Three Ghost Stories [by Charles Dickens]

As a gifted writer with a strong interest in supernatural phenomena, Charles Dickens produced a string of ghost stories with enduring charm. Three of them are presented here, of which The Signal Man is one of the best known. Though quite different from his most celebrated realistic and humorous critical novels, these ghost stories, Gothic and grotesque as they are, are of good portrayal, and worth a read/listen.

Read by Marian Brown and Muhammad Mussnoon.

link to the free audiobook
Three Ghost Stories [by Charles Dickens]

The Royal Book of Oz [by Ruth Plumly Thompson]

The Royal Book of Oz (1921) is the fifteenth in the series of Oz books, and the first to be written by Ruth Plumly Thompson after L. Frank Baum's death. Although Baum was credited as the author, it was written entirely by Thompson. The Scarecrow is upset when Professor Wogglebug tells him that he has no family, so he goes to where Dorothy Gale found him to trace his "roots." Then he vanishes from the face of Oz.  Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion mount a search for their friend, but when that is successful, they will need to become a rescue party!

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The Royal Book of Oz [by Ruth Plumly Thompson]

Unknown London [by Walter George Bell]

Herein you will find much concerning those things which everybody knows about, but nobody knows — the things you have known about since childhood, and have been content to leave them at that, knowing little of what they are and still less where they are to be found. I have dealt mostly with the big things that London has in its keeping, such as the Domesday Book (can you tell me off-hand where it is to be seen ?); with the Confessor's Shrine (of the crowds who enter Westminster Abbey there is a big leaven who do not even know that it is there); with the massive fragments of London's Roman Wall that still survive; with that spot in Smithfield where martyrs burnt and English history was made; with the Duke of Suffolk's head and its dramatic story; with our Roman baths; with London Stone and odd others. … The City of London — the innermost "square mile" — is the richest ground for historical associations in all our world Empire, and the greater pity, therefore, that it should be unknown. (Summary from the author’s Preface, 1919.)

link to the free audiobook

Unknown London [by Walter George Bell]

The Thing in the Attic (version 2) [by James B. Blish]

"Honath and his fellow arch-doubters did not believe in the Giants, and for this they were cast into Hell. And when survival depended upon unwavering faith in their beliefs, they saw that there were Giants, after all...." The Thing in the Attic is a Science Fiction story by James Blish with a well developed story line and great characters that you find yourself pulling for as they struggle to understand and survive in 'hell'. Do they have tails? yes they do. Do they live in the treetops? you bet they do. Are they 'people'? Well, I will let you decide that. The strange beings and environment that you expect from Blish are all here and they challenge you to adapt your thinking to keep up with the action. And of course there is an ending that is definitely not expected. Listen and enjoy this story of a strange world far in the future of the human race.

Read by Phil Chenevert

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The Thing in the Attic (version 2) [by James B. Blish]

The Picture of Dorian Gray [by Oscar Wilde]

The novel tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is impressed by Dorian’s beauty and becomes infatuated with him, believing his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art. Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Basil’s, and becomes enthralled by Lord Henry’s world view. Espousing a new hedonism, Lord Henry suggests the only things worth pursuing in life are beauty and fulfillment of the senses. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses his desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait Basil has painted would age rather than himself. Dorian’s wish is fulfilled, plunging him into debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with each sin displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging. 

Cast:
Narrator - Martin Geeson
Lord Henry Wotton - David Goldfarb
Dorian Gray - Algy Pug
Basil Hallward - Anthony
Sibyl Vane - Miss Avarice
James Vane - David Lawrence
Duchess of Monmouth - Availle
Victor - Martin Geeson
Francis - Simon Pride
Cab Driver - Simon Pride
Parker - Elizabeth Klett
Lord Fermor - Anthony
Lady Agatha - Sarah
Duchess ofHarley - Hannah Harris
Sir Thomas Burdon - Terence Taylor
Mr. Erskine Frank Booker
Mrs. Vandeleur - Mary-Beth Blackburn
Lady Henry - Susanna
Mrs. Vane - Arielle Lipshaw
Mrs. Leaf - Rebeka Harris
Mr. Hubbard - Frank Booker
Alan Campbell - Ernst Pattynama
Lady Narborough - Elizabeth Klett
Lady Ruxton - Mary-Beth Blackburn
Adrian Singleton - Joseph Lawler
Woman - Lucy Perry
Sir Geoffrey Clouston - Mark F. Smith
Gamekeeper - MartinGeeson
Gardener- Joseph Lawler
Young Man - Elizabeth Klett
Old Gentleman - Mark F. Smith
Constable - Joseph Lawler

Audio edited by Arielle Lipshaw

link to the free audiobook

The Picture of Dorian Gray [by Oscar Wilde]

The Big Time [by Fritz Leiber]

A classic locked room mystery, in a not-so-classic setting.

Read by Karen Savage.

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The Big Time [by Fritz Leiber]

A Dream Play [by August Strindberg]

A Dream Play was written in 1901 by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg. It was first performed in Stockholm on 17 April 1907. It remains one of Strindberg's most admired and influential dramas, seen as an important precursor to both dramatic Expressionism and Surrealism. The primary character in the play is Agnes, a daughter of the Vedic god Indra. She descends to Earth to bear witness to problems of human beings. She meets about 40 characters, some of them having a clearly symbolical value (such as four deans representing theology, philosophy, medicine, and law). After experiencing all sorts of human suffering (for example poverty, cruelty, and the routine of family life), the daughter of gods realizes that human beings are to be pitied.

(Translated by Edwin Bjorkman.)

Cast:
The Daughter of Indra (Agnes); Voice of the Women (+ All); The Crew: Amanda Friday
The Officer (+All in III): Ron Altman
The Lawyer; All Right-Minded: Chuck Williamson
The Poet: Lucy Perry
The Voice of Indra: om123
The Glazier; Voice of the Men, Tenor and Bass (+All); The Crew: alanmapstone
The Father; He (+All); The Second Coalheaver; Dean of Philosophy: ToddHW
The Mother: Margaret Espaillat
Lena: Rebecca Braunert-Plunkett
The Portress; The Wife; The Gentleman: CaprishaPage
The Billposter: EccentricOwl
Victoria (also "A Woman's Voice from Above"); She (+All): Elizabeth Klett
The Ballet Girl; Voice of the Children (+All); The Crew: Frances Brown
The Male Chorus Singer; The Boy (+All the Boys): Libby Gohn
The Prompter; The Blind Man (+All): Mary J
The Policeman; The Husband; Dean of Jurisprudence: Arnaldo Machado
Christine; The First Coalheaver: KHand
The Master of Quarantine (+All in Act II): Zachary Brewster-Geisz
The Pensioner (+ All); The Naval Officer; Dean of Theology: Prachi Pendse
The Maids; The Lady; Don Juan: WoollyBee
Edith; Dean of Medicine: Anna Simon
The Teacher: Savannah
Lord Chancellor: Josh Kirsh
Narrator: Sarah Terry

Edited by Chuck Williamson

link to the free audiobook

A Dream Play [by August Strindberg]