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Darkness There: Selected Tales by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe is known as the forefather of suspense and modern crime fiction. For the first time ever, Darkness There showcases some of his most famous tales with stunning digital illustrations. Each story explores a different twist of madness, murder, and melancholy, from the horror of being buried alive in “The Fall of the House of Usher” to the desperate case of two gruesome killings in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” The heartbeat of paranoia in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the razor-sharp claustrophobia in “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and a mourner’s torment in “The Raven” reveal—and revel in—life’s creepiest and craziest. These tales are not for the faint of heart or the thin of skin.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2016
942 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Allan Poe
9,794 books28.7k followersThe name Poe brings to mind images of murderers and madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women who return from the dead. His works have been in print since 1827 and include such literary classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher. This versatile writer’s oeuvre includes short stories, poetry, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of essays and book reviews. He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre, but he made his living as America’s first great literary critic and theoretician. Poe’s reputation today rests primarily on his tales of terror as well as on his haunting lyric poetry.
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
August 19, 2025
This was a great little book. Some of these short stories are better than others, but all have that sublime, classical Poe prose.
This version of the book comes with Kindle in Motion, which gives some animated graphics in accompaniment to the stories. I'll be honest, this isn't great, but it does add a little something extra to your reading experience.
Consists of 5 short tales.
The Tell-Tale Heart:
A creepy eye, a murder, a beating heart, and a man's paranoia make up this gruesome little story.
The Fall of the House of Usher:
A man visits his friend whose sister has recently passed... or has she?
The Raven:
Where poetry and the supernatural collide. A man mourns his lost love; a raven arrives to taunt him. This poem has some amazing classical lines.
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,.."
"Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore!'"
The Murders in the Rue Morgue:
The murder of two women leads two friends to investigate the circumstances surrounding their death. This one was a little slow and probably my least favourite.
The Pit and the Pendulum:
A man imprisoned by the Inquisition narrates his mental torture as he is consumed by the fear of his impending death. There was a surprise ending to this one.
This version of the book comes with Kindle in Motion, which gives some animated graphics in accompaniment to the stories. I'll be honest, this isn't great, but it does add a little something extra to your reading experience.
Consists of 5 short tales.
The Tell-Tale Heart:
A creepy eye, a murder, a beating heart, and a man's paranoia make up this gruesome little story.
The Fall of the House of Usher:
A man visits his friend whose sister has recently passed... or has she?
The Raven:
Where poetry and the supernatural collide. A man mourns his lost love; a raven arrives to taunt him. This poem has some amazing classical lines.
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,.."
"Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore!'"
The Murders in the Rue Morgue:
The murder of two women leads two friends to investigate the circumstances surrounding their death. This one was a little slow and probably my least favourite.
The Pit and the Pendulum:
A man imprisoned by the Inquisition narrates his mental torture as he is consumed by the fear of his impending death. There was a surprise ending to this one.
October 26, 2021
This was awesome. If you can get this version, do it. The media that is included in some of the stories blew me away. I have read all of the stories before, but to get the mini pictures/videos was great. I also really loved the colors. Of course the color red is prominent. But for some of the stories, like "The Tell-Tale Heart" you get the old man and his blueish eye depicted.
“The Tell-Tale Heart,”-I still love this one, and the media included on this story was freaky at times. I loved that the colors were so vibrant. But also as you are reading, you start to notice bloody fingerprints along the edges of the pages of the story. So you know that the unnamed narrator has done something quite deadly.
“The Fall of the House of Usher”-this one still drags, not as much as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" though. The media for this one I thought was not as impressive as it was for the "The Tell-Tale Heart."
“The Murders in the Rue Morgue”-This story always baffled me as a reader. The media was okay, not as impressive as "The Tell-Tale Heart" but better than "The Fall of the House of Usher" I thought.
"The Raven"-Always a favorite. I loved the media for this one too.
"The Pit and the Pendulum”-The media made this story much.
“The Tell-Tale Heart,”-I still love this one, and the media included on this story was freaky at times. I loved that the colors were so vibrant. But also as you are reading, you start to notice bloody fingerprints along the edges of the pages of the story. So you know that the unnamed narrator has done something quite deadly.
“The Fall of the House of Usher”-this one still drags, not as much as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" though. The media for this one I thought was not as impressive as it was for the "The Tell-Tale Heart."
