Horror Books

Comprehensive collection of horror stories. Lots of familiar authors here, perhaps some writers will gain new fans as a result of reading them for the first time. Would like to see more current authors included in the book, many of the stories are dated. It's a huge book, so it's worth the price for all the reading.

Part of a larger series that takes a look at various types of horror writing, with an introduction giving some detail and thoughts on the topic, as well as to each author and story.

This is a good collection, and is well to the ghost story end of the spectrum, in general.

Fabulous Formless Darkness : Smoke Ghost - Fritz Leiber
Fabulous Formless Darkness : Seven American Nights - Gene Wolfe
Fabulous Formless Darkness : The Signal-Man - Charles Dickens
Fabulous Formless Darkness : Crouch End - Stephen King
Fabulous Formless Darkness : Night-Side - Joyce Carol Oates
Fabulous Formless Darkness : Seaton's Aunt - Walter de la Mare
Fabulous Formless Darkness : Clara Militch - Ivan Turgenev
Fabulous Formless Darkness : The Repairer of Reputations - Robert W. Chambers
Fabulous Formless Darkness : The Beckoning Fair One - Oliver Onions
Fabulous Formless Darkness : What Was It? - Fitz-James O'Brien
Fabulous Formless Darkness : The Beautiful Stranger - Shirley Jackson
Fabulous Formless Darkness : The Damned Thing - Ambrose Bierce
Fabulous Formless Darkness : Afterward - Edith Wharton
Fabulous Formless Darkness : The Willows - Algernon Blackwood
Fabulous Formless Darkness : The Asian Shore - Thomas M. Disch
Fabulous Formless Darkness : The Hospice - Robert Aickman
Fabulous Formless Darkness : A Little Something for Us Tempunauts - Philip K. Dick


Spectral look.

3.5 out of 5


Play things.

3.5 out of 5


Danger light haunting.

4 out of 5


Mythos scoffer mortality.

4 out of 5


Seance surprise.

3.5 out of 5


Ghost house.

3.5 out of 5


Poisoned woman not all gone.

3.5 out of 5


PR work not nice, free death not popular.

4 out of 5


Loopy writer problems.

4 out of 5


Nightmare rather solid it appears.

4 out of 5


Our house got lost.

3 out of 5


Invisible monster.

4 out of 5


Ghost visit.

3 out of 5


Wind in the tree monsters.

4.5 out of 5


Turkish twists.

3 out of 5


Lodging lacks lager and fun.

3 out of 5


Time to avoid own deaths.

4 out of 5

Why all the 5 star reviews? Am I really that picky or is everyone else that easy? Did we read the same book, I mean the WHOLE over 1,000 big pages? Well enough questions, there were some really excellent stories in this compilation namely "The Crowd", "The Autopsy", "Sticks", "Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper", "Dread", "How Love Came To Professor Guildia", "MacIntosh Willy", sadly those were in the minority. Some stories as in most compilations this vast were from early 1900's and the language requires careful reading to interpret the words or phrases used in those times. Also so many stories stacked side by side with winners like those mentioned above seemed to have almost nothing at all to do with horror and left me completely bored such as "The Asian Shore", "night side", others were just about unreadable and must have been included on a bet or a favor of some sort such as "The Jolly Corner" and "Larger Than Oneself". Glad I only paid over $6 from an Amazon Marketplace shop instead of the $29.95 cover price.

This huge, (topping out at just over 1000 pages!) collection of some of the finest tales from the masters of horror has it all. It was wonderful to read works I had not encountered over the years, along with some of the classics of the genre. Some personal favorites were the Lovecraftian "Crouch End" (King), a truly bizarre and unclassifiable tale, "The Swords" (Aickman), a masterful work of understated horror, "The Summer People" (Jackson), and a classic ghost story, "The Beckoning Fair One" (Onions) A one stop shop for the fan of all things scary.

This publication rivals most of the horror/ mystery compilations printed elsewhere. Some of the most consequential and prolific ink slingers of the creepy and the dreary are featured here, and they don't disappoint.

Here, in this volume, you will find it all. The works of King, Bradbury, Jackson, Lovecraft, Poe and many others are at your reading pleasure. Some of my personal favorites: The Beach (King); The Call of the Cthulhu (Lovecraft); Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper (Bloch)...I could go on for ever.

I am a teen reader and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. The premise for the story is very original what with the whole chess thing (certainly different from anything I've read). It didn't take long for the action to get started and several unexpected twists kept the story from being too predictable.

Be advised though; this story is NOT for those who are easily disturbed and do not appreciate graphic descriptions of gore.

Lord Loss is an exciting fantasy/horror story, filled with suspense that left me wanting to read more. After his parents are killed by the demon master, Lord Loss, a teenage is introduced into a world of demons and magic by his uncle. I think a lot of teenagers would enjoy reading this book. Darren Shan uses every word in the book to describe the characters, the thing around them, and their feelings. The story is completely unpredictable and I was left reading chapteer after chapter, The characters are realistic and I can relate to what they feel. I gave this book a 4 out of 5. It is one of my favorite books because of how the story is told which so much detail in every sentence.

Demonata
Book 1: Lord Loss

This story starts off with this one kid and his family who absolutely loves chess. They play a game every night and they are the best of the state and know one can beat them. Grubbs (Grubitsch) Grady doesn't get why his family has to play chess so much. He doesn't get why it's so important to the family, but soon, very soon he will find out the truth.
Grubbs family went out of town to a ballet Grubbs spends the night at his aunt's house for the night. But Grubbs was too curious to let his family treating him differently unnoticed. He sneaks out of his grandma's house to see what id really going on.
He finally gets to his house and his parents vehicles are still there. His front door was unlocked so he went in. The whole house was unusually cold. Every chess set that was in the house was broken and skewed around the house. The only light on in the house was in his room. Grubbs never learned what curiosity killed the cat meant until now.
When Grubbs opens the door to his room all he sees is blood stained walls and the demon artery eating his sister alive and the other demon Vein chewing alive his mom.
That's just the beginning, if you like horror books and demons and werewolves, this is the book for you. There's a lot more to this book than what you just read and it get's much, much better than the beginning is.
This book comes close to being just as good as the Cirque De Freak, but it's not quite there yet.

Another must read seires by Darren Shan This book is awsome its about demons and everything magical but mustly demons u will be itchting for the next book after u read Lord Loss

First book in the Demonata series.

Grubitsch "Grubbs" Grady goes to live with his Uncle Dervish in a creepy old mansion after his parents and sister are torn to shreds by an evil demon named Lord Loss and his familiars, Vein and Artery. Grubbs witnesses the gory scene, but escapes by tapping into a magical