Aleph 1 - Ghost Story

Sep 21, 2026

Aleph Issue 1 presents an introduction to an occasional series dedicated to notable, older, and unusual genre fiction beyond the 20th century, then foregrounds the earliest recorded ghost story. The included fiction recounts a haunted Athens house with a chained phantom, describing its psychological terror, the philosopher Athenodorus’s methodical response through writing, and the investigation that ultimately leads to burial of the remains. The issue also features a review of Doctor Who - The Waters of Mars, summarizing its plot and reception.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Fiction

Ghost Story by Pliny The Younger

Reviews

Doctor Who-The Waters of Mars

H SCIENCE FICTION HORROR FANTASY PUBLISHER Lee Harris Managing Editor Alasdair Stuart Commissioning Editor Ellen J Allen Mechanic Phil Lunt ALEPH 1 . 16TH NOV 2009 | | | --- | | CONTENTS: | | FICTION: Ghost Story by Pliny The Younger
REVIEW: Doctor Who-The Waters of Mars

Hub Magazine is Sponsored by Harper Collins
INTRODUCTION: | Welcome to Aleph Issue 1. Aleph is an occasional series we’ll be doing looking at the best, oldest and oddest genre fiction around. We’ll be covering everything outside the 20th century, the sort of work that laid the foundation for everyone from Lovecraft up to King. First though, we’re going to the oldest recorded ghost story, translated by William Melmoth in 1746 and edited by RW Stedman to bring it in line with the original latin. Yes, the original latin. So, without further ado, we proudly present Aleph 1, and a ghost story by major up and coming new talent Pliny the Younger. Now if we can just find an email address for him... Alasdair, Hub magazine 1 Hub Magazine is Sponsored by Harper Collins FICTION by pliny the younger There was in Athens a house, spacious and open, but with an infamous reputation, as if filled with pestilence. For in the dead of night, a noise like the clashing of iron could be heard. And if one listened carefully, it sounded like the rattling of chains. At first the noise seemed to be at a distance, but then it would approach, nearer, nearer, nearer. Suddenly a phantom would appear, an old man, pale and emaciated, with a long beard, and hair that appeared driven by the wind. The fetters on his feet and hands rattled as he moved them. Any dwellers in the house passed sleepless nights under the most dismal terrors imaginable. The nights without rest led them to a kind of madness, and as the horrors in their minds increased, onto a path toward death. Even in the daytime--when the phantom did not appear--the memory of the nightmare was so strong that it still passed before their eyes. The terror remained when the cause of it was gone. Damned as uninhabitable, the house was at last deserted, left to the spectral monster. But in hope that some tenant might be found who was unaware of the malevolence within it, the house was posted for rent or sale. It happened that a philosopher named Athenodorus came to Athens at that time. Reading the posted bill, he discovered the dwelling’s price. The extraordinary cheapness raised his suspicion, yet when he heard the whole story, he was not in the least put off. Indeed, he was eager to take the place. And did so immediately. As evening drew near, Athenodorus had a couch prepared for him in the front section of the house. He asked for a light and his writing materials, then dismissed his retainers. To keep his mind from being distracted by vain terrors of imaginary noises and apparitions, he directed all his energy toward his writing. For a time the night was silent. Then came the rattling of fetters. Athenodorus neither lifted up his eyes, nor laid down his pen. Instead he closed his ears by concentrating on his work. But the noise increased and advanced closer till it seemed to be at the door, and at last in the very chamber. Athenodorus looked round and saw the apparition exactly as it had been described to him. It stood before him, beckoning with one finger. Athenodorus made a sign with his hand that the visitor should wait a little, and bent over his work. The ghost, however, shook the chains over the philosopher’s head, beckoning as before. Athenodorus now took up his lamp and followed. The ghost moved slowly, as if held back by his chains. Once it reached the courtyard, it suddenly vanished. Athenodorus, now deserted, carefully marked the spot with a handful of grass and leaves. The next day he asked the magistrate to have the spot dug up. There they found--intertwined with chains--the bones that were all that remained of a body that had long lain in the ground. C

FAQs

What is Aleph Issue 1 about?

Aleph Issue 1 introduces an occasional series exploring some of the best, oldest, and oddest genre fiction beyond the 20th century, starting with a classic ghost story.

What happens in the ghost story featured in the issue?

A haunted house in Athens terrorizes its inhabitants with a chained phantom at night. Athenodorus studies and follows the apparition, then later ensures the buried remains are properly recovered and given burial, ending the haunting.

What does the issue’s Doctor Who review focus on?

The review discusses Doctor Who’s episode The Waters of Mars, outlining the Mars setting, the colony base’s doomed fate, and why audiences had divided reactions.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Clementine