“The Murders in the Rue Morgue”-This story always baffled me as a reader. The media was okay, not as impressive as "The Tell-Tale Heart" but better than "The Fall of the House of Usher" I thought.
"The Raven"-Always a favorite. I loved the media for this one too.
"The Pit and the Pendulum”-The media made this story much.
September 5, 2022
*Kindle in Motion version*
This is a cute animated little version of some of Edgar Allan Poe's stories. Having read many of the originals before, this was a revisit but a very enjoyable one. Nice warmup read for Halloween! 🎃🎃🎃🎃
Poe was the ultimate Gothic creator. He could make you feel this sense of dread and this sense of haunt all with the simple use of his provoking words. His stories are cunning and claustrophobic. Heart-pounding and grotesque. He uses metaphors and alternate meanings to manipulate the reader. Poe himself was a mystery.
The raven was my favorite story from this collection.
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”
This is a cute animated little version of some of Edgar Allan Poe's stories. Having read many of the originals before, this was a revisit but a very enjoyable one. Nice warmup read for Halloween! 🎃🎃🎃🎃
Poe was the ultimate Gothic creator. He could make you feel this sense of dread and this sense of haunt all with the simple use of his provoking words. His stories are cunning and claustrophobic. Heart-pounding and grotesque. He uses metaphors and alternate meanings to manipulate the reader. Poe himself was a mystery.
The raven was my favorite story from this collection.
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”
October 31, 2024
Oh the nostalgia of reading Poe during spooky szn!
October 4, 2017
I pretty much hate Poe. It's a fact. Except for I love The Masque of the Red Death. I also love Kindle in Motion. So when I saw this book, I thought, "Hey! Maybe Masque is in there! And animated!" WRONG. No one loves that story, it gets no love. Guess that proves my hatred for Poe.
Anyway, the animations were kinda cool, remind me of that weird cartoon version of Poe's stories I saw on Amazon Prime Video last year. However, animations still don't make me like Poe.
Anyway, the animations were kinda cool, remind me of that weird cartoon version of Poe's stories I saw on Amazon Prime Video last year. However, animations still don't make me like Poe.
November 11, 2017
Did not like the narrator voice on this audiobook. The stories read, the voice just seemed to read too fast and little emotion so switched to the stories in my Edgar Allen Poe book.
I loved these stories as a teenager, now I am a little pickier in which stories I like but classic mysteries and I forgot how gory some of these stories!
I loved these stories as a teenager, now I am a little pickier in which stories I like but classic mysteries and I forgot how gory some of these stories!
September 11, 2016
In effetti non ho riletto i racconti di Poe che già conoscevo, ma ho acquistato questo ebook della collana Kindle in Motion, solo per vedere come erano organizzate le animazioni. -Ricordarsi di attivare l'opzione "Mostra media" nel menu Aa del dispositivo in uso-.
In effetti sono fatte molto bene e vivacizzano il testo le cui pagine in background hanno anche inserti fissi con impronte digitali macchiate di sangue.
Complimenti a M.S. Corley, l'illustratore, perché le animazioni aggiungono esperienza emotiva al libro.
Unica pecca per niente trascurabile è il peso dell'ebook che corrisponde a 400 Mb, l'equivalente di quasi 200 ebook o 50 brevi filmati. In effetti un po' eccessivo, ma uno di questi vale la pena averlo su tablet o smartphone per mostrare le potenzialità del ePub.
In effetti sono fatte molto bene e vivacizzano il testo le cui pagine in background hanno anche inserti fissi con impronte digitali macchiate di sangue.
Complimenti a M.S. Corley, l'illustratore, perché le animazioni aggiungono esperienza emotiva al libro.
Unica pecca per niente trascurabile è il peso dell'ebook che corrisponde a 400 Mb, l'equivalente di quasi 200 ebook o 50 brevi filmati. In effetti un po' eccessivo, ma uno di questi vale la pena averlo su tablet o smartphone per mostrare le potenzialità del ePub.
July 31, 2021
Darkness There is a short story collection of stories by Edgar Allen Poe. I’ve always really enjoyed Poe and took an English course centered around Poe and Poe-esque stories (which was the only course I ever took I actually enjoyed😂) so I was very excited when I saw it was included in the kindle in motion thing. First I listened on audible to focus on the story, then read it again to see the kindle in motion. The animations added a cool element to already great stories. Poe is an amazing writer and an expert at building a story and suspense. I highly suggest the kindle in motion if you have kindle. Poe is a must read for anyone that’s into horror.
