Showing results by publisher "Spoken Realms" in Anthologies

This classic storyteller, Mark Twain, shares the tale of an encounter with a ghost in a newly opened, but previously abandoned, apartment building. Was this ghost a menace or simply mischievous? Humor is most always a companion of a Twain tale and it visits even this story. Memorable and perfectly constructed.

If you have ever wondered why doctors can sometimes seem detached and non-emotional, perhaps this short story from Russian author Ivan Tergenev can help explain. This is part confession, part love story, and filled with regret. This memorable tale also shows that it may be easier to share a confession with a complete stranger.

When the "good doctor" is found dead, there is a trial and surprises await, with an ending you could not predict.

Mark Twain describes this humorous story - gained from a lunch with a known member of the clergy - as true. This tale follows a man who is not named (out of respect) who was known to be foolish, yet every wrong choice he made turned out to be the perfect decision. A man who should not have been a war hero becomes one. Those that knew him wondered how that could possibly happen.

Daffydowndilly was under the care of Mr. Toil, who was harsh and unyielding. When the young boy left school to gain relief from the harsh treatment, he met a traveler who helped the lad follow his new path after running away. The bad news: every new person the two travelers met was related to Mr. Toil. In the end, Daffydowndilly made what had become an easy choice.

A man tries to save his brother, mixed up in a scam, and the calamity that befalls them. Written in 1898 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

A physician from Bombay is haunted by a past patient in this tale of the supernatural.

A man is hired by a British gentleman because of his strength, his medical degree, and his extreme knowledge of beetles.

Christmas on Big Rattle is a rugged story of an unlikely gift exchange - even if only one knew that gifts would be exchanged. Archer invited his friend Sacobie into his cabin where the exchange would take place. It was only on Christmas morning that Archer discovered the exchange. Was it robbery or generosity?

There is an old saying, "You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone." The main character in this short story had never had children, so she had no idea what it was like to live with or without them. That is, until she is pressed into service to care for a neighbor's children while the real mother made an emergency trip to help her extended family. She was so unprepared for it, but it is the aftermath of their leaving that clearly demonstrates the true essence of regret.

"A Son's Rage" is one in a series of horror stories from Visual Audio. In this story, a mother pushes her son to the point of murder.

Francis P. Church was the editor who brought us Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus. As memorable as this editorial was, there is another that fits the same mold and conveys incredible heart and care. This is just such an editorial that bears all the marks of great storytelling. If you’ve never been exposed to Is There a Santa Claus?, this could become a cherished tradition. Performed by Glenn Hascall.

Bud was an old west cowhand sent to New York to give particulars about a ranch that was changing owners. Bud shares the story of how much the New York folk needed help in the ways of the world. Those he encountered would likely have had an entirely different view of Bud’s perspective. You’ll find humor along the trail in this memorable

Poker Flat is cleaning house. John Oakhurst is allowed to leave of his own accord along with a few others who didn’t quite match society’s ideals. Maybe they got off good. Others had been hung from nearby sycamore trees. Who was good? Who was bad? Who was innocent? Questions to ponder as you listen to this classic short story narrated by Glenn Hascall.

Join Mark Twain as he remembers his earliest attempt at poetry, which was a piece of writing that won no favor with his father. Then again many sons will have tackled a project with the same good humor and savage sarcasm.

We’ve all encountered people who lie. Some seem to be able to get away with it while others seem to be transparent in their false words. Mark Twain shares just such a transparent individual. Rogers lied incessantly, but thought he was making a good show of it. What he really gained was the right to be the subject of this short story. You will recognize Rogers in someone you know.

Papa was a great storyteller, and his daughter wouldn’t settle for recycled tales. While Papa was not interested in telling stories he was badgered enough to come up with a whopper. Prepare to smile, and to wonder what it would really be like if it were Christmas every day - at least the way we often celebrate it.

A memorable short story from Hans Christian Andersen. Is it possible that the time we spend on earth is viewed differently among from one creature to another? For instance a fly has a much shorter life than an oak, but perhaps it only seems that way. A challenge to our perspective on what constitutes life. Is it a measure of time – or quality moments?

This short story might well have been called, "All I Even Needed to Know About Humanity I Learned From Chickens". At times humorous, at times sympathetic, the author reveals the inadequacies of chickens and then points to our own inadequacies. As much as we hate chickens we can despise the things we believe are lacking in our own lives. That’s the philosophy of the story, perhaps it is equally enjoyable as a story about a family that just can’t seem to move far enough away from demented fowl.

We’ve all had songs that we can’t seem to get out of our heads. It’s maddening. Mark Twain faced the same issue, but instead of a song, it was a rhythmic poem. All who came in contact with the poem seemed to be possessed with the same malady. This is where Twain’s trademark humor makes its inevitable appearance. A classic short story from Mark Twain narrated by Glenn Hascall.