A captivating short story worth checking out today: James Tadd Adcox's "Ghostly Troubles"
In celebration of National Short Story Month, the Literary Hub team is recommending a singular short story each day of May, providing free access to read them online. This commemorative practice enters its third consecutive year. Today, we suggest "A Haunting" by James Tadd Adcox, published by the unique and adventurous ergot, a platform known for its short, captivating horror or horror-adjacent tales.
Ergot, a historical fungus growing on grains like rye, has been associated with hallucinatory experiences and peculiar behaviors. This connection could explain why ergot might serve as a reliable source for unsettling, ambitious horror fiction. The recommended story revolves around a person troubled by a relatively insignificant movie from their childhood, which, despite its poor production quality, leaves an unshakable impression. The narrative explores feelings of disquiet, dread, and a touch of mystery.
"A Haunting" opens with the protagonist, well past his fear of monsters, struggling with an unusual film haunting his thoughts. Originally watched on recommendation from an online friend, the film features mediocre actors and laughable effects, yet it manages to linger eerily in his memory. The story masterfully combines the intrigue of unexpected media and an eerie sense of familiarity slipping away while still lingering.
Readers can access the recommended story here. If a paywall hinders your reading experience, try using a different, private, or incognito browser.
- James Tadd Adcox, the author of the short story "A Haunting", has his work published by the adventurous and innovative platform, ergot, known for its captivating short horror stories.
- Ergot, historically associated with hallucinatory experiences, could be the reason why a source of unsettling, ambitious horror fiction arises from this platform.
- The short story "A Haunting" revolves around a haunting memory of a relatively insignificant movie from the protagonist's childhood, which, despite poor production quality, leaves an unshakable impression, exploring feelings of disquiet, dread, and mystery.
- For entertainment and literary purposes, readers can read this short story recommended by Literary Hub for National Short Story Month here, bypassing any paywalls by using a different, private, or incognito browser if necessary.