February 6, 2020
I liked the stories, and the Kindle Motion book was very cool! The narrator was ok - nothing else compares to Iggy Pop reading The Tell-Tale Heart, and Christopher Walken reading the Raven.
July 4, 2018
The Tell-Tale Heart- 4*
The Fall of the House of Usher- 3*
The Raven- 3.5*
The Murders in the Rue Morgue- 2*
The Pit and the Pendulum- 3*
The Fall of the House of Usher- 3*
The Raven- 3.5*
The Murders in the Rue Morgue- 2*
The Pit and the Pendulum- 3*
March 3, 2020
CHALLENGE # 25- NOT NORM GENRE
I basically read & see all kinds of movies but the horror genre. Yep, I’m a wuss b/c i get scared or too creeped out. I understand why it's common for people to read Poe on Halloween.
One of my friends loves his stuff so i'm always looking for Poe themed stuff for her holiday gifts. I did read him in high school like so many others. But for me, while talented he's still a horror story writer so not my thing. (kinda like Stephen King)
Overall-I liked the rhythm to the Poe's writing. The stories were scary and creepy with vivid imagery painted thru his words.
Breakdown-
1-Tell Tale heart
it's one of his most famous stories.
i liked this one the best as the tempo of the words set up the suspense & it's scary.
2-house of usher
very creepy!!!!
3-the Raven
my favorite of his. Love the ryhthm & read this out loud to better enjoy it.
4-murders in the rue morgue
this is considered the first detective story so while not a horror story it was weird which goes w/the Poe style.
it was a locked room murder w/a detective who figures it out so easily b/c it's soo obvious to him.
you can see how this story influenced future writers like conan doyle w/sherlock holmes.
and of course, the killer is absurd & creepy.
5-the pit & the pendulum
weird. i didn't get it. i actually reread it twice b/c i wasn't sure what it was about but it was also icky.
I basically read & see all kinds of movies but the horror genre. Yep, I’m a wuss b/c i get scared or too creeped out. I understand why it's common for people to read Poe on Halloween.
One of my friends loves his stuff so i'm always looking for Poe themed stuff for her holiday gifts. I did read him in high school like so many others. But for me, while talented he's still a horror story writer so not my thing. (kinda like Stephen King)
Overall-I liked the rhythm to the Poe's writing. The stories were scary and creepy with vivid imagery painted thru his words.
Breakdown-
1-Tell Tale heart
it's one of his most famous stories.
i liked this one the best as the tempo of the words set up the suspense & it's scary.
2-house of usher
very creepy!!!!
3-the Raven
my favorite of his. Love the ryhthm & read this out loud to better enjoy it.
4-murders in the rue morgue
this is considered the first detective story so while not a horror story it was weird which goes w/the Poe style.
it was a locked room murder w/a detective who figures it out so easily b/c it's soo obvious to him.
you can see how this story influenced future writers like conan doyle w/sherlock holmes.
and of course, the killer is absurd & creepy.
5-the pit & the pendulum
weird. i didn't get it. i actually reread it twice b/c i wasn't sure what it was about but it was also icky.
May 14, 2020
Simply brilliant!
Poe is a genius when it comes to storytelling - quite evident from the works in this collective. The mood-setting in each of the stories works perfectly along with the flowy narrative, ultimately making the darkness there quite conducive. Also a fair warning: Po's writing might be tough to comprehend for some non-native english speakers due to the varied range of vocab it puts to use (saying from my personal experience). However these words are his arsenal to play with the reader's mind, one which he does in a commendable way.
In addition to Po's writing, the illustrations by M.S.Corley were simply brilliant. Kudos to him for putting life (or less life, maybe) to the macabre events of the narratives. Sadly, this edition also has some typos and mistakes - blemishing this classic, and I hope amazon ePub would rectify them at the earliest.
Looking forward to read more of Poe in the future!
Poe is a genius when it comes to storytelling - quite evident from the works in this collective. The mood-setting in each of the stories works perfectly along with the flowy narrative, ultimately making the darkness there quite conducive. Also a fair warning: Po's writing might be tough to comprehend for some non-native english speakers due to the varied range of vocab it puts to use (saying from my personal experience). However these words are his arsenal to play with the reader's mind, one which he does in a commendable way.
