“The Handler,” a short story by Ray Bradbury published in 1947, tells the story of Mr. Benedict, a man who runs a funeral business, a church, and a cemetery, all in the exact location. Benedict feels a deep inferiority complex and spends his days enduring the scorn and insults of the town’s neighbors. In his … Read more
“The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar,” a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1845, explores the boundaries of life and death through hypnosis. The story’s protagonist, a hypnotism expert, decides to experiment with Mr. Valdemar, who is on his deathbed. Since Valdemar is seriously ill and has no relatives in America who could object, he voluntarily agrees to the test. The plot unfolds in Valdemar’s room, where the protagonist and other witnesses observe the effects of the hypnotism applied just as Valdemar is about to pass away. Their discoveries are surprising.
In ” Silly Asses,” a story by Isaac Asimov written in 1957, Naron, an imposing and ancient member of the Rigelian race, is in charge of maintaining the galactic annals that record the intelligent civilizations of the universe. One day, he is informed that a new group of organisms, hailing from a distant planet known … Read more
“The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury is a short story set in a futuristic city in the year 2053. The plot revolves around Leonard Mead, a man who enjoys walking alone through the city streets at night. In a world where television has replaced social interactions and people remain locked inside their homes, Mead’s walks stand … Read more
“Oil of Dog,” a short story by Ambrose Bierce published in 1890, is a darkly satirical narrative that follows Boffer Bings, a character whose parents run macabre businesses: his father produces oil from dogs, while his mother deals with the disposal of unwanted children. From a young age, Boffer finds himself immersed in these activities, … Read more
“In the Vault,” a short story by H.P. Lovecraft written in 1925, tells the disturbing tale of George Birch, a miserly and unscrupulous funeral director. While relocating corpses for burial, Birch gets locked in an old crypt, dug into a mountain, with no hope of imminent rescue. In desperation, he is forced to find his way out through a small opening above the door, which he tries to enlarge using the rudimentary tools he finds in the place. While working, Birch must face supernatural and terrifying events, a consequence of his past decisions, which will mark him for life.