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Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny
Strange things happen all the time—doors creak open, shadows shift when no one’s looking and some places never quite forget their past. Enter the world of mystery, magic and macabre with master storyteller Satyajit Ray as he weaves the finest supernatural tales. Featuring haunted houses, curious doppelgangers, sinister shape-shifters and the lingering echoes of a forgotten past, these hauntingly beautiful stories are presented for the first time to a new generation of readers in this collectable edition, featuring Ray’s original artworks. Come, venture into the realms where the boundaries blur!
216 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
About the author
Satyajit Ray
696 books1,602 followersSatyajit Ray (Bengali: সত্যজিৎ রায়) was an Indian filmmaker and author of Bengali fiction and regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of world cinema. Ray was born in the city of Calcutta into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature. Starting his career as a commercial artist, Ray was drawn into independent filmmaking after meeting French filmmaker Jean Renoir and watching Vittorio De Sica's Italian neorealist 1948 film, Bicycle Thieves.
Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, calligrapher, graphic designer and film critic. He authored several short stories and novels, primarily aimed at children and adolescents.
Ray's first film, Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven international prizes, including Best Human Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival. This film, Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959) form The Apu Trilogy. Ray did the scripting, casting, scoring, and editing, and designed his own credit titles and publicity material. Ray received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Award in 1992. The Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
Early Life and Background:
Ray's grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was a writer, illustrator, philosopher, publisher, amateur astronomer and a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a religious and social movement in nineteenth century Bengal. Sukumar Ray, Upendrakishore's son and father of Satyajit, was a pioneering Bengali author and poet of nonsense rhyme and children's literature, an illustrator and a critic. Ray was born to Sukumar and Suprabha Ray in Calcutta.
Ray completed his B.A. (Hons.) in Economics at Presidency College of the University of Calcutta, though his interest was always in Fine Arts. In 1940, he went to study in Santiniketan where Ray came to appreciate Oriental Art. In 1949, Ray married Bijoya Das and the couple had a son, Sandip ray, who is now a famous film director.
Literary Works:
Ray created two of the most famous fictional characters ever in Bengali children's literature—Feluda, a sleuth in Holmesian tradition, and Professor Shonku, a genius scientist. Ray also wrote many short stories mostly centered on Macabre, Thriller and Paranormal which were published as collections of 12 stories. Ray wrote an autobiography about his childhood years, Jakhan Choto Chilam (1982). He also wrote essays on film, published as the collections: Our Films, Their Films (1976), Bishoy Chalachchitra (1976), and Ekei Bole Shooting (1979).
Awards, Honors and Recognitions:
Ray received many awards, including 32 National Film Awards by the Government of India. At the Moscow Film Festival in 1979, he was awarded for the contribution to cinema. At the Berlin Film Festival, he was one of only three to win the Silver Bear for Best Director more than once and holds the record for the most Golden Bear nominations, with seven. At the Venice Film Festival, he won a Golden Lion for Aparajito(1956), and awarded the Golden Lion Honorary Award in 1982. In 1992 he was posthumously awarded the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, calligrapher, graphic designer and film critic. He authored several short stories and novels, primarily aimed at children and adolescents.
Ray's first film, Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven international prizes, including Best Human Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival. This film, Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959) form The Apu Trilogy. Ray did the scripting, casting, scoring, and editing, and designed his own credit titles and publicity material. Ray received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Award in 1992. The Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
Early Life and Background:
Ray's grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was a writer, illustrator, philosopher, publisher, amateur astronomer and a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a religious and social movement in nineteenth century Bengal. Sukumar Ray, Upendrakishore's son and father of Satyajit, was a pioneering Bengali author and poet of nonsense rhyme and children's literature, an illustrator and a critic. Ray was born to Sukumar and Suprabha Ray in Calcutta.
Ray completed his B.A. (Hons.) in Economics at Presidency College of the University of Calcutta, though his interest was always in Fine Arts. In 1940, he went to study in Santiniketan where Ray came to appreciate Oriental Art. In 1949, Ray married Bijoya Das and the couple had a son, Sandip ray, who is now a famous film director.
