Ancient Horror

Algernon Henry Blackwood (March 14, 1869 - December 10, 1951) was an English broadcasting narrator, journalist, novelist and short story writer, and among the most prolific ghost story writers in the history of the genre. The following recording includes the short stories "The Olive" and "Ancient Lights."

Tess Blackwell thought her troubles were over after dealing with the sinister vampire, Lilith. However, Lilith had different plans. Now connected by a binding spell, Tess feels what Lilith feels and vice versa, meaning if one dies, so does the other.

The Victorians were obsessed with Egyptology and mummies. It was during the second half of the 19th century that many of the most significant archeological finds were made in Egypt, and stories of the revenge of the mummies on anyone raiding their tombs, stealing their treasures or unwrapping their corpses abounded. This collection brings together the best and scariest short stories of the period, featuring vengeance-seeking mummies, bandaged zombies, pharaonic ghosts and ancient curses.

There is an ancient evil lurking in the mountains of California. One peak over from Friendly, California, there is another, darker place. In that place there are two churches. Displaced from a time and place far distant, an ancient carving watches from an alcove above the door of a nearly forgotten church. When the evil it embodies reaches out and snags the soul of Silas Greene, roots creep down into the mountain and out into everything they touch. There is another church on the mountain. It is made of stone, carved into the stone of the mountain, and also all but forgotten.

Who protects you and the world from supernatural destruction? This novella will give you the answer in the most exhilarating and unexpected way. A battle-hardened centurion is sent on a special mission to the wilds of Roman Britain to investigate the strange and ghastly murders of his brothers-in-arms. With the help of a warrior Queen, Magnus will encounter deathly forces, battle rival clans, and transform, not only himself but an entire nation. The Order of St. Michael forms in tenuous times, under dour circumstances, and stands as the world's foremost defense against darkness.

When Greta and her husband move home to Ash Grove, Alabama, they learn they are not the only newcomers to town. The ancient enemy of Greta's family has finally found them and he is there to destroy the family. For a hundred years, they had been safe, and now, even though most of the family no longer believes in their eternal hunter, he is there to prove them wrong. As Greta feels each grisly death in her family, she realizes that it is up to her to stop their ancient enemy once and for all, or die trying.

The Hegemony is the ruling council of The Order, a society of vampires that has controlled world governments for centuries. Now, vampyr scientist Caroline Ludlow and her fledgling Avery Doyle have control of North America. But with that power come enemies working toward their downfall. When Caroline leaves to secure her position at the Hegemony’s summit meeting, Avery must protect their home and Caroline’s scientific discoveries from agents of a foreign power.

Sani Natonaba's ancestors have lived in these canyons for more than 700 years, but they aren't the only ones. When he awakens to the bleating of his family's sheep being slaughtered, he learns that something is stalking this isolated corner of the reservation, a predator unlike any he has encountered before, one that attacks with alarming stealth and ferocity. Only his grandfather knows what lurks outside in the darkness, but a stroke has left him unable to communicate, forcing Sani to embark upon a journey into the distant past to discover the horrible truth.

A young man, James Johnson, illegitimate son of the legendary Wyatt Earp, dreams of adventure and following in his daddy's footsteps. James and his mentally disabled friend, Carson, are about to come face to face with an evil previously unimaginable in their little town. An evil they invited in.

Charles Boswell's short story "Monsters of Monarchy", Terror Tales, May 1940 features Roman emperor Caligula (12 BCE-24 CE), one of the most notorious Roman emperors. Known for his incestuous relationship with his sisters, and for his cruelty and madness, which culminated in Caligula naming his horse Roman consul and declaring himself a god. Caligula's brief reign and life turn into a complex and fascinating story of a boy-emperor thoroughly unprepared for the throne, who, in the early years of the Roman Empire, tried to make Rome an absolute monarchy but failed.

This chilling tale of a gruesome monster unleashed into the world by an unthinking scientist was first conceived by 19-year-old Mary Shelley on a dark, rainy night on Lake Geneva. Lord Byron and Percy Shelley challenged their friends to see who could come up with the most horrifying story imaginable. Mary Shelley did, terrifying them all with her nightmare-inspired tale. It is followed by "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge which was an early haunting influence on the young Mary Shelley.

