Death is both inevitable and terrifying, and the question of how we face it has inspired stories for thousands of years. These tales can be horrifying, allowing people to confront their primal fears by imagining the worst ways they can die and what they would do to survive. They can also be moody and meditative, examining how we make the most of the time we have and remember those we have lost. Sometimes, they can brilliantly combine a bit of both.

