Great Britain | Lecturia

Arthur C. Clarke: The Forgotten Enemy

“The Forgotten Enemy” is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, published in December 1948 in King’s College Review. In a post-apocalyptic world covered in snow and ice, Professor Millward lives in isolation in a deserted London, surrounded by the books he has preserved for years. One night, a mysterious sound coming from the north interrupts the stillness and awakens in him the hope that there might be other human beings returning. Millward ventures into the abandoned city and tries to discover the origin of the noises, while confronting his solitude and the dangers of a hostile environment.

Arthur C. Clarke: Report on Planet Three

“Report on Planet Three” is a science fiction short story by British writer Arthur C. Clarke, published in May 1959 in Holiday magazine. Presented as an ancient Martian document, it describes the scientific observations made by astronomers on the red planet about Earth, its mysterious neighbor. Using data obtained with advanced instruments, they analyze its dense atmosphere, vast oceans, high gravity, and extreme climate, assessing whether it could support life. Clarke uses irony to offer a subtle critique of the anthropocentric view with which we tend to judge other worlds.

Saki: Sredni Vashtar

“Sredni Vashtar” is a short story by British writer Saki (Hector Hugh Munro), first published on May 28, 1910, in the Westminster Gazette and later included in The Chronicles of Clovis (1911). The story centers on Conradin, a sickly and lonely boy who lives under the oppressive guardianship of his cousin, Mrs. De Ropp. In a hidden corner of the garden, Conradin finds refuge in a shed where he secretly raises a ferret, which he worships as a god named Sredni Vashtar. In this small sanctuary, Conradin builds a private world, the setting for his intimate and silent resistance.

Saki: The She-Wolf

“The She-Wolf” is a short story by Hector Hugh Munro (Saki), published on August 6, 1912, in the Morning Post. It tells the story of Leonard Bilsiter, a man fascinated by esotericism who returns to England after a trip to Russia with tales of “Siberian magic.” During a stay at Mary Hampton’s house, conversations about occult powers intensify, and Mary challenges Leonard to turn her into a she-wolf. What begins as an intriguing proposition turns into a series of unexpected events that will test the beliefs and nerves of everyone present.

H. G. Wells: The Triumphs of a Taxidermist

“The Triumphs of a Taxidermist” is a short story by H. G. Wells, published on March 3, 1894, in the Pall Mall Gazette and collected in the book The Stolen Bacillus and Other Incidents (1895). The story takes place in the small, messy home of an eccentric taxidermist who, between glasses of whiskey, enthusiastically reveals his trade secrets. With a sarcastic and provocative tone, he describes his most unusual achievements: from faking extinct birds to inventing non-existent species. The story, laden with black humor, pokes fun at scientific credulity and the obsession with collecting curiosities.

Saki: Gabriel-Ernest

“Gabriel-Ernest” is a short story by Saki (Hector Hugh Munro), published in 1909 in The Westminster Gazette. The story begins when Van Cheele, an English country gentleman, encounters a strange boy in the woods on his property. His wild behavior and enigmatic responses arouse the man’s unease and curiosity. Later, the boy appears at Van Cheele’s home, temporarily taken in by his aunt, who calls him Gabriel-Ernest. Soon, disturbing signs reveal that this guest is more than he appears to be.