Creepy Time Books: Poe´s "Narraciones Extraordinarias"

I have only talked about “light” terror books in this section: that doesn´t mean they aren´t scary (King´s The Monkey is a little diamond itself, and Lovecraft´s stories can make you be scared of that little hole you have in the living room), but they are very easy to read and understand. I call that kind of books, “light” books. They have certain characteristics which make them readable and clear. There is another kind of books, nonetheless, that I like to identify as the “hardcore” kind. You know, those kind of books that need a little bit more wit than the normally used to understand not only what´s going on, but also why, and the symbols and environment and all those literal stuff. In this kind of books is where Edgar Allan Poe´s Short Stories gets into.

“Short Stories” is a compilation of several disturbing, ehem, stories. Most of the narrations have an uneasy and distressed character, which will always deny its true self and would want to make the narrator think he is psychologically fine. Nothing more far from the truth!: In a number of his stories, we are immersing on the murderer´s perspective.

The scenarios for Poe´s stories have always an abnormal sensation (like disgustingly big castles, dark and dirty houses, departments or catacombs). He is not like other writers who write as if everything is fine and then something collapses or is unveiled. Truths are unveiled, but always in the more extraordinary circumstances since the beginning.

Edgar Allan Poe can be described as a poet. In his own words: “With me, poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion”. Add this to the fact that he lived in the 19th century, and we have as a result a very difficult style to read nowadays, if you are not really good with English. I recommend to read his stories in Spanish if you don´t feel ready, but nothing can feel as good as reading the lyrical and melodramatic original quotes from Poe´s scripts: “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream”. I am not underestimating the quality of the Spanish translation (Julio Cortázar was the one in charge for the honorable task): I´m just telling you to not waste the opportunity for enjoying the two versions and the delightfully well written styles. His stories embrace horror, science fiction and Sherlock like adventures; legends, treasures, corpses and balls. And, for anyone that still doesn´t know, Poe liked to include sometimes in his stories either taboos or unknown themes such as the catalepsy, incest, or necrophilia.

What are you supposed to expect from Poe? Nothing less than the best. Here are some of the most famous works by him. Click to read:

"The Black Cat" is a horror story about a cat… and its hidden intentions

"The Cask of Amontillado" A story of revenge, jealousy and pride

"Eleonora" A love story (BUT not for you ladies, no cute panorama for you in this case)

"The Fall of the House of Usher" One of the best: an old house and its secrets. I love the scene when they are reading the book.

"The Masque of the Red Death" shows the horror of the plague. Can a selfish prince escape from Death?

"The Oval Portrait" A tragic love story, where passion transforms life into another thing

"The Pit and the Pendulum" The best torture chamber you´ll ever find

"The Tell-Tale Heart" talks about a murderer's guilt. The guy is really creepy trying to justify all his madness…

"William Wilson" What seems as identical twins diverges into a study about the soul´s duality and the lost of our true selves.

So, take the chance and try it, and have a fearful time with these strange stories because, just as Edgar said some time ago: “Never to suffer would never to have been blessed”. Happy New Year and Happy Wails!

As always, check the stories online and in the campus library. I hope this links can make your reading of this hardcore book easier:

All the Short Stories (In Spanish): http://dreamers.com/omicrom/poe/cuentos.html

All the Short Stories (In English-but with a helpful dictionary): http://www.poestories.com/

The Short Stories in the Library (for those who like the real stuff):

The complete tales and poems of Edgar Allan Poe: PS 2604 .S5 O3 C6 2002

Narraciones Extraordinarias: PS2604.S5 N3 2004

Fanny Esquivel