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Arthur Machen: The Shining Pyramid

“The Shining Pyramid” is a short story by Arthur Machen, first published in May 1895 in The Unknown World. Mr. Vaughan visits his friend Dyson in London to ask for help with a disturbing mystery: near his country house, strange designs have appeared, made with prehistoric arrowheads that rearrange themselves each night to form enigmatic figures. Vaughan fears they may be signals left by thieves interested in his valuable collection of ancient silver. Intrigued by these inexplicable symbols, Dyson decides to accompany Vaughan to his remote property in the Welsh hills to investigate the phenomena and discover who—or what—is creating them.

Brian Aldiss: The New Father Christmas

“The New Father Christmas” is a short story by Brian Aldiss published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in January 1958. Set in the year 2388, it tells the story of Roberta and Robin, an elderly couple who live on the upper floors of a gigantic factory. When Roberta discovers that it is Christmas, she decides to share the news with three homeless people hiding in the basement of the factory, which continues to operate tirelessly. However, by inviting them up to her home, she sets off a chain of events that will forever change the fate of the inhabitants of this oppressive mechanized world.

Algernon Blackwood: The Kit-Bag

Synopsis: “The Kit-Bag” is a short story by Algernon Blackwood, published in December 1908 in Pall Mall Magazine. Johnson has spent ten days in court observing the trial of a brutal murderer named John Turk, whose image haunts him. Eager to leave for the Alps and put this disturbing experience behind him, he is packing his bags when he hears furtive footsteps on the stairs, as if someone were lurking in the shadows. As his unease grows, the atmosphere becomes increasingly oppressive, and the night, which promised to be peaceful, turns into a terrifying experience.

Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire

In “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire,” a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle published in January 1924 in The Strand Magazine, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson face an unusual mystery when they receive a letter about a suspected case of vampirism. A concerned client, whose family is being torn apart by strange events, desperately seeks Holmes’ help. With his keen powers of observation and deduction, Holmes unravels a plot that defies conventional explanations, revealing the complexities of human relationships and the prejudices that can blind us to the truth. A story that combines Gothic elements with Holmes’ characteristic ingenuity in solving mysteries.

Bob Shaw: Light of Other Days

“Light of Other Days” is a short story by Bob Shaw, published in August 1966 in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact. A couple in crisis travels to a rural area of Scotland, where slow glass panels are manufactured — a peculiar material that delays the passage of light and captures scenes with astonishing clarity. Amid a haunting and silent landscape, they visit a remote farm and meet the eccentric maker, who offers them a high-quality panel that has been storing light for ten years. However, what initially seems like a simple commercial transaction gradually reveals a deeper and more unsettling story.

Arthur C. Clarke: The Possessed

“The Possessed” is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, published in March 1953 in Dynamic Science Fiction. It recounts the odyssey of the Swarm, an alien lifeform that travels through stellar radiation storms in search of a planet where it can take refuge. Upon arriving at a young world, it explores the surface and examines its emerging forms of life, hoping to find a suitable host to ensure its survival. As it studies this primitive planet, the Swarm faces a critical decision that will shape its future in a vast and hostile universe.