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Harlan Ellison: “Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman

“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman is a short story by Harlan Ellison, published in December 1965 in Galaxy Magazine, and winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards in 1966. Set in a society obsessed with punctuality and the control of time, the story follows the Harlequin, an eccentric rebel who challenges the rigid system imposed by the Time Keeper, also known as Mr. Tick-Tock. Through his jokes and chaotic acts, the Harlequin upsets the established order and defies the rules of a world where tardiness is severely punished. The narrative combines humor and social criticism and explores the consequences of disobedience in a totalitarian system.

Edgar Allan Poe: The Premature Burial. Summary and Analysis

“The Premature Burial”, written by Edgar Allan Poe and published in 1844, explores one of humanity’s deepest fears: the fear of being buried alive. Through a narrator obsessed with this fate, the story immerses us in an atmosphere of anguish and paranoia and reflects on the thin line that separates life from death. The story combines chilling accounts of confirmed cases with the experiences of the protagonist, who lives in constant panic due to an illness.

Edgar Allan Poe: The Premature Burial

“The Premature Burial” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published on July 31, 1844, in the Dollar Newspaper. Written in a style that lies midway between fiction and journalistic reportage, it tells the story of a man obsessed with the possibility of being buried alive. Drawing on documented cases of premature interments in various places, it argues that such events occur with disturbing frequency. He himself, prone to attacks of catalepsy and overwhelmed by fear, takes a series of precautions to avoid becoming a victim of that horrific fate.

Ray Bradbury: Kaleidoscope. Summary and analysis

“Kaleidoscope,” a short story by Ray Bradbury published in October 1949, recounts the tragedy of a space crew whose rocket explodes in a vacuum. Separated and helpless, the men float toward unknown destinations while trying to communicate by radio. In this extreme situation, their voices reveal intense emotions, memories, and personal conflicts as they reflect on the meaning of life and the inevitability of death.

Stephen King: The Monkey. Summary and analysis

“The Monkey,” a chilling short story by Stephen King, was first published in Gallery magazine in 1980 and later included in Skeleton Crew. It tells the story of Hal Shelburn, a man haunted by a sinister toy monkey from childhood. With its haunting smile and brass cymbals, the monkey seems to bring death with it. When he reappears years later, Hal’s quiet life with his family is turned upside down. As old memories resurface, he must confront the dark connection between the toy and a series of tragic events.

Richard Matheson: Dress of White Silk

In “Dress of White Silk” by Richard Matheson, a young girl under the care of her grandmother is obsessed with her deceased mother’s white silk dress. The grandmother forbids her to enter her mother’s room, but the girl constantly disobeys to feel a connection to her mother through the dress. One day, her friend Mary Jane challenges her to prove the existence of the dress. When the girl finally shows it, a confrontation erupts, triggering a disturbing event.