Horror | Lecturia

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.

Edgar Allan Poe: Shadow—A Parable

“Shadow—A Parable” is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, published in September 1835 in The Southern Literary Messenger and later included in Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque (1840). Set in the fictional city of Ptoleméis during a devastating plague, the story begins with a group of seven men locked in a gloomy room, drinking wine beside the recent corpse of a friend. As they try to ignore the horror outside, an inexplicable shadow emerges from the draperies of the room, interrupting their forced revelry with a presence that seems to speak from a place beyond time.

Lisa Tuttle: The Horse Lord

“The Horse Lord” is a short story by American writer Lisa Tuttle, published in June 1977 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The story follows Marilyn, a suspense writer who moves with her husband and five children to an old family mansion in a remote area of upstate New York. As she adjusts to rural life, she discovers an old, abandoned barn linked to a tragic family history and ancient Native American legends. What begins as a new chapter away from the hustle and bustle of city life gradually turns into an increasingly oppressive and disturbing experience.

Bram Stoker: The Coming of Abel Behenna

Bram Stoker - El regreso de Abel Behenna

“The Coming of Abel Behenna” is a romantic and dark short story by Bram Stoker, published in 1893 in Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper. In the peaceful port of Pencastle, two young men who have been inseparable since childhood, Abel and Eric, share not only a deep friendship but also a love for the beautiful Sarah Trefusis, the most sought-after young woman in the village. When she is forced to choose between them, an unusual proposal gives rise to a risky agreement that will keep her away from her fiancé for a year. While chance determines the future, jealousy, ambition, and uncertainty begin to cloud the bond between the former comrades.

Harlan Ellison: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

“I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” is a science fiction horror short story written by Harlan Ellison, published in March 1967 in If magazine, and winner of the Hugo Award in 1968. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story tells of the desperate existence of five human survivors trapped in the bowels of a sentient supercomputer called AM. The machine, created by humans during the war, has exterminated almost all of humanity and keeps these five alive to torture them relentlessly. In this underground hell, there is no longer any trace of hope.

Robert Bloch: The Eyes of the Mummy

“The Eyes of the Mummy,” a short story by Robert Bloch published in Weird Tales in April 1938, tells the story of a man fascinated by ancient Egypt who embarks on a secret expedition with an archaeologist to plunder the tomb of a priest of the god Sobek. After discovering the mummy, they come across mysterious gems that have replaced the corpse’s eyes. These jewels possess hypnotic and supernatural properties related to ancient Egyptian beliefs about resurrection. What begins as a simple treasure hunt turns into a terrifying experience that challenges the protagonist’s understanding and pits him against dark forces beyond his comprehension, threatening his sanity and his very existence.