In addition to Po's writing, the illustrations by M.S.Corley were simply brilliant. Kudos to him for putting life (or less life, maybe) to the macabre events of the narratives. Sadly, this edition also has some typos and mistakes - blemishing this classic, and I hope amazon ePub would rectify them at the earliest.
Looking forward to read more of Poe in the future!
August 10, 2017
I think I fall on only liking some of Poe's books...
November 2, 2017
I'm always impressed when reading Poe, so this was kind of a nice little digression for me. The whole "In Motion" thing was what convinced me to look at this. This is a few shorts: "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Raven", "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", and "The Pit and the Pendulum". These are creepy stories (and poems), and Poe just sets a scene with ease. I love these stories as quick hits, and the animations were fun, where they appeared. This was just a little lark, but I enjoyed it.
January 21, 2019
The Tell-Tale Heart: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Fall Of The House Of Usher: ⭐⭐⭐
The Raven: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Murders In The Rue Morgue: ⭐⭐
The Pit And The Pendulum: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Fall Of The House Of Usher: ⭐⭐⭐
The Raven: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Murders In The Rue Morgue: ⭐⭐
The Pit And The Pendulum: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 22, 2019
I love Edgar Allan Poe's writing style. what a genius!! so cool! i am really finding kindle in motion books are way cool and should be check out!! great style!! amazing art and read. ( ;
January 22, 2025
What a great combination of creepy images and classic tales of horror. Reminds me of some pop-up books I had as a kid. And Poe just seems to get better the more I read and revisit.
October 2, 2024
"Darkness There: Selected Tales by Edgar Allan Poe" offers a curated collection of the masterful writer's works, showcasing the timeless brilliance of Poe's storytelling. The tales are as haunting and atmospheric as one would expect from this literary icon. The inclusion of beautiful illustrations adds an extra layer of visual appeal to the collection, enhancing the overall reading experience. The artwork complements Poe's dark themes, creating a visually immersive journey through the eerie landscapes of his imagination.
However, despite the literary and visual strengths, the collection falls short of a higher rating due to inconsistent pacing across the selected tales. While some stories are gripping, others may feel less engaging, affecting the book's overall flow. "Darkness There" is a solid anthology for Poe enthusiasts, offering a visually enhanced encounter with his classic tales. The beautiful illustrations elevate the reading experience, but the occasional uneven pacing prevents a higher rating, settling at a respectable three stars.
However, despite the literary and visual strengths, the collection falls short of a higher rating due to inconsistent pacing across the selected tales. While some stories are gripping, others may feel less engaging, affecting the book's overall flow. "Darkness There" is a solid anthology for Poe enthusiasts, offering a visually enhanced encounter with his classic tales. The beautiful illustrations elevate the reading experience, but the occasional uneven pacing prevents a higher rating, settling at a respectable three stars.
January 8, 2024
Darkness There es una colección de los relatos macabros y perturbadores más famosos de Edgar Allan Poe. El libro incluye clásicos del género gótico como "El corazón delator", "La caida de la casa Usher", "El Cuervo" y "El pozo y el péndulo".
Estos cuentos exploran temas como la locura, la venganza, el terror psicológico y el miedo a la muerte. Poe fue un maestro en crear atmósferas ominosas y personajes torturados psicológicamente. Su prosa detallada y lúgubre sumerge al lector en mundos de oscuridad y suspense.
Darkness There es una excelente introducción a la imaginación morbosa y brillante de Poe. Los amantes del género gótico y de historias estremecedoras quedarán cautivados por estos clásicos perturbadores que aún tienen el poder de provocar temor y ansiedad. Es una colección esencial de uno de los maestros del cuento breve.
Estos cuentos exploran temas como la locura, la venganza, el terror psicológico y el miedo a la muerte. Poe fue un maestro en crear atmósferas ominosas y personajes torturados psicológicamente. Su prosa detallada y lúgubre sumerge al lector en mundos de oscuridad y suspense.
Darkness There es una excelente introducción a la imaginación morbosa y brillante de Poe. Los amantes del género gótico y de historias estremecedoras quedarán cautivados por estos clásicos perturbadores que aún tienen el poder de provocar temor y ansiedad. Es una colección esencial de uno de los maestros del cuento breve.
December 12, 2025
Well, turns out i am really not “that” person.