Literary Works:
Ray created two of the most famous fictional characters ever in Bengali children's literature—Feluda, a sleuth in Holmesian tradition, and Professor Shonku, a genius scientist. Ray also wrote many short stories mostly centered on Macabre, Thriller and Paranormal which were published as collections of 12 stories. Ray wrote an autobiography about his childhood years, Jakhan Choto Chilam (1982). He also wrote essays on film, published as the collections: Our Films, Their Films (1976), Bishoy Chalachchitra (1976), and Ekei Bole Shooting (1979).
Awards, Honors and Recognitions:
Ray received many awards, including 32 National Film Awards by the Government of India. At the Moscow Film Festival in 1979, he was awarded for the contribution to cinema. At the Berlin Film Festival, he was one of only three to win the Silver Bear for Best Director more than once and holds the record for the most Golden Bear nominations, with seven. At the Venice Film Festival, he won a Golden Lion for Aparajito(1956), and awarded the Golden Lion Honorary Award in 1982. In 1992 he was posthumously awarded the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 24, 2025
Diving back to my Bengali literature was refreshing 🌝✨💫
I have been reading way too many english novels and some translated works from foreign languages too but when I saw this gem from Satyajit Ray , I couldn't miss out the opportunity to dive back into my own literature ❤️
Even though horror isn't my genre but the simple and easy narration of Satyajit Ray made me read one story at a time. This is a collection of short ghost stories from different timelines ranging between 1960s to 1990s in West Bengal. The refference to different elements and places of Bengal along with the witty and playful writing made each story better than than the other.
Plus, the original illustrations by the legend himself was so beautiful and refreshing to see in this translated version. This is so perfect for all the young readers and also for people like me who want to start reading this interesting genre of horror 🙈 be ready to open your imagination and creativity as each story leaves you amazed and suprised by the suspense and thrill of the facts and scenarios unraveling to an unexpected ending in each story of this book.
This is a wonderful collection of work by the legend 💖 and I had a great time reading this one.
I have been reading way too many english novels and some translated works from foreign languages too but when I saw this gem from Satyajit Ray , I couldn't miss out the opportunity to dive back into my own literature ❤️
Even though horror isn't my genre but the simple and easy narration of Satyajit Ray made me read one story at a time. This is a collection of short ghost stories from different timelines ranging between 1960s to 1990s in West Bengal. The refference to different elements and places of Bengal along with the witty and playful writing made each story better than than the other.
Plus, the original illustrations by the legend himself was so beautiful and refreshing to see in this translated version. This is so perfect for all the young readers and also for people like me who want to start reading this interesting genre of horror 🙈 be ready to open your imagination and creativity as each story leaves you amazed and suprised by the suspense and thrill of the facts and scenarios unraveling to an unexpected ending in each story of this book.
This is a wonderful collection of work by the legend 💖 and I had a great time reading this one.
May 24, 2025
This collection has 14 unique supernatural stories. Most are set in Kolkata and many begin with something as ordinary as a train ride… until the uncanny slips in. The author’s writing is crisp and simple, perfect for young readers. I especially loved how the suspense builds slowly, pulling you in without any dramatic frills.
If you grew up loving Enid Blyton’s mysteries or RL Stine’s Goosebumps, this one’s a must-read.
If you grew up loving Enid Blyton’s mysteries or RL Stine’s Goosebumps, this one’s a must-read.
July 29, 2025
This collection of short horror stories draws us into a world where the uncanny becomes almost believable. Through stories filled with haunted houses, mysterious doubles and eerie echoes of forgotten times, Satyajit Ray gently unravels the line between the real and the unreal. Each tale carries a distinct sense of unease, yet it always feels natural. Accompanied by Ray’s own illustrations, the stories in this edition form a quiet, immersive journey into the supernatural.
There’s nothing loud or hurried about the way he tells these stories. The tension builds slowly, through precise details and measured pacing. The language is elegantly simple. The author seems to understand that the best kind of fear is the one that lingers in the background. His writing allows space for the reader’s own imagination to fill in the gaps. It makes the stories more personal, more haunting.
