Mother (Hotel Topia)

J.S. Le Fanu published this tale of a most unfortunate visit from a white cat in 1870. The White Cat of Drumgunniol foretold the death of members of the Donovan family while residing or visiting the family farm. The origin of why this monstrous beast latched onto this family is a most interesting and ghostly tale.

Number 13 by M.R. James, published in 1904 is more than a ghost story. While studying the history of the Church of Denmark, the narrator's cousin has a strange experience while staying in room 12 of a local inn. He and his neighbor, staying in room 14, notice their rooms growing smaller at night, while a new room appears with a rather strange occupant.

This short story, written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1926 and published in 1931 tells of a man named Thomas Olney, a "philosopher" visiting the town of Kingsport, Massachusetts with his family. He is intrigued by a strange house on a cliff overlooking the ocean. It is unaccountably high and old and the locals have a generations-long dread of the place which no one is known to have visited. With great difficulty, Olney climbs the crag, approaches the house, and meets the mysterious man who lives there. The only door opens directly onto a sheer cliff, giving access only to mist and "the abyss". The transmittal of archaic lore and a life-altering encounter with the supernatural ensue, as Olney is not the only visitor that day. He returns to Kingsport the next day, but seems to have left his spirit behind in the strange, remote dwelling.

The Monkey's Paw is a tale of horrible consequences by W.W. Jacobs. Published in 1902, this timeless tale portrays the the deadly consequences for those who interfere with fate.

The Lost Room by Fitz-James O'Brien published in 1858. Mr. O'Brien was an Irish-born American author whose work is often considered one of the forerunners of today's science fiction. In this tale, the narrator relates how he literally lost his room in a surreal situation that sounds much like an unpleasant version of Alice in Wonderland.

The Terrible Old Man by H.P. Lovecraft, published in 1921, turns the tables on three 'gentlemen' intent on taking advantage of a frail old recluse. As with all things Lovecraft, things are not always what they seem.

This ghostly tale by J.S. Le Fanu, explores a family's stay at what appears to be a modern house. However, not all is as it appears to be. Published in 1862, this creepy tale is sure to please.

The Woman's Ghost Story, by Algernon Blackwood, published in 1907 invites us to join a woman interested in psychical research as she spends the night in a haunted house. She experiences far more than she bargained for when she meets the mysterious occupant and the line between the living and the dead becomes blurred.

The Phantom Coach by Amelia B. Edwards, published in 1864, delves into the ghostly tale of a newly-married barrister who loses his way while hunting. His journey back to his bride proves to be quite extraordinary.

Diary of a Madman, by Guy de Maupassant, published in 1886 introduces us to the inner thoughts of an upright judge, who might not be so upright.

Lovecraft considered “The Music of Erich Zann”, published in 1921, one of his best stories. The story is an account of an impoverished university student drawn to unworldly melodies of his neighbor, an elderly, mute musician who seems to hold lethal cosmic forces at bay with his strange music.

There Will Come Soft Rains, published in 1950 by Ray Bradbury, much like the Sara Teasdale poem on which it is based, this story will leave you feeling rather inconsequential.

Hypnos by HP Lovecraft was published in 1923. A nameless man befriends a stranger and the two travel far in the realm of dreams. But was it wise to do so?

The Black Cat, published in 1843 by Edgar Allan Poe. Our story begins with a narrator telling us how nice he is, but as with all things Poe, the tale takes a dark turn...a very dark turn.

The Hand, by Guy de Maupassant, published in 1883 is a gruesome story about the mystery surrounding the death of an enigmatic Englishman named Sir John Rowell. The good sir, it seems, was fond of hunting - all manner of things.

Our New House by Bram Stoker, published in 1885 delves into the human psyche. When a newly married couple moves into their new home, they are taken aback by the strange and erratic behavior of their landlord.

Lost Hearts by M.R. James tells the story of Stephen Elliott, a young orphan boy, who is sent to stay with his much older cousin, Mr Abney, at a remote country mansion. His cousin is a reclusive alchemist obsessed with making himself immortal.

Silence: A Fable by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1840, is a tale about a demon recounts the story of how he tormented man in the Congo. The man was seated on a rock on the edge of a churning river. The river was bordered by water and surrounded by a forest of poisoned shadows. This often considered confusing story by Poe, delves into a dream world where anything is possible.

The Cats of Ulthar, written by H.P. Lovecraft and published in 1920, is a short story told by an unnamed narrator relating the tale of how a law forbidding the killing of cats came to be in a town called Ulthar, the consequences of which came about before the law.

The Small Assassin by Ray Bradbury takes us on an unusual look at a newborn and his mother. Almost dying in the delivery room, Alice Leiber gives birth to a healthy baby boy. Instead of being filled with joy, though, Alice is horrified because she is convinced that her baby is trying to kill her. Join Mother as we venture through this twisted tale to reach a conclusion - is it a killer kid? Or a mother's madness?

Winning a lottery is usually an exciting experience, unless it is brought to you by Shirley Jackson. Mother dives into this week's short story with an unusual ending.

Mother takes you on a harrowing experience written by HP Lovecraft about a man lost in a cave with a beast approaching. Will he survive? Will the beast win? Find out today in Mother's Corner.

The Empty House, written by Algernon Blackwood and published in 1906, is an eerie tale of the evil that lurks within evil places and two relatives - an elderly aunt and her nephew - who tempt fate by investigating a house they ought not to have entered.

Published in 1887, the author opens with "Some tales are best not told." This story holds true to that statement, as you will be left looking up at the sky out your window and wondering what might be lurking there. Fireplace video by Daily Chillout

This story - The Christmas Ghost (published in 1857) is rather different from the one we read by Anna Alice Chapin. In this story, not all is as it appears to be - is it a ghost or something else?