Fitz-James O'Brien, an author who helped usher in speculative fiction, into American households in the mid 1800's, invites reads to question what would they do if saddled with the burden of judging the fate of a life. Rae Wilson shares her observations on O'Brien's thought provoking tale and and invites you question your own beliefs in what is right and what is wrong.

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Washed Mystery Piano by YouTube-Channel: Liborio Conti (https://www.youtube.com/LiborioConti)

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Dark Shadows - by David Fesliyan https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/

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"As they opposed no objection, saying that the patient was already in the death agony, I proceeded without hesitation."

Edgar Allan Poe, the scribe behind The Raven, is often considered the father of gothic literature. Quick to explore human nature rather than ghouls and vampires his short stories embrace the side of humanity that shocks the masses. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Poe's thought provoking tale and and invites you question the relationship between life and death..

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Pressure by Rae Wilson

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Dark Shadows - by David Fesliyan

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"Fear has no brains; it is an idiot."

Ambrose Bierce, a rather prolific short story writer, is known for his whit, but scholars have often noted that The Moonlit Road is a piece that is not talked about enough. This traditional gothic tale, uses rather unconventional storytelling to deliver a piece that is not only gripping, but also deeply moving. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Bierce's tragic tale and and invites you question the both the power of love and the power of perspective.

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Dread by Rae Wilson

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Dark Shadows - by David Fesliyan

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"I could have shaken the man for his stupidity."

Edith Wharton may be known world wide as the scribe behind Age of Innocence, but she equally adapt at making her star-crossed lovers, pine away in much darker circumstances. Her gothic short stories are abound, and deliver quite a punch. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Wharton's cautionary tale and and invites you question the limits of both vows and devotion.

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Vanishing by Kevin MacLeod http://incompetech.com

"Vanishing" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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Dark Shadows - by David Fesliyan

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" I should like to know how any one of us would look, or what the devil we should have to say for ourselves, in any Christian witness-box. "

Robert Louis Stevens may be known world wide for Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but his short ghost stories are just as horrifying as his longer works. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Stevenson's cautionary tale and and invites you question your own ambition fueled denial.

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Reminiscing- by Maarten Schellekens courtesy of Classicals.de

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Dark Shadows - by David Fesliyan

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" A truthful traveller, who should have seen some extraordinary

creature in the likeness of a sea-serpent, would have no fear of mentioning

it; but the same traveller, having had some singular presentiment, impulse,

vagary of thought, vision (so-called), dream, or other remarkable mental

impression, would hesitate considerably before he would own to it."

Charles Dickens may be known world wide for A Christmas Carol, but his short ghost stories are just as horrifying as his popular tale of societal greed. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Dicken's work and and invites you question your own reluctance related to what fantastical events you are willing to share.

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Darkest Hour- by Steve Oxen

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" I looked at him with a feeling of sad surprise. Surely, no man had ever

before changed as Roderick Usher had! Could this be the friend of my

early years?"

True friends are there for you through thick and thin, and in childhood we often swear to be loyal to the end, but what does loyalty really mean? Rae Wilson shares her observations on Poe's exploration of a friendship put to the test and invites you to question your own definition of loyalty.

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Dark Shadows - by David Fesliyan

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" I have experienced the revulsion which comes sooner or later to the adventurous soul who experiences nothing but defeat and so-called ill luck. I have swung to the opposite extreme. I have lost in everything — I have lost in love, I have lost in money, I have lost in the struggle for preferment"

Is there such a thing is being "unlucky," or is it rather the result of our own actions/ inactions? In this short story by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (author of Luella Miller, episode 1), readers meet two different souls both grappling with this very question. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Freeman's words and invites you to question your own history with lady luck.

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Monster Heat - by David Fesliyan

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"...people of the frontier—restless souls who no sooner had hewn fairly habitable homes out of the wilderness and attained to that degree of prosperity which to-day we should call indigence than impelled by some mysterious impulse of their nature they abandoned all and pushed farther westward, to encounter new perils and privations in the effort to regain the meagre comforts which they had voluntarily renounced."