I finished it with a sense of being gently unsettled, and I mean that in the best possible way. The collection is a beautiful tribute to timeless storytelling and it leaves a lasting impression. And the illustrations are brilliant.
There’s nothing loud or hurried about the way he tells these stories. The tension builds slowly, through precise details and measured pacing. The language is elegantly simple. The author seems to understand that the best kind of fear is the one that lingers in the background. His writing allows space for the reader’s own imagination to fill in the gaps. It makes the stories more personal, more haunting.
I finished it with a sense of being gently unsettled, and I mean that in the best possible way. The collection is a beautiful tribute to timeless storytelling and it leaves a lasting impression. And the illustrations are brilliant.
September 3, 2025
// Not a Book Review //
’Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny’ features sinister entities like abandoned bungalows, blood thirsty vampires and strange people, in which the residents in and around Calcutta are displaced in extraordinary circumstances. Originally appeared in Sandesh magazine, which was edited by Satyajit Ray's grandfather Upendra Kishore Ray Choudhuri and later by his father Sukumar Ray, the stories have been masterfully translated by the Late Gopa Majumdar, Indrani Majumdar and Satyajit Ray himself. Their efforts in translating the work while preserving the original text that retained the flavour of the stories have to be applauded.
The tales have illustrations from Ray himself. The imaginative world created by him consumes you, thereby teleporting you to a glorious era that's long gone by. The characters are not confined within the book but leap from the pages, breathed to life by Satyajit Ray's sketches. With a unique blend of horror and humor, this carefully handpicked collection of curated tales are perfect for seasoned and new readers alike.
Pinaki De, a leading illustrator of India has brilliantly designed the cover featuring a scene from the story - ’Anath Babu's Terror’. The tones of black with dark blue highlighting the silhouettes have preserved the beauty of Satyajit Ray's original sketches.
’Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny’ features sinister entities like abandoned bungalows, blood thirsty vampires and strange people, in which the residents in and around Calcutta are displaced in extraordinary circumstances. Originally appeared in Sandesh magazine, which was edited by Satyajit Ray's grandfather Upendra Kishore Ray Choudhuri and later by his father Sukumar Ray, the stories have been masterfully translated by the Late Gopa Majumdar, Indrani Majumdar and Satyajit Ray himself. Their efforts in translating the work while preserving the original text that retained the flavour of the stories have to be applauded.
The tales have illustrations from Ray himself. The imaginative world created by him consumes you, thereby teleporting you to a glorious era that's long gone by. The characters are not confined within the book but leap from the pages, breathed to life by Satyajit Ray's sketches. With a unique blend of horror and humor, this carefully handpicked collection of curated tales are perfect for seasoned and new readers alike.
Pinaki De, a leading illustrator of India has brilliantly designed the cover featuring a scene from the story - ’Anath Babu's Terror’. The tones of black with dark blue highlighting the silhouettes have preserved the beauty of Satyajit Ray's original sketches.
February 10, 2026
This collection is a fun mix of psychological chills, classic ghost stuff, and unsettling “what did I just read?” moments.
The absolute standouts:
“Fritz” (5/5) is hands down the best of the lot. It takes something ordinary and makes it deeply unsettling. Super simple, super effective, and impossible to forget.
The 4/5 stories—Anath Babu’s Terror, Ratan Babu and That Man, Bhuto, A Strange Night for Mr Shasmal, and The First-Class Compartment—are Ray in peak suspense mode. Ghost hunters, doppelgängers, creepy dummies, and normal people stuck in very not-normal situations. Solid stuff.
Middle of the pack:
Indigo, Mr Brown’s Cottage, Khagam, and The Scarecrow (3/5) are all nicely atmospheric. They build mood really well—Indigo especially—but don’t quite hit as hard as the top-tier stories.
The weaker ones:
The Vicious Vampire, Gagan Chowdhury’s Studio, I Am a Ghost, and Telephone (2/5) feel a bit dated or just don’t land the scare. These stories are meh!
