The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson (~ 7,500 words)
The Brazillian Cat by Authur Conan Doyle (~ 8,000 words)
The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft (~ 12,000 words)
The Cedar Closet by Lafcadio Hearn (~ 3,750 words)
Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker (~ 4,750 words)
The Furnished Room by O. Henry (~ 2,500 words)
The Haunted Author by Marcus Clarke (~ 1,500 words)
John Charrington's Wedding by E. Nesbit (~ 3,000 words)
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (~ 3,500 words)
The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs (~ 4,000 words)
The Mortal Immortal by Mary Shelley (~ 5,500 words)
Nerves by Anton Chekhov (~ 1,500 words)
The Night Wire by H. F. Arnold (~ 2,500 words)
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce (~ 3,750 words)
Oh Whistle, And I'll Come To You, My Lad by M.R. James (~ 8,000 words)
The Signalman by Charles Dickens (~ 5,000 words)
Sredni Vashtar by Saki (~ 1,750 words)
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (~ 2,000 words)
A Terribly Strange Bed by Wilkie Collins (~ 6,750 words)
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (~ 6,000 words)
Update: In the comments, Em asks, "what about Washington Irving?" Ah, yes. Well, I originally drew the line at 10,000 words, but, in the end, couldn't bring myself omit Call of Cthulhu. Having broken my own rule once, I see no reason not to do so again.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (~ 12,000 words)
And, while we're at it:
Afterward by Edith Wharton (~ 12,000 words)
Posted on October 30, 2007 to Linksif too lazy to read, listen to the Classic Tales Podcast
Posted by: Anonymous on October 30, 2007 10:57 AMDAMN YOU MATT why do you hate my productivity?
So glad you included M.R. James. That story was actually made into a very scary short (if I remember correctly) film. Black and white, beautifully shot. Gorgeous stuff.
Posted by: Shannon on October 30, 2007 12:18 PMWHERE IS STEPHIN KING HE IS THE SCARIEST AUTHER OF ALL THESE. HAVE YOU HEARD OF CARRIE??????????????
Posted by: Rob Cockerham on October 30, 2007 1:59 PMThe Yellow Wallpaper: Terrifying on so many levels, like Rosemary's Baby.
Posted by: Anonymous on October 30, 2007 2:19 PMAnd if you're brutally lazy, check my 10 free public domain scary movies. I think I'm dragging down the IQ around here again...
Posted by: Jon on October 30, 2007 2:46 PMGreat list. Kudos on the M.R. James--"Ghost Stories of an Antiquary" has to be one of the scariest books of all time.
Posted by: Karen on October 30, 2007 3:34 PMOoh, great list, but what about Washington Irving?
Posted by: Em on October 30, 2007 5:07 PMMy pitchers are pretty scary. Especially the ones with the Hummel Figurines having Satanic group sex. Man, I'm so hard right now.
Posted by: Thomas Kinkade on October 30, 2007 8:13 PMNot Halloween-spooky, but creepy on the same levels as "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "Occurrence"-- D.H. Lawrence's "Rocking Horse Winner".
Posted by: lo on October 30, 2007 10:59 PMGreat collection of stories, but why does Rob Cockerham have to be the funniest commenter ever? Ever!
Posted by: Phill on October 31, 2007 3:06 AMGreat list, but what about Irving Washington?
Posted by: Nic on October 31, 2007 5:56 AMGreat list, how about Irving Washington though?
Posted by: Nic on October 31, 2007 6:05 AMI'm loving your list, but what about Flannery O'Connor? Some of the spookiest...
Posted by: JAW on October 31, 2007 6:58 AMCast of Amontillado!!
Posted by: Ashik on October 31, 2007 4:24 PMI did my first undergrad research paper on "Afterward." It stands out in my mind as one of the best-written short stories, of any genre, of all time. The more time I spent studying it the more detail I noticed: the thing is crafted like a house made of cinnabar. It so rocks that you included it.
Posted by: The Scarlet Pervygirl on November 1, 2007 3:43 AM