So many of us reach our goals, only to set out and repeat the cycle: finally got that promotion or house? Well, it must be time to change jobs or get a new house? But what if you were one of the few, who stayed put. In this Ambrose Bierce tale, narrator Rae Wilson invites us to explore that very question.

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No Way Out - by David Robson

"Sneaky Snitch" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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"indeed, I have sometimes fancied since that the flower-garden, to which the only access from the castle was through his rooms, was designed in order to give me exercise and employment under his own eye."

What is it that makes his fall in love? Is it a pretty face? A fancy title? An obligation? In this Elizabeth Gaskell tale, narrator Rae Wilson invites us to explore that very question.

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"indeed, I have sometimes fancied since that the flower-garden, to which the only access from the castle was through his rooms, was designed in order to give me exercise and employment under his own eye."

In part 2 of our story, we find Anna and Amante only steps away seeing another side of her husband of their home. What do we owe our loved ones? Is trust not part of a happy marriage? In this Elizabeth Gaskell tale, narrator Rae Wilson invites us to explore those very questions.

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No Way Out - by David Robson

The Mooche by Duke Ellington

"Sneaky Snitch" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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"indeed, I have sometimes fancied since that the flower-garden, to which the only access from the castle was through his rooms, was designed in order to give me exercise and employment under his own eye."

What is it that makes his fall in love? Is it a pretty face? A fancy title? An obligation? In this Elizabeth Gaskell tale, narrator Rae Wilson invites us to explore that very question.

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No Way Out - by David Robson

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"I experienced a sentiment half of horror, half of remorse, for the crime of which I had been guilty; but ... the soul remained untouched."

Who among us hasn't had a moment where we act before we think? Whether it's an impulse to hug or an impulse to yell, the mystery lies in whether the regret that follows impulsive actions, is enough to drive change. In this H.P. Lovecraft tale, narrator Rae Wilson invites us to explore that very question.

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No Way Out - by David Robson

"Sneaky Snitch" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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""I was wounded at that remark and told him so somewhat sharply."

What do we owe others, especially our friends from long ago? Whether the willingness to help comes from kindness, sympathy, or obligation, the impact of the decision to assist can have a lifelong impact. In this Guy de Maupassant tale, narrator Rae Wilson invites us to explore that very question.

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No Way Out - by David Robson

"Sneaky Snitch" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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"I experienced a sentiment half of horror, half of remorse, for the crime of which I had been guilty; but ... the soul remained untouched."

Who among us hasn't had a moment where we act before we think? Whether it's an impulse to hug or an impulse to yell, the mystery lies in whether the regret that follows impulsive actions, is enough to drive change. In this Edgar Alan Poe tale, narrator Rae Wilson invites us to explore that very question.

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No Way Out - by David Robson

"Sneaky Snitch" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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"The next evening, at about the same hour... and again the mysterious phenomenon occurred..."

Society has so many unspoken rules, but should all the rules be followed? And if so, then at what cost? In this short story by Ambrose Bierce, readers are invited to reflect on their own community's unspoken rules. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Bierce's words and invites you to question your own neighborly behavior.

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Monster Heat - by David Fesliyan

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"Will you say that I am mad?"

What is madness? In this beloved story, Poe invites readers to question their own ideas of when exactly we cross the line. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Poe's words and invites you to question the unimaginable.

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Monster Heat - by David Fesliyan

" You kill everybody that is fool enough to care anythin’ about you... "

What is our obligation to love they neighbor? In this short story by Mary Wilkins Freeman (best known for Pembroke), readers are invited to question their own ideas of when help becomes hinderance. Rae Wilson shares her observations on Freeman's words and invites you to question your own selflessness.

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Monster Heat - by David Fesliyan

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Looking for a good book? These classic gothic tales have held audience interest for decades (some over a century), but are they useful beyond just a spine tingling scare? Join host Rae Wilson as she reads aloud the story of the week and then explores each stories deeper meanings afterward.

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Sneaky Snitch by Kevin MacLeod http://incompetech.com

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