“Dead Collections” Plot summary
The horror short story “Dead Collections” by Isaac Fellman follows the protagonist, Mark, as he visits his estranged grandfather’s house after his death. Mark’s grandfather was a well-known collector of bizarre and unique artifacts, and he expects to inherit some of them.
When Mark goes through his grandfather’s belongings, he notices that many of them are oddly linked to death. He discovers a mummified hand, an unusually marked skull, and a book bound in human leather. Mark begins to have unusual and frightening experiences, such as hearing voices and feeling a cold presence in the house.
Mark discovers as he continues his investigation that his grandfather was involved in occult rituals and had made a contract with a demon to extend his life. The demon had exacted a price, however: everything in his grandfather’s collection was imbued with the essence of a tragically deceased person.
Mark realizes that destroying the collection is the only way to break the demon’s grip on the house. He enlists the assistance of a friend, Sam, and the things are burned together. Yet, as they do so, they hear the trapped souls’ screams and laments. Mark is eventually able to flee the mansion, but he knows he will never forget the atrocities he encountered in his grandfather’s collection.
Themes of “Dead Collections”
One of Isaac Fellman’s key topics in “Dead Collections” is the repercussions of obsession. Mark’s grandfather’s preoccupation with collecting bizarre and unique artifacts eventually led to his death and the trapping of the spirits of those who died tragically in his collection. Mark’s personal fascination with acquiring and unraveling his grandfather’s collection leads him down a perilous path.
The consequences of avarice are another subject in the novel. Mark’s desire to inherit his grandfather’s collection and profit from its sale eventually drives him to confront the demon’s curse and put an end to the trapped souls’ suffering. According to the story, greed can blind people to the implications of their actions and push them to make risky decisions.
Ultimately, the novel delves into the supernatural and the notion that there are forces in the world beyond human explanation and control. The demon with whom Mark’s grandfather struck a bargain is a powerful and malignant force that exacts a terrible price in exchange for its services. The narrative implies that there are things in the world that are beyond human comprehension, and that attempting to control or harness them might lead to tragic results.
Characters in “Dead Collections”
Isaac Fellman’s “Dead Collections” has two primary characters:
Mark: The protagonist of the story, who is the deceased collector’s grandson. Mark is first motivated by a desire to inherit and profit from his grandfather’s collection. But, when he delves deeper into his grandfather’s fixation, he becomes increasingly shocked by what he discovers. Mark eventually resolves to burn the collection in order to put an end to the trapped spirits’ torment.
Mark’s Grandfather: A well-known collector of bizarre and unique artifacts who is no longer alive at the start of the novel. He was infatuated with his collection and struck a bargain with the devil to prolong his life. The devil, however, exacted a terrible price for its services, and each piece in the collection is filled with the energy of a tragically deceased individual.
There are also a few minor characters in the plot, such as:
Sam: Mark’s friend who joins him at his grandfather’s house to study the collection. Sam is skeptical of the story’s supernatural undertones and tries to keep Mark grounded.
The trapped spirits: The collection contains the essence of persons who died terribly, and their spirits have become caught within the things. These souls are in excruciating pain and are desperate to be freed.