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H. G. Wells: The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham

“The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham” is a short story by H. G. Wells, first published in May 1896 in The Idler magazine. Edward Eden, a young medical student, is approached in the street by an elderly stranger who invites him to lunch and proposes making him his heir. Intrigued and tempted by the offer, Eden agrees to undergo a series of medical examinations the old man requires as a condition for sealing the deal. What seems like a providential opportunity soon turns into the threshold of a disturbing fate.

Robert Louis Stevenson: Thrawn Janet

“Thrawn Janet” is a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in October 1881 in The Cornhill Magazine. A young minister, Reverend Soulis, arrives in the Scottish village of Balweary to take charge of the parish. Ignoring the warnings of the locals, he hires Janet M’Clour as his housekeeper—a woman of ill repute, accused of witchcraft. After a tense confrontation with the village women, Janet publicly swears to renounce the devil. From that moment on, something disturbing begins to manifest around her, and the manse becomes shrouded in an atmosphere of growing fear and mystery.

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.

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.

Arthur C. Clarke: Rescue Party

“Rescue Party” is an early science fiction story by Arthur C. Clarke, published in May 1946 in Astounding Science Fiction. An advanced extraterrestrial civilization receives an urgent alert: the sun of a distant system is about to turn into a nova, threatening the life on its third planet. Surprisingly, against all odds, intelligent life has arisen and evolved at great speed on this world. Faced with this critical situation, a rescue ship is dispatched with the mission of saving as many members of the species as possible. However, they face a race against time, as they have only four hours before the star explodes and catastrophe becomes inevitable.

J. G. Ballard: The Lost Leonardo

“The Lost Leonardo” is a suspense and intrigue story by J. G. Ballard, first published in 1964 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Leonardo da Vinci’s priceless painting The Crucifixion mysteriously vanishes from the Louvre, shocking both the art world and the general public. The director of the prestigious Northeby auction house travels to Paris to join Georg de Stael in investigating the unusual theft. Together, they plunge into a labyrinth of clues and enigmas that defy logic and test their knowledge of art and history. As they uncover strange connections between masterpieces and ancient mysteries, they realize that this case is far more complex than it first appeared.