TLDR:
Even with a few misses, this is still a great read if you enjoy Bengali literature or classic desi ghost stories. The translation by Gopa and Indrani Majumdar is excellent, and Ray’s writing, as always stays sharp, even and especially when things get weird.
The absolute standouts:
“Fritz” (5/5) is hands down the best of the lot. It takes something ordinary and makes it deeply unsettling. Super simple, super effective, and impossible to forget.
The 4/5 stories—Anath Babu’s Terror, Ratan Babu and That Man, Bhuto, A Strange Night for Mr Shasmal, and The First-Class Compartment—are Ray in peak suspense mode. Ghost hunters, doppelgängers, creepy dummies, and normal people stuck in very not-normal situations. Solid stuff.
Middle of the pack:
Indigo, Mr Brown’s Cottage, Khagam, and The Scarecrow (3/5) are all nicely atmospheric. They build mood really well—Indigo especially—but don’t quite hit as hard as the top-tier stories.
The weaker ones:
The Vicious Vampire, Gagan Chowdhury’s Studio, I Am a Ghost, and Telephone (2/5) feel a bit dated or just don’t land the scare. These stories are meh!
TLDR:
Even with a few misses, this is still a great read if you enjoy Bengali literature or classic desi ghost stories. The translation by Gopa and Indrani Majumdar is excellent, and Ray’s writing, as always stays sharp, even and especially when things get weird.
May 17, 2025
I always enjoy a good ghost story or anything from the horror genre for that matter. “Ghosts, Supernatural Tales of the Uncanny” is a well put together collection of ghost stories by the legendary Satyajit Ray and the stories are accompanied by original artworks by Mr. Ray.
The stories, most of them, are set in West Bengal and take you back in time to the 50s and 60s which was a much simpler time. The stories reflect the state of affairs in those times very well and all the stories being set in India are much more relatable contextually.
While the collection is meant for Young Adults, I would not put an upper age limit on it. I feel it is a collection of stories that anyone can enjoy. Even though being in the horror genre, the stories are very light and fast paced with easy vocabulary.
I was reading something from this genre after a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed each story from the book.
The stories, most of them, are set in West Bengal and take you back in time to the 50s and 60s which was a much simpler time. The stories reflect the state of affairs in those times very well and all the stories being set in India are much more relatable contextually.
While the collection is meant for Young Adults, I would not put an upper age limit on it. I feel it is a collection of stories that anyone can enjoy. Even though being in the horror genre, the stories are very light and fast paced with easy vocabulary.
I was reading something from this genre after a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed each story from the book.
May 27, 2025
Ghosts, Supernatural and Tales of the Uncanny is a spine-tingling collection that invites readers into the shadowy corners of imagination, where reality dances with the supernatural. Satyajit Ray, a master of storytelling, conjures eerie atmospheres and unsettling encounters with effortless brilliance. From haunted houses and doppelgangers to shape-shifters and whispers of the past, each tale is a doorway into a world where the ordinary is forever touched by the extraordinary.
What makes this edition especially captivating is the inclusion of Ray’s original artwork, adding a personal and haunting visual layer to the narratives. The stories are unsettling yet poetic, filled with quiet suspense rather than loud horror, perfect for both seasoned fans of the genre and new readers alike.
This collectable edition serves as a timeless tribute to Ray’s genius—where mystery, magic, and the macabre intertwine. Dare to open the book—and blur the line between what is and what could be.
What makes this edition especially captivating is the inclusion of Ray’s original artwork, adding a personal and haunting visual layer to the narratives. The stories are unsettling yet poetic, filled with quiet suspense rather than loud horror, perfect for both seasoned fans of the genre and new readers alike.
This collectable edition serves as a timeless tribute to Ray’s genius—where mystery, magic, and the macabre intertwine. Dare to open the book—and blur the line between what is and what could be.
January 22, 2026
Famous filmmaker Satyajit Ray also wrote haunting and supernatural stories. This anthology demonstrates his talent, humour and creativity as an author, creating an unfamiliar dimension of his talent. The tales combine fantasy with real life in India in the 20 th century, which contributes to the attractiveness of the tales to all age groups. Ray narrates 14 stories and each story has a different supernatural theme, including ghosts and scarecrows, vampires and doppelgangers. His storytelling skills are diverse as the mood changes to frightening!
