"Valperga" by Mary Shelley follows the story of Castruccio Castracani, a historical figure, and his rise to power in 14th-century Italy. The novel intertwines his military and political ambitions with...

"The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck" tells the story of Perkin Warbeck, a young man who claims to be Richard, Duke of York, and rightful heir to the English throne. Set against the backdrop of late 15th-century...

In this gothic tale, Constance, a young woman, is in love with Gaspar, the son of her father's enemy. After their fathers die in a battle, Constance seeks guidance in her dreams on how to handle this...

"On Ghosts" by Mary Shelley explores people's belief in the supernatural through personal anecdotes and reflections on ghostly encounters. The essay discusses stories of apparitions and the psychological...

R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) is a science fiction play in the Czech language by Karel ?apek. It premiered in 1921 and is famous for having introduced and popularized the term robot.

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, generally known as Frankenstein, is a novel written by the British author Mary Shelley. The title of the novel refers to a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who...

"Lodore" explores the interconnected lives of three women shaped by Lord Lodore: his estranged wife Cornelia, who is influenced by societal norms and her mother; his daughter Ethel, raised in Illinois...

"The Mortal Immortal" tells the story of Winzy, who gains eternal life after drinking an alchemist's elixir. Over time, he realizes that immortality is more of a curse than a blessing as he watches everyone...

"The Invisible Girl" is a Gothic tale about Rosina, a young woman who is cast out by her guardian. As she faces isolation, her fiancé searches for her, leading to a dramatic and romantic reunion. The...

"The Heir of Mondolfo" is a gothic short story by Mary Shelley, published posthumously in 1877. It revolves around Ludovico, the second son of a nobleman, who is initially despised by his father. When...

Falkner charts a young woman's education under a tyrannical father figure.

A futuristic story of tragic love and of the gradual extermination of the human race by plague, The Last Man is Mary Shelley's most important novel after Frankenstein. With intriguing portraits of Percy...

"Miss Winchelsea's Heart" centers on Miss Winchelsea, a young woman captivated by her upcoming trip to Rome. Her anticipation and dreams about Rome influence her behavior and interactions, showcasing...

"The Mystery of Marie Rogêt", often subtitled A Sequel to "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe written in 1842. This is the first murder mystery based on the details of...

"Mesmeric Revelation" is a short story in which a mesmerist puts his friend, Mr. Vankirk, into a trance. While mesmerized, Vankirk discusses profound ideas about the nature of God, the universe, and the...

The story begins 10 years after the conclusion of the previous novel, which places it about 1923. Tarzan (John Clayton) would be about 34 and his son, Jack, around 11. During the past decade, Alexis Paulvitch,...

"The Raven" is a narrative poem by the American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe. It was published for the first time on January 29, 1845, in the New York Evening Mirror. Noted for its musicality, stylized...

The author relates how, traveling the Sahara, he's encountered a remarkable vehicle & pilot, David Innes, a man with a remarkable story to tell. Innes is a mining heir who finances an experimental...

This installment shifts focus from John Carter and Dejah Thoris, protagonists of the first three books in the series, to their son Carthoris, prince of Helium, and to Thuvia, princess of Ptarth, and follows...

"The Black Cat" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in the August 19, 1843, edition of The Saturday Evening Post. It is a study of the psychology of guilt, often paired in analysis...

Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque is a collection of short stories that delve into the eerie and macabre. The anthology showcases Edgar Allan Poe's talent for gothic literature, featuring tales of...

Set on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, the plot follows William Legrand, who was recently bitten by a gold-colored bug. His servant Jupiter fears Legrand is going insane and goes to Legrand's friend,...

The Lost Continent is one of the least-known of Burroughs' thrilling science-fiction tales. In the year 2137, civilization has been in decline for nearly two centuries, and war-torn Europe is but a distant...

The death of Edgar Allan Poe on October 7, 1849, has remained mysterious: the circumstances leading up to it are uncertain and the cause of death is disputed. On October 3, Poe was found delirious on...

"The Cask of Amontillado" (sometimes spelled "The Casque of Amontillado") is a short story, written by Edgar Allan Poe and first published in the November 1846 issue of Godey's Lady's Book. The story...

"The Pit and the Pendulum" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1842. The story is about the torments endured by a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition, though Poe skews historical...

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in Graham's Magazine in 1841. It has been claimed as the first detective story; Poe referred to it as one of his "tales of...

"The Masque of the Red Death", originally published as "The Mask of the Red Death", is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1842. The story follows Prince Prospero's attempts...

In an isolated town called Vondervotteimittis (wonder-what-time-it-is), the punctilious inhabitants seem to be concerned with nothing but clocks and cabbage. This methodical, boring and quiet little borough...

The Efficiency Expert, an often overlooked by Burroughs' fans, is a cracking tale of young Jimmy Torrance, an upstanding college graduate in post-World War I Chicago who inadvertently rubs shoulders with...