December 2024
DNF at 35% Well as much as i want to be the kind of a person that reads and loves Edgar Allan Poe, i am not. I have probably few brain cells too little? I just can’t concentrate on a single page and i have no idea what i am reading. I am here only for the pretty moving pictures in the [kindle in motion] edition.
December 2024
DNF at 35% Well as much as i want to be the kind of a person that reads and loves Edgar Allan Poe, i am not. I have probably few brain cells too little? I just can’t concentrate on a single page and i have no idea what i am reading. I am here only for the pretty moving pictures in the [kindle in motion] edition.
December 26, 2017
It's easy to forget how very good Poe was.
September 6, 2017
kindle unlimited, wanted to try something that was on ku before popped off $10 bucks for the harry potter one with supposed kindle in motion
On the Hidden Garden one was free audio, but the kindle in motion did not work for the cloud {didn't think it would}, the kindle for android {close to state of the art tablet with 32 gb mem and 32 gb sd} and not for the android phone
the Brothers Grimm didn't work on either of the first 2 but did work, somewhat, on the android phone {just with that screen what's the point}
Poe book up, if kindle in motion doesn't work on it, definitely not bothering with the harry potter
-- once again, does NOT work on 1 cloud, android tablet, keeps crashing the android phone, will not do the free audio on phone {even though have the stuff needs to do audio}, and is barely doing the kindle in motion, and to top that off the 'sample' goes to the cloud, which kindle motion does NOT work in, so basically the only place it has worked so far is audio {only on tablet} and slightly on the phone which can barely see AND it kept locking and crashing, so overall pretty worthless if consider it's supposed to do ALL of them and CLAIMS {WRONG} to be able to work on at least 2 of the items, and currently working on the chromebook so don't have access to the kindle for pc, so will leave this book on so the room mate can check a windows device that's the best can do on this side
3 to match the amazon 3
On the Hidden Garden one was free audio, but the kindle in motion did not work for the cloud {didn't think it would}, the kindle for android {close to state of the art tablet with 32 gb mem and 32 gb sd} and not for the android phone
the Brothers Grimm didn't work on either of the first 2 but did work, somewhat, on the android phone {just with that screen what's the point}
Poe book up, if kindle in motion doesn't work on it, definitely not bothering with the harry potter
-- once again, does NOT work on 1 cloud, android tablet, keeps crashing the android phone, will not do the free audio on phone {even though have the stuff needs to do audio}, and is barely doing the kindle in motion, and to top that off the 'sample' goes to the cloud, which kindle motion does NOT work in, so basically the only place it has worked so far is audio {only on tablet} and slightly on the phone which can barely see AND it kept locking and crashing, so overall pretty worthless if consider it's supposed to do ALL of them and CLAIMS {WRONG} to be able to work on at least 2 of the items, and currently working on the chromebook so don't have access to the kindle for pc, so will leave this book on so the room mate can check a windows device that's the best can do on this side
3 to match the amazon 3
February 6, 2020
Not as Thrilling as I Expected
While I have read a number of classics, this was my first reading of stories from Edgar Allan Poe. Having loved the old Vincent Price films, it was time to read the stories upon which some of the films were based. This was not quite what I had expected. While I normally love gothic horror, I found this collection to be somewhat disappointing. Only the Tell Tale Heart was interesting. The rest were overly long, excessive wordy, narratives that loss momentum for me. Having recently discovered the wonderful M.R. James, the difference is clear. Whereas James is able to ease you into a situation smoothly, his dialogs have a payoff and he keeps excessive descriptions out of his tales. He cuts to the heart of the matter and gets to the point. Poe's long diatribes made me lose interest. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audio book version. It was beautifully narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner. The Kindle in Motion book didn't bring that much to this work, few scenes were rendered. Glad this is over.
While I have read a number of classics, this was my first reading of stories from Edgar Allan Poe. Having loved the old Vincent Price films, it was time to read the stories upon which some of the films were based. This was not quite what I had expected. While I normally love gothic horror, I found this collection to be somewhat disappointing. Only the Tell Tale Heart was interesting. The rest were overly long, excessive wordy, narratives that loss momentum for me. Having recently discovered the wonderful M.R. James, the difference is clear. Whereas James is able to ease you into a situation smoothly, his dialogs have a payoff and he keeps excessive descriptions out of his tales. He cuts to the heart of the matter and gets to the point. Poe's long diatribes made me lose interest. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audio book version. It was beautifully narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner. The Kindle in Motion book didn't bring that much to this work, few scenes were rendered. Glad this is over.