The tales are also a subtle impression of the social structure of India, tradition, and modernity. Ray addresses the issues of alienation, ambition and the quest of personal freedom. These aspects enhance the supernatural intrigues of the stories which make them not only entertaining, but also thought provoking!
This is a book that any lover of Satyajit Ray and short stories will not want to miss. It is a reminder of his skill in storytelling, his combination of supernatural concepts and keen observations of human nature. An accomplishment to a lover of excellent storytelling!
The tales are also a subtle impression of the social structure of India, tradition, and modernity. Ray addresses the issues of alienation, ambition and the quest of personal freedom. These aspects enhance the supernatural intrigues of the stories which make them not only entertaining, but also thought provoking!
This is a book that any lover of Satyajit Ray and short stories will not want to miss. It is a reminder of his skill in storytelling, his combination of supernatural concepts and keen observations of human nature. An accomplishment to a lover of excellent storytelling!
January 13, 2026
3.5 stars!
An introduction to Satyajit Ray's writing, and a solid one! I'm always on the hunt for spooky stories, and some of the stories in this anthology really hit the spot. Some like the First Class Compartment were a bit on the nose and funny, stories like Ratan Babu and that Man, Bhuto, and even Telephone were sufficiently eerie. The story "Mr. Brown's Cottage" is a particularly heartwarming ghost story all pet lovers would love. Although I found many stories "average" (which means not scary at all), none of them are entirely forgettable.
An introduction to Satyajit Ray's writing, and a solid one! I'm always on the hunt for spooky stories, and some of the stories in this anthology really hit the spot. Some like the First Class Compartment were a bit on the nose and funny, stories like Ratan Babu and that Man, Bhuto, and even Telephone were sufficiently eerie. The story "Mr. Brown's Cottage" is a particularly heartwarming ghost story all pet lovers would love. Although I found many stories "average" (which means not scary at all), none of them are entirely forgettable.
May 30, 2025
As the title suggests this is a collection of 14 stories that will make the reader enjoy if one is interested in ghosts.
August 1, 2025
great short stories
February 23, 2026
What a great storyteller Mr Ray is!!!
May 15, 2026
A very refreshing style of ghost and horror stories
September 8, 2026
They are but not all
October 29, 2026
The way Ray creates an eerie atmosphere is surreal. I particularly liked Fritz, Indigo, Mr Brown's cottage, Bhuto and I am a Ghost.
May 12, 2025
This is a captivating collection of ghost stories that will transport you to West Bengal in the 50s and 60s.
The collection features a range of stories, from classic ghost tales to comedy-horror. Ray's use of sarcasm and deadpan humor adds a unique touch to the stories, making them both entertaining and thought-provoking.
The stories are light and fast-paced, with easy vocabulary that makes them accessible to readers of all ages.
Throughout the book, Ray explores the theme of justice, highlighting the importance of standing up for what's right, even in the face of adversity. This theme is particularly relevant for young readers, who will appreciate the courage and determination of the characters.
The original illustrations by Ray add to the charm of the book. They perfectly capture the essence of the stories and bring the characters to life.
Overall, it is a must-read for fans of horror and supernatural fiction. With its unique blend of horror and humor, this collection is sure to delight readers of all ages.
The collection features a range of stories, from classic ghost tales to comedy-horror. Ray's use of sarcasm and deadpan humor adds a unique touch to the stories, making them both entertaining and thought-provoking.
The stories are light and fast-paced, with easy vocabulary that makes them accessible to readers of all ages.
Throughout the book, Ray explores the theme of justice, highlighting the importance of standing up for what's right, even in the face of adversity. This theme is particularly relevant for young readers, who will appreciate the courage and determination of the characters.
The original illustrations by Ray add to the charm of the book. They perfectly capture the essence of the stories and bring the characters to life.
Overall, it is a must-read for fans of horror and supernatural fiction. With its unique blend of horror and humor, this collection is sure to delight readers of all ages.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews