The Ghost Who Never Learned to Vanish | The Inexperienced Ghost by H.G. Wells
The Ghost Who Never Learned to Vanish | The Inexperienced Ghost by H.G. Wells  
Podcast: Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories
Published On: Mon Jun 29 2026
Description: A bumbling, newly dead ghost can't remember the gestures that would let it leave — so a kindly skeptic offers to help, never guessing what the way out would cost.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/inexperiencedghostREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2x3w7t7vFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: A classic from H.G. Wells entitled “The Inexperienced Ghost”. It’s a short story that blends humor with the supernatural. It was first published in 1902 in the collection “Twelve Stories and a Dream.” The story centers around a man named Clayton who, during a gathering with friends at a London club, tells them an unusual tale about his recent encounter with a ghost. This ghost, however, is unlike typical spectral beings; it is inexperienced and rather inept at haunting. Clayton explains that he encountered the ghost at a house and discovered that it was struggling to perform its ghostly duties. The ghost, which had died only recently, was still getting accustomed to its new existence and was having trouble with the basic mechanics of haunting, such as passing through walls. Clayton, with a mix of curiosity and amusement, decides to help the ghost by giving it advice on how to properly haunt. But things begin to twist in the story, but I’ll refrain from spoilers so those of you who’ve not yet heard the story can enjoy it all the more. “The Inexperienced Ghost” is notable for its witty dialogue, playful exploration of ghostly themes, and its blend of the humorous with the eerie. Wells uses the story to subtly critique the conventions of ghost stories while also providing a unique take on the concept of the afterlife and what it might be like for those unaccustomed to it.LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Inexperienced Ghost” by H.G. Wells, from the book “Alfred Hitchcock Presents: My Favorites In Suspense”:https://amzn.to/4crM3TM(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: August 15, 2024