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Arthur C. Clarke: The Nine Billion Names of God. Summary and analysis

The Nine Billion Names of God, written by Arthur C. Clarke and published in 1953, is a science fiction story that explores the intersection between faith and technology. In the story, a group of Tibetan monks hires a company to install an advanced computer in their monastery. They aim to speed up an ancient project: the transcription of all the possible combinations of the names of God, a task that, if done manually, would take thousands of years. Two engineers are sent to supervise the operation of the machine, and although they consider the monks’ beliefs absurd, they do their job. As the computer nears completion of its task, the story is immersed in an atmosphere of mystery and growing tension.

Angela Carter: The Kiss

The Kiss is a story by Angela Carter, published in 1985 in the collection Black Venus. Set in the magical city of Samarkand, the story intertwines myth and history to narrate an episode in the life of Tamerlane’s wife. Against a backdrop of vivid colors and exotic landscapes, the wife tries to surprise the famous warrior, returning from his conquests, by erecting a mosque in his honor. However, the cunning architect sets an unexpected condition for finishing the job on time.

Charles Dickens: The Signal-Man

Synopsis: “The Signal-Man” is a short story by Charles Dickens, published in 1866 in All the Year Round magazine. It tells the story of a man who meets a lonely signalman working in a gloomy railway post. Through a disturbing conversation, the visitor discovers that the signalman is haunted by strange apparitions next to a … Read more

D. H. Lawrence: The Rocking-Horse Winner

The Rocking-Horse Winner is a haunting and moving short story by D. H. Lawrence, published in July 1926 in Harper’s Bazaar magazine. It tells the story of an upper-middle-class family who, trapped by the need to keep up appearances, live under the constant pressure of economic scarcity. Paul, the eldest son, is deeply affected by this situation and decides to look for a solution to alleviate the financial tensions of the household. Despite his young age, with the complicity of the gardener, he enters the world of gambling. Meanwhile, the house seems to come to life, whispering tirelessly: “There must be more money!”

Oscar Wilde: The Selfish Giant

In Oscar Wilde’s 1888 short story The Selfish Giant, a giant returns home to find that children are using his garden as a playground and drives them out, building a wall to keep them out. Without the children, the garden is plunged into a perpetual winter, deprived of life and joy. One day, a mysterious child enters the garden. The giant, seeing their sadness, is moved and decides to tear down the wall to allow the children to return and with them, spring. The story is a reflection on selfishness, kindness and the redeeming power of love and childlike innocence.

Algernon Blackwood: The Transfer

In Algernon Blackwood’s 1911 short story, “The Transfer,” the narrative revolves around a governess endowed with exceptional perceptive abilities who serves in the household of a wealthy family. The woman forms a unique bond with Jamie, one of the children in the household, who is particularly distressed by a visit from his father’s older brother. It appears that Jamie is experiencing a sense of apprehension towards his uncle, a sentiment that is not fully comprehended by the other members of the household, with the exception of the governess. She hypothesises that she is aware of the underlying cause of the child’s apprehension and its potential correlation with an isolated section of the garden, where, intriguingly, the flora exhibits a distinct lack of growth.