Halloween | Lecturia

Edgar Allan Poe: The Masque of the Red Death

The Masque of the Red Death, a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in 1842, immerses the reader in an allegory about the inevitability of death. Set in an indeterminate time plagued by a devastating plague known as the Red Death, the kingdom’s prince decides to isolate himself in his fortified abbey along with other nobles, seeking to escape the disease. He organizes a luxurious masked ball in his refuge, ignoring the suffering ravaging the outside world. However, some guests do show up, even if they are not called.

H. P. Lovecraft: The Hound

Synopsis: “The Hound” is a horror story by H. P. Lovecraft, published in February 1924 in the magazine Weird Tales. The story follows two macabre enthusiasts who seek extreme thrills to alleviate their boredom. Both are collectors of esoteric artifacts and practice grave robbing to obtain rare and mystical objects. During one of their expeditions to a Dutch cemetery, they unearth an ancient amulet shaped like a winged hound linked to dark and nefarious rituals described in the Necronomicon. From the moment they possess it, a wave of supernatural events begins to unfold around them.

Julio Cortázar: House Taken Over

In “House Taken Over” by Julio Cortázar, Irene and her brother live in an old, spacious house inherited from their ancestors. The house, full of family memories, is meticulously cared for by both, who lead a routine and quiet life. Irene spends her days knitting while her brother takes care of the housework. One day, strange noises begin to be heard from the farthest part of the house, forcing the siblings to leave certain rooms. The sounds intensify, and the siblings are forced to confine themselves to a smaller section of the house, living in a state of growing unease.

H. P. Lovecraft: From Beyond

‘From Beyond,’ a cosmic horror and science fiction tale by H. P. Lovecraft published in 1934, tells the story of Crawford Tillinghast, a scientist obsessed with proving that human perception is limited. After weeks of isolation, he invites a friend to his mansion to show him a machine that allows him to perceive hidden dimensions by stimulating the pineal gland. The experiment reveals a terrifying reality populated by monstrous entities beyond human comprehension, unleashing horrific consequences for both men and challenging the limits of sanity and known reality.

Algernon Blackwood: The Doll

‘The Doll,’ a short story by Algernon Blackwood published in 1946, tells the story of Colonel Hymbers Masters, a retired Indian Army officer. One night, a man brings a package to the Colonel’s house with the express instruction that it is to be delivered only to him. Several days later, the Colonel discovers that the package contains a doll and orders it to be destroyed. The cook, however, disregards the instruction and gives it to Monica, the Colonel’s daughter, who immediately takes a liking to the doll and makes it her companion. From that moment on, mysterious events disrupt life at the Masters’ residence.

Arthur Machen: The Happy Children

The Happy Children is a haunting story by Arthur Machen, published in 1920. After Christmas 1915, a journalist stops in Banwick, a town steeped in medieval atmosphere. Fascinated by the beauty of the place, he wanders through the narrow, winding streets, where he is surprised to find numerous children laughing, singing, and dancing merrily. His bewilderment increases as he finds that even as night falls and darkness envelops the village, children are still on the streets. While exploring this enigmatic setting, the journalist witnesses a strange procession heading to an ancient church on the hill. This experience will be far more disturbing than he ever imagined.