Horror | Lecturia

Fredric Brown: Don’t Look Behind You

“Don’t Look Behind You” is a short story by Fredric Brown, published in May 1947 in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. It tells the story of Justin Dean, a modest engraver working at a printing shop in Ohio, whose life changes when he meets Harley Prentice, a handsome, refined, and enigmatic man. Fascinated by his elegance and confidence, Justin agrees to join him in a risky business venture that promises fortune. But beneath the appearance of success lie unsettling secrets that will drag them toward an increasingly ominous and uncertain fate.

Ray Bradbury: The Wind

“The Wind” is a psychological horror story by Ray Bradbury, published in Weird Tales in March 1943. It tells the story of Allin, a man convinced that the winds are living entities and that one of them is trying to possess him. Seeking comfort, Allin turns to his friend Herb Thompson, but Herb is unable to visit him because he is expecting guests at his own home—and his wife believes Allin has gone mad. Throughout the night, Herb receives several phone calls from Allin, each one more disturbing than the last.

William Hope Hodgson: The Voice in the Night

“The Voice in the Night” is a short story by William Hope Hodgson, first published in November 1907 in The Blue Book Magazine. On a starless, misty night in the North Pacific, a schooner lies motionless in the middle of the ocean. Suddenly, a disturbing voice emerges from the fog, repeatedly calling out to the ship. The speaker remains hidden in the shadows and refuses to come near the light. His tone is desperate, and his request, strange. The bewildered sailors try to understand who he is and what mystery lies behind this invisible figure who shuns being seen.

Robert Bloch: The Secret in the Tomb

“The Secret in the Tomb” is a gothic horror tale written by Robert Bloch and published in Weird Tales in May 1935. It is the author’s first story set within the Cthulhu Mythos, created by H. P. Lovecraft. The narrative follows the last heir of a family of sorcerers, who ventures into the cemetery in search of an ancient and sinister secret hidden within his ancestors’ vault. In this grim and mysterious setting, the protagonist confronts supernatural forces that defy reason, while the macabre and oppressive atmosphere reveals forbidden and hidden terrors.

M. R. James: Lost Hearts

“Lost Hearts” is a gothic tale written by Montague Rhodes James (M. R. James), first published in The Pall Mall Magazine in 1895. The story follows Stephen Elliot, an orphaned boy who arrives at Aswarby Hall, the mansion of his enigmatic distant cousin, Mr. Abney. This solitary scholar, fascinated by ancient religions and esoteric practices, invites the boy to live in his austere residence in Lincolnshire. As Stephen adjusts to his new home, he grows increasingly intrigued by the mysterious atmosphere of the house and the strange sculptures and books that decorate it. Through conversations with the kind housekeeper, Mrs. Bunch, he uncovers unsettling stories about the mansion and begins to suspect that his cousin’s true intentions may be far darker than they seem.

H. P. Lovecraft: The Festival

“The Festival” is a haunting tale by H.P. Lovecraft, published in January 1925 in Weird Tales magazine. On Christmas Eve, a man travels to the ancient coastal town of Kingsport to take part in an enigmatic winter solstice ritual. His purpose is to connect with the arcane roots of his lineage, which trace back to times predating the colonization of America. Immersed in an oppressive atmosphere of mystery, the protagonist finds himself in a transformed Kingsport, where the shadows of the past come alive and family secrets intertwine with ancient horrors.