Can you recommend some of the best Poe short stories?

One of the best Poe short stories is 'The Cask of Amontillado'. It's a tale of revenge. The narrator lures his so - called friend into the catacombs under the pretense of tasting a rare wine, only to wall him up alive. Also, 'The Masque of the Red Death' is quite good. It shows Poe's take on mortality and the futility of trying to escape death.

Well, 'The Pit and the Pendulum' is among the best. It tells of a prisoner's terrifying experience during the Spanish Inquisition. The slow - approaching pendulum and the deep pit create a sense of impending doom. And 'Ligeia' is also notable. It deals with themes of love, loss, and the supernatural, with the character of Ligeia having an otherworldly presence.