Maria Dahvana Headley blends history, romance, and the supernatural for a fantastic tale set in ancient Egypt. Upon hearing news of her husband Antony’s death, Cleopatra is distraught. In an effort to resurrect him, she summons the fearsome warrior goddess Sekhmet. Striking a deal with the deity, Cleopatra pays a terrible price in the bargain and is transformed into a terrifying vampire-like creature whose lust for blood is only matched by her desire to exact vengeance upon those who have wronged her.

En la historia de Dorian Gray, que gracias a que tiene un retrato que envejece por el puede dedicarse a las mayores depravaciones y vicios, sin que lo afecten, es un personaje universal, cuyas aventuras hasta su tragico final, se consideran entre las obras maestras de la literatura inglesa.

En esta novela el autor nos traslada al siglo sexto a. C. a la ciudad de Tartessos en el sur de la península ibérica, siendo su principal caudillo Argantonio, que tiene a su servicio multitud de mercenarios de distintos pueblos de la península. Entre estos mercenarios están Sembeles y su primo Alongis, que se enamora en una fiesta de Nefele, una bailarina y quiere comprársela a su amo, pero no tiene dinero para hacerlo. Unos mercenarios celtas al darse cuenta, le proponen que les ayude a encontrar la tumba de un rey, que está llena riquezas que repartirán con él.

En el apogeo del imperio inca el pueblo va a tener que trabajar unido para llegar a construir la ciudad sagrada desde la que se gobernará todo el territorio inca. Una joven con ojos como esmeraldas está destinada a ser la hija del sol y así ha sido vaticinado por un sacerdote en la lectura de los astros. Pero para poder cumplir con su destino la joven tendrá que viajar hacia el templo de Inticancha. Sin embargo los dioses parecen querer someter a toda clase de pruebas a Nuba y Airun, los padres de la joven, que se encontrarán con inimaginables peligros a lo largo de su viaje a la ciudad sagrada.

Experience one of Poe’s classics with crisp, clear audio. Orange Island Book Shop is proud to present Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tales like you’ve never heard them before.

"The Middle Toe of the Right Foot", a ghost story by the writer and Civil War soldier Ambrose Bierce, was first published in The San Francisco Examiner in 1890. A man named Manton had murdered his children, and his wife who lacked the middle toe of her right foot. A decade later, he returns to the area; and having been recognized, is provoked to a duel in the dark, to be held at the scene of the crime. When the time of the duel comes, no antagonist appears, and Manton stands alone in the haunted darkness. The next day, they found his corpse, throttled by terror, crouching in a corner.

Lucina of Greece was orphaned at a young age and brought up by foster parents. Now aged 13, she is sent to be educated by her philosopher guardian in the place he calls Elysium. There, she finds herself the only female in a masculine world: While she proves herself an intellectual equal, she cannot accept the rigidity of the scientific skepticism that disallows her intuition, psychic talents, and capacity for love.

Anno Domini 1095. Cresciuta all'estremo nord del Sacro Romano Impero, Viridiana è abituata a viaggiare ed esercitare l'arte della guarigione. Fino a quando re Jonas dei Naconidi irrompe nel suo villaggio e la reclama come ostaggio in cambio della pace, ammaliato dalla chioma di fuoco e dallo spirito fiero che la contraddistinguono. Perché proprio a lei è toccato in sorte un simile sacrificio? Jonas è un sovrano arrogante e un guerriero spietato. Non c'è limite alla sua forza, né al suo desiderio di proteggere il figlio Andreas, unico vincolo con il suo perduto amore.

Anno Domini 1076. Sopravvissuta alla strage della sua famiglia, Doralice di Lacus trova ospitalità a Canossa, dove la grancontessa Matilda la accoglie come una figlia. Quando l'orrore per l'assassinio dei suoi genitori sembra aver lasciato posto a una tranquilla quotidianità, i piani di conquista di Enrico IV sconvolgono il suo mondo. Tristan di Holstein, indomito guerriero forgiato da mille battaglie, ha un'ultima missione prima di riconquistare la libertà: deve colpire al cuore Matilda, strappandole quanto ha di più prezioso.