February 9, 2018
I am a huge Poe fan and just found out about Kindle in motion books, so I couldn't resist when I saw they had motion for some Poe stories Also this was free with Kindle unlimited, so win win.
As soon as I listened to the first story, The Tell-Tale Heart, I knew I would be listening to this whole book instead of reading it. I just loved the narrator that they chose. It was just perfect for these dark stories. Also listening to these stories really brings out the dark beauty in the descriptions.
I do wish there was more illustrations/motion within this book. There was roughly only one to two illustrations per story, especially in the Raven, which only had one small one. I feel like they had a lot of opportunity for a lot more illustrations with the stories they chose. The lack of illustrations is one of the reason this is getting 4 stars instead of 5.
There was only five stories in this book and I wish that there had been more of Poe's longer poems within this book. I did skipped The Murder in the Rue Morgue because it is one of the few I don't enjoy, which is another reasons why I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5.
As soon as I listened to the first story, The Tell-Tale Heart, I knew I would be listening to this whole book instead of reading it. I just loved the narrator that they chose. It was just perfect for these dark stories. Also listening to these stories really brings out the dark beauty in the descriptions.
I do wish there was more illustrations/motion within this book. There was roughly only one to two illustrations per story, especially in the Raven, which only had one small one. I feel like they had a lot of opportunity for a lot more illustrations with the stories they chose. The lack of illustrations is one of the reason this is getting 4 stars instead of 5.
There was only five stories in this book and I wish that there had been more of Poe's longer poems within this book. I did skipped The Murder in the Rue Morgue because it is one of the few I don't enjoy, which is another reasons why I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5.
January 30, 2022
I haven't read a collection of Poe stories in years, and this was a nice way to return to them. I had not read "The Fall of the House of Usher" or "Murders in the Rue Morgue" before, and the illustrations in this edition really heightened the reading experience for both (they are both quite long and rambling, and it was difficult to hold my attention with the constant repitition in the latter). "The Raven" and "The Pit and the Pendulum" are still some of my favorite works of Poe, and the illustrations just made the stories even more chilling on a re-read. "The Pit and the Pendulum" in particular is one of the first short stories I remember reading, maybe even the first, and I could pinpoint the places where the language was so surprising and beautiful to read the first time.
You can access this edition for free (no subscriptions needed) on Kindle!
You can access this edition for free (no subscriptions needed) on Kindle!
June 19, 2023
#StoryGraph: fiction classics horror short stories dark-gothic
100 pages • first pub 2016 • 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION
Edgar Allan Poe is known as the forefather of suspense and modern crime fiction. For the first time ever, Darkness There showcases some of his most famous tales with stunning digital illustrations. Each story explores a different twist of madness, murder, and melancholy, from the horror of being buried alive in “The Fall of the House of Usher” to the desperate case of two gruesome killings in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” The heartbeat of paranoia in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the razor-sharp claustrophobia in “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and a mourner’s torment in “The Raven” reveal—and revel in—life’s creepiest and craziest. These tales are not for the faint of heart or the thin of skin.
100 pages • first pub 2016 • 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION
Edgar Allan Poe is known as the forefather of suspense and modern crime fiction. For the first time ever, Darkness There showcases some of his most famous tales with stunning digital illustrations. Each story explores a different twist of madness, murder, and melancholy, from the horror of being buried alive in “The Fall of the House of Usher” to the desperate case of two gruesome killings in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” The heartbeat of paranoia in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the razor-sharp claustrophobia in “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and a mourner’s torment in “The Raven” reveal—and revel in—life’s creepiest and craziest. These tales are not for the faint of heart or the thin of skin.
February 12, 2018
Another good choice for the still-limited Kindle in Motion format
These few Tales from E.A. Poe are among his best. Only “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is, in my unworthy opinion, a weaker and flawed work. Far more significant is “The Tell-Tale Heart,” an absolute masterpiece! This was my 2nd Kindle in Motion” ebook, and I remain mostly unimpressed by the format, primarily because there are so few illustrations, and the animation is limited. (Since my previous K.I.M. ebook, I have considered how much the file size would be increased by more animation. That would be a problem as things stand now.). What illustrations there are, however, are nearly all quite satisfying, the work of M.S. Corley.
These few Tales from E.A. Poe are among his best. Only “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is, in my unworthy opinion, a weaker and flawed work. Far more significant is “The Tell-Tale Heart,” an absolute masterpiece! This was my 2nd Kindle in Motion” ebook, and I remain mostly unimpressed by the format, primarily because there are so few illustrations, and the animation is limited. (Since my previous K.I.M. ebook, I have considered how much the file size would be increased by more animation. That would be a problem as things stand now.). What illustrations there are, however, are nearly all quite satisfying, the work of M.S. Corley.
June 3, 2024
Well this is odd, I believe I just discovered I am not a fan of Poe's work haha.
I read The Tell-Tale Heart all the way through, couldn't tell you what it was about or if I liked it.
I read The Raven poem, the best piece in this collection.
Dnf'd The Fall of the House of Usher because it was boring
Dnf'd The Murders in the Rue Morgue so I have no clue who killed the old lady and her daughter (I think it was her daughter) it just felt like the narrator? wouldn't shut up, just super long drawn explanations for everything.
Dnf'd The Pit and the Pendulum, final story in the collection and in all honesty at that point I just did not care anymore.
I find Poe to be super over written and annoying to read.
I read The Tell-Tale Heart all the way through, couldn't tell you what it was about or if I liked it.
I read The Raven poem, the best piece in this collection.
Dnf'd The Fall of the House of Usher because it was boring
Dnf'd The Murders in the Rue Morgue so I have no clue who killed the old lady and her daughter (I think it was her daughter) it just felt like the narrator? wouldn't shut up, just super long drawn explanations for everything.
Dnf'd The Pit and the Pendulum, final story in the collection and in all honesty at that point I just did not care anymore.
I find Poe to be super over written and annoying to read.
October 16, 2024
I loved my first experience with kindle in motion. The colours were haunting and the illustrations were dark and beautiful.
Initially, I just wanted to reread ‘The Raven’ but, I enjoyed most of the other stories. I would have loved to have seen my favourite “Annabel Lee” illustrated by M.S. Corley.
Edgar Allan Poe possessed a natural born talent for lamenting all things dark and sinister, which i’ve been drawn to since my angsty teenage years, when I read my favourite quote of his -
“And so being young
and dipped in folly
I fell in love
with melancholy “
Overall, a very aesthetically pleasing book for October.
Initially, I just wanted to reread ‘The Raven’ but, I enjoyed most of the other stories. I would have loved to have seen my favourite “Annabel Lee” illustrated by M.S. Corley.
Edgar Allan Poe possessed a natural born talent for lamenting all things dark and sinister, which i’ve been drawn to since my angsty teenage years, when I read my favourite quote of his -
“And so being young
and dipped in folly
I fell in love
with melancholy “
Overall, a very aesthetically pleasing book for October.
November 11, 2024
4.0 / 5
The works included:
- The Tell-Tale Heart
- The Fall of the House of Usher
- The Raven
- The Murders in the Rue Morgue
- The Pit and the Pendulum
I had already read some of this before, and some were completely new to me, but I enjoyed them all the same. The art and animations included are beautiful and absolutely add to the reading experience.
The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven have always been favourites of mine, but the most pleasant surprise was The Murders in the Rue Morgue (as a fan of mystery detective books).
What surprised me the most was how similar Auguste Dupin's style of investigation is to Sherlock Holmes'. I would not be surprised if he served as an inspiration to Doyle (Poe wrote his short story in 1841, more than 40 years before anything about SH was published).
It's never a bad time to revisit Poe, but late October/ early November just hits a spot.
"I feel that the period will sooner or later arrive when I must abandon life and reason together, in some struggle with the grim phantasm, FEAR"
The works included:
- The Tell-Tale Heart
- The Fall of the House of Usher
- The Raven
- The Murders in the Rue Morgue
- The Pit and the Pendulum
I had already read some of this before, and some were completely new to me, but I enjoyed them all the same. The art and animations included are beautiful and absolutely add to the reading experience.
The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven have always been favourites of mine, but the most pleasant surprise was The Murders in the Rue Morgue (as a fan of mystery detective books).
What surprised me the most was how similar Auguste Dupin's style of investigation is to Sherlock Holmes'. I would not be surprised if he served as an inspiration to Doyle (Poe wrote his short story in 1841, more than 40 years before anything about SH was published).
It's never a bad time to revisit Poe, but late October/ early November just hits a spot.
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