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  Owen Oliver - A Short Story...

  Owen Oliver

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  Owen Oliver was born Joshua Albert Flynn in Sheerness, Kent, on 15th September 1863.  He was the eldest son of Albert Spencer Flynn and benefitted from a good education at private schools and then on to graduating at King's College, London.    Writing came after he had established himself as a senior civil servant and after he married Ada Parkinson who he had two sons and three daughters with.   
   
  Flynn served in South Africa as financial adviser to Lord Kitchener, worked for the Admiralty and the War Office from 1885 and was appointed director-general of finance at the Ministry of Pensions in 1916.  He excelled professionally and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1910 and knighted in 1919.  
   
  Under his pen name, Owen Oliver, he contributed over 250 short stories in different genres that were published in the popular magazines of the day.  Science fiction mainly in the Yellow Magazine, romance in the Windsor Magazine and numerous adventure stories in the London Magazine and  Cassell’s.  In 1918, he published the novel "An Author's Daughter" followed by A Knight at Heart, which delved into themes of chivalry, honour and love, set against the backdrop of historical events. Through his evocative prose and engaging narratives Oliver transported readers to different worlds, inviting them to experience the thrill of adventure and life in possibly a simpler time.  He wrote one further novel as well as a non-fiction book on the civil service that included the idea of widening recruitment outside of the elite universities. 
   
  Joshua Albert Flynn, aka Owen Oliver, died in Streatham, south London on 8th October 1933.  He was 70. 
   
  1 - Owen Oliver - A Short Story Collection - An Introduction 
  2 - The Cloud-Men by Owen Oliver 
  3 - Days of Darkness by Owen Oliver 
  4 - The Awakening by Owen Oliver 
  5 - An Unsolicited Contribution by Owen Oliver 
  6 - The Specification by Owen Oliver

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  Notes From the Underground

  Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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  Notes from the Underground is Dostoevsky's early masterpiece and is one of the first examples of existentialist literature.
  
  Dostoevsky's narrator is the anonymous voice of the masterful novella. Retired and isolated from society, he is bitter, contemptuous, and contemplative as he presents his anecdotes and philosophical outlooks. Presented as an extract from the narrator's memoirs, Notes from the Underground is divided into two parts. Opening with a monologue attacking Western philosophy, Dostoevsky follows this theoretical exploration with the anti-hero's accounts of various destructive and restorative life experiences.
  
  First published in 1864, Notes from the Underground is an analysis of human psychology and demonstrates Dostoevsky's sharp wit and keen understanding of the psyche.
  
  Fyodor Dostoyevsky was a Russian novelist, journalist, and short-story writer who had an immense influence on 20th-century fiction. He is commonly regarded as one of the finest novelists who ever lived, penning classics that include: Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons, and The Brothers Karamazov. His ideas profoundly shaped literary modernism, existentialism, and various schools of psychology, theology, and literary criticism.

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  Fish Cough

  Craig Buchner

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  What if your possessions, the painting hanging in your living room or the photograph on your bathroom wall, could influence you to the point of action? Or worse yet, pass on some innate degenerate trait? Disease? Neuroses? 
  In Portland, Oregon, an inquisitive soul, Thom, spends much of his day having these thoughts. Obsessed by what is around him, he begins to question his own wishy-washy life philosophies. But as he and his husband, Howard, struggle to navigate their rollercoaster relationship and their shaky careers as freelance writers, Thom is faced with a challenge far greater than the persuasive power of their possessions. During a once-every-33-years meteor shower, an evil unlike anything on earth lands in their neighbor's tree, setting off a string of puzzling and unsettling events - beginning with the appearance of an anthropomorphic squirrel named Gordito and an invisible presence capable of mind-control. 
  This debut novel from acclaimed poet and short fiction writer, Craig Buchner, Fish Cough is punctuated by gallows humor and finely attuned observations of the human experience. American in setting and style, Buchner presents an alluring, uniquely disquieting journey into the dynamics of the modern psyche. Fish Cough is a new breed of novel that blurs genre and tugs at the heart, all while questioning the foundational ideas of the world we live in.

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  The World and the Door

  O. Henry

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  The World and the Door by O. Henry, narrated by Patrick Walls, is a captivating collection of short stories brimming with wit, charm, and the signature twists that have made O. Henry a beloved storyteller. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century life, these tales explore human nature with humor and heart, often leading to surprising and unforgettable conclusions. From the bustling streets of New York to quieter, more intimate settings, O. Henry masterfully weaves narratives that capture both the joys and struggles of everyday people. 
  Narrator Patrick Walls delivers a warm and engaging performance, bringing each character and story to life with clarity and personality. His narration perfectly complements O. Henry’s clever writing, drawing listeners into the world of unexpected events, poignant moments, and sharp humor. Walls’ skillful delivery adds depth to the emotional range and subtle irony that permeate these timeless tales. 
  This audiobook is perfect for fans of classic literature, short stories, and anyone who enjoys a good twist. The World and the Door is a delightful listening experience that showcases O. Henry’s gift for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, offering both entertainment and insight with every tale.

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  Lady Eleanor Smith - A Short...

  Lady Eleanor Smith

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  Lady Eleanor Furneaux Smith was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside in England on the 7th August 1902 into a privileged family steeped in titles and politics. 
   
  Part of her education was at Miss Douglas's school at Queen's Gate.  Here she met and befriended several other young women that the British tabloid press would later call the ‘Bright Young Things’, a group of bohemian young aristocrats and socialites in 1920s London. 
   
  Smith's paternal great-grandmother, was said to have been a Gypsy, and this sparked an early and life-long interest with the Romani people, she even went so far as to learn to read and speak the language, which she called ‘musical and broken.’ 
   
  Her life was full of adventure and mishaps.  A mistaken encounter with a man she thought could help her into the film business turned out to threats of marriage and death from a man wanted for the murder of his father.  She was even arrested twice.  Once for listing her career as a journalist and another, in Rome, for walking around in a sleeveless dress. 
   
  Smith began her career writing society gossip columns for various newspapers but later received an offer to write for the newly-formed Great Carmo Circus, with which she travelled for several years and was the source material for many of her books. 
   
  Her first novel, ‘Red Wagon’, was published when she was 28 and it was an immediate bestseller.  A prolific writer several of her works were also adapted for films. 
   
  Smith also wrote ghost stories and others flavoured with evil.  Her support for the Conservative party may be forgiven but her attributed quote to be a ‘warm adherent of General Franco’ less so. 
   
  Lady Eleanor Furneaux Smith died on the 20th October 1945 in Westminster after a long illness.  She was 43. 
  1 - Lady Eleanor Smith - An Introduction 
  2 - One O'Clock by Lady Eleanor Smith 
  3 - Tamar by Lady Eleanor Smith 
  4 - Whittington's Cat by Lady Eleanor Smith

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  Space Chase

  Harold Anderson, Tom Lyons

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  Not everything they told you is true… 
  …because it was my job to ensure you never knew the whole truth. If the American people understood what really happened, the U.S. government feared life would have irrevocably changed for the worse. 
  In Space Chase, the premier installment of The Palmdale Files, former agent Harold Anderson reveals the true story behind a mysterious Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady" crash in the mountains of Nevada and the extreme efforts the U.S. government went through to hide what happened. Space Chase—also known as Event 21 Zeta—is the first in a series of forgotten and buried events the author once destroyed to protect the peace and security of the United States—events the government would rather hide forever. 
  Never heard of Palmdale? The author isn't surprised, and believes you never will outside of these short stories. The Palmdale Files share highlights from Harold Anderson's U.S. Air Force career, where he worked to defend the nation and the world from paranoid hysteria about unexplained phenomena and threats from above.

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