Showing results by publisher "Spoken Realms" in Occult

A man makes a deal with the devil. The devil can't give him immortality in return for his soul, but he can protect him from being killed as long as he wears his patent leather shoes. Robert Bloch's masterful storytelling shines through in this tale of greed and consequences. Discover the twisted repercussions of a Faustian bargain in "The Shoes," a must-listen audiobook for fans of classic horror fiction.

Dig Me No Grave was first published in Weird Tales in February 1937. It was also published as John Grimlan's Debt. This is one of eight stories by Howard featuring Professor John Kirowan, an Irish aristocrat and seeker of arcane knowledge, and his associate John Conrad. This story relates to their investigation of the death of a mysterious and sinister hermit, John Grimlan.

The classic tale of the uncanny and supernatural by W.W. Jacobs. Whilst serving in India, the Sergeant-Major acquired the mummified paw of a monkey - that had had a spell put on it by an old fakir who, "wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and those that interfered with it did so to their sorrow."

Francis Raven awakens on the eve of his birthday, frightened by the appearance of a woman attempting to murder him. He is continually haunted by this woman and years later marries Alicia Warlock, who looks strikingly identical to the figure from his dream. Is this Dream Woman simply an apparition or will her attempts to kill Francis become reality? Also known as The Ostler in earlier versions, The Dream Woman is another of Collins' finest detective stories.

"Azathoth" is the beginning of a never-completed novel written by American horror fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft. It was written in June 1922 and published as a fragment in the journal Leaves in 1938, after Lovecraft's death. It is the first piece of fiction to mention the fictional being Azathoth, one of the major entities in Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, though the entity only appears in the title.

Today we have ghosts that haunted our ancestors, as well as our own modern revenants, and there appears to be no earthly use trying to banish or exorcise them by such a simple strategy as refusing to believe in them. Since man knows that whether or not he has seen a ghost, presently he will become one, and thus he has become fascinated with the subject. Therefore he creates ghosts, not merely in his own image, but according to his dreams of power.

A collection of seven classic short stories that draw us into that hidden world where fear is just around the next corner, and where loving hands can touch across the boundaries of death. Edith Nesbit, author and poet, was known for her over 60 adventurous children's stories; however, she was first known for her poetry and her venture into the supernatural short stories for adult audiences. She called her collection Grim Tales. Her classic style and imagery has proven to be ageless and inspirational to modern writers.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891) is best known for her major role in the development of Theosophy, a syncretic religious philosophy the principles of which underlie the New Age philosophy of today. The original version of Nightmare Tales consisted of the last five stories in this recording and was published in 1892, shortly after the author's death. An expanded edition incorporating four earlier stories was published in 1907.

A brilliant short story demonstrating how a truly balanced set of dilemmas can allow a reader to conclude two different endings. In this case a young man is faced with two doors. One holds a door with a ferocious tiger. The other? A beautiful lady whom he would immediately marry. The struggle comes not so much in defining a choice, but the reasons that brought the young man to the choice, and who helps him make the choice.

The dark strains of madness that permeate many of the works of Edgar Allan Poe make their way through this macabre story. This memorable short story bears a resemblance to Poe's Tell Tale Heart. In both stories guilt leaves a murderer with a singular choice.

This is a beloved poem that feature young love brought low by an early death. Love stands even in death. Love grounds the author when others wish him to move on. This is a poem that shows passion for the one you love can be more than any temporary feeling.

Jim Corrigan died in 1933...but he returned to life. Now, he can’t die. Through the first season, Jim and his friends match wits with the supernatural side of San Francisco, making both new friends - and a few enemies.

Unspeakable rituals are performed by an occult group residing in the Red Hook region of New York City in this haunting short story by H P Lovecraft, and told by Mike Vendetti.

This short story became possibly H.P. Lovecraft's favorite. Lots of things and possibilities going on here. A meteorite has crashed near a small farm west of Arkham, Massachusetts and strange things begin to happen. The life force seems to be being drained from living organisms near the well. The story is being told by a surveyor who is surveying the area prior to a damn being built that will flood the area with a lake. The potential problem is, the "thing" lives in the water of the well.

Once again, death stares you in the face as Edgar Lloyd brings to life this gripping classic by H. P. Lovecraft. Escape to the top step of the vault, linger for a moment, then discover a tale so articulately crafted you'll swear you smell the odor of decomposition emanating from your headphones as if "spurred on by a voice which must have come from the hideous soul of the forest". Lovecraft never sounded so eerie...Lloyd never so queery.... Unearthing this rendition...is a must!

Classic author H.G. Wells turns his attention to a mystery at sea and a litany of creatures that seemed bent on the destruction of human life. A short story that may leave you feeling the beach and ocean may not be as safe as you thought.

The ancient art of alchemy is dying. Rosalie and her estranged husband, Leon, have watched as the compounds, tinctures, and ethers that were once so trusted are increasingly being passed over in favor of the wonders of modern medicine. Leon has a plan. Unfortunately, he needs Rosalie's help. After everything they've been through, Rosalie is reluctant to forgive and forget. Will past betrayals sabotage their efforts, or can they work together to resurrect their livelihood?

If the name seems familiar, these tales about Darby O'Gill and his encounter with the fairies were adapted for a Disney movie, Darby O'Gill and the Little People. They tell the story of an Irishman whose cow is captured by the fairies - or "good people". In his determination to recover his property, Darby finds himself in the center of their home, the mountain Sleive-na-mon.

Step beyond the lamplight and into the gilded darkness of a vanished world. Ghost Stories from the Gilded Age is a classic ghost story anthology featuring eerie tales by female authors who defied convention—Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Edith Wharton, Kate Chopin, and more. Narrated by an all-star ensemble of Audie, SOVAS, and One Voice award winners and nominees, this haunting audiobook collection blends Gothic elegance with supernatural unease.

William Hope Hodgson wrote "The Terror of the Water-Tank" in 1907 and the story has been published in several pulp magazines since then. Mike Vendetti has taken this story and turned it into an engrossing audiobook. The story takes place in England where crowning the heights on the outskirts of a certain town on the east coast is a large, iron water-tank from which an isolated row of small villas obtains its supply. The top of this tank has been cemented, and around it have been placed railings, thus making it a splendid "look-out" for townspeople who may choose to promenade upon it.