows a protagonist obsessed with the memory of his beloved Beatriz Viterbo, who regularly visits the house where she once lived. There, he encounters her cousin, Carlos Argentino Daneri, a mediocre poet and library clerk. During one of these meetings, Daneri reveals the existence of an astonishing object: an “Aleph,” a point in space that contains all the points in the universe.

Charlotte Brontë: Napoleon and the Spectre

“Napoleon and the Spectre” is a Gothic tale by Charlotte Brontë, written in 1833 and published in 1925 in the collection The Twelve Adventurers and Other Stories. Emperor Napoleon is in his bedroom attempting to rest when a series of strange occurrences begin to manifest themselves: creaking sounds, moans, and a shadow that darkens the candles. As he tries to convince himself that everything is merely an illusion, a mysterious voice addresses him and a sinister-looking spectre appears before him, urging him to leave his bed. Driven by an irresistible force, Napoleon follows it into the night of Paris, where a disturbing experience awaits him.

Harlan Ellison: All the Sounds of Fear

Harlan Ellison - Todos los sonidos del miedo

“All the Sounds of Fear” is a short story by Harlan Ellison, published in 1962 in the collection Ellison Wonderland. It recounts the extraordinary career of the actor Richard Becker, who develops a revolutionary acting technique based on total immersion in his characters—living them in reality in order to achieve absolute authenticity on stage. Over the course of twenty-four years, Becker conquers Broadway with legendary characterizations, turning down offers from Hollywood because he believes his art requires the reality of the theater. However, his extreme dedication to assuming other identities drags him toward a breaking point where the line between actor and character fades away irretrievably.

Arthur Conan Doyle: The Leather Funnel

“The Leather Funnel” is a Gothic short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in November 1902 in McClure’s magazine. A man visits his friend Lionel Dacre, a wealthy collector of strange objects and occult books, in Paris. During his stay, an ancient and enigmatic leather funnel arouses the visitor’s curiosity. Dacre, convinced that certain objects retain traces of extreme experiences and can transmit them to sensitive minds, proposes a unique experiment to his guest: to sleep next to the funnel in order to access, through sleep, revelations about his dark past.