Showing results by publisher "Spoken Realms" in Anthologies & Short Stories

The eyes of a panther, or the mind of a terrified woman. Which is more powerful? Ambrose Bierce leaves you wondering and thinking in this powerful short story.

This short story by O. Henry depicts the plight of a homeless person, Soapy, living in New York at the turn of the last century. A park bench is fine during the summer, but winter comes and Soapy needs a winter home. God willing to pay the price of philanthropy, Soapy determines to spend the winter months in jail. Now the problem is how to be arrested.

The title of this short story by F Scott Fitzgerald is a bit deceptive and doesn't do this story justice. The four fists are actually four very valuable life lessons delivered with a fist.

This short story by Mark Twain was not published until 1916, six years after his death in 1910, because his family considered it too scandalous. After all, what could be more scandalous then attacking religion and war. Narrator John Greenman takes us inside that church as the preacher beseeches God to grant them victory and protect our troops when a stranger appears.

This collection of 40 fairy tales contains well-known favorites from authors like the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Oscar Wilde, Charles Perrault, Madame de Beaumont, and Joseph Jacobs.

Herbert George Wells was one of the most prolific and visionary British writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. H. G. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels, although he wrote across many genres, including nonfiction. His fiction embraces history, science fiction, horror, satire, fantasy, and social commentary. Wells was also a futurist, foreseeing air travel, tanks (as in “The Land Ironclads” - part of this anthology) space travel, nuclear weapons, and even satellite television.

They came in peace...or so they said. Here are 18 examples of how they lied. This is an exciting collection of first contact science fiction stories, all completely different! Take a risk - venture into the unknown with us. Who is out there? What will they want from us? Come join us in our adventure to find out how first contact pans out. It will be a great adventure!

A Romance of Wastdale, published in 1895, is a novel by the British writer A.E.W Mason. In 1921, it was turned into a film of the same name directed by Maurice Elvey and made by Stoll Pictures, Britain’s biggest studio of the silent era. The novel is set in the scenic area of Wastdale, Cumbria, situated in the Lake District National Park and surrounded by some of England’s highest mountains. Wastdale Head has been a starting point for walks and climbing trips into the mountains, in this context, this story of mountains, mountaineers, romance, and treachery unfolds.

Here are short stories by the incomparable Virginia Woolf, including the story that was the original basis for the novel Mrs. Dalloway.

Welcome to the Fiction on the Web audiobook series, featuring a collection of short stories with a different theme for each volume. Lovingly curated by the owner of Fiction On The Web, Charlie Fish. Come and share in the joy and power of short stories. The theme of this volume is Ironic Wish Fulfilment. What happens when your dreams actually do come true? Does eternal happiness await? Or will you be visited by nightmares?

"The Thing Behind Hell's Door" is a science fiction short story written by renowned author Robert Silverberg. It was originally published in 1973 as part of the anthology "New Dimensions II." The story explores themes of exploration, otherworldly beings, and the unknown. Mike Vendetti's narration style proves to be an excellent choice for capturing the grim atmosphere and otherworldly ambiance that pervades the novel. His deep, resonant voice and skilled delivery brought the sinister tale to life.

Do you want to know how a corpse feels, moldering in the grave? Listen to this audiobook of weird, bizarre menace. "When the Banshee Calls," a short horror story by Wayne Rogers published in the May-June 1938 issue of Terror Tales, narrated by award-winning narrator Mike Vendetti, will creep you into the crypt.

The Book of Torment by Harrison Storm, a short horror story was first published in the May 1940 issue of Terror Tales, a pulp magazine. Gilbert Boden, the narrator, a professor and writer falls asleep, waking up to a very strange phenomenon. Apparently during the night unbeknownst to him he has created a short story featuring him as a member of the Spanish Inquisition, torturing a woman with a name very similar to a former lover who was found dead that morning.

"Prey for the Daughter of Hell" is a captivating short story by Conrad Kimball that combines elements of horror and romance. The story revolves around a 12-year-old girl who becomes the victim of a curse imposed by an Asian mystic. The mystic hypnotizes her, making her believe that her love life will mirror that of a female praying mantis, where she mates with males and then consumes them.

Test Tube Frankenstein, a short horror story by Wayne Robbins appeared in the May 1940 issue of Terror Tales. It is interesting to draw connections between this pulp story and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Both stories involve a mad genius creating a creature that deceives and kills those around them. However, in this short story, the creature takes on the form and demeanor of its creator, Chester Vermis, which differentiates it from Frankenstein.

"The Night Eternity Ended" a short horror story by Donald Dale, published in the May 1940 issue of Terror Tales, featuring Juan Perez who has been paying the penalty for daring to look upon the Blue Lady of the Sierras during those hours when the cold stone was transformed into warm human flesh. Juan was a handsome ladies' man 400 years ago until he worked his charms upon the Blue Lady of the Sierras.

From the May-June, 1938 issue of Terror Tales, Queens of Beauty and Horror a chilling story by George Edson. A group of 48 beauty queens celebrate the pageant they have just completed. The beauty queens and their escorts suspect little of the sinister motive behind the pageant. The audience consists of leering, lecherous old men who have nefarious plans for the beauties later in the evening.

Mark Twain's "Extracts from Adam's Diary" first appeared in 1893. He based Adam and Eve on himself and his beloved wife Olivia ("Livy") to create a humorous counterpoint the traditional Garden of Eden story, this time centered on what life may have been like for the first man. In this story, we hear Adam trying to work out what the "new creature with long hair" is all about. She names things, much to Adam's annoyance. She follows him around. Then suddenly, there's another creature, which eventually Adam decides is his son Cain. It's all about confusion and curiosity, and finally, love for Eve.

Five fables: "The Happy Prince", "The Nightingale and the Rose", "The Selfish Giant", "The Devoted Friend", "The Remarkable Rocket". Each illustrates a moral, contrasting fake with real, selfishness with unselfishness, though Wilde wrote "I like to fancy that there may be many meanings in the tale". First published in 1888.

This audiobook begins with Doctor Universe and Double Trouble, connected by their main character, Grannie Annie, who happens to be a science fiction writer herself and is renowned for her deep, involved, and personal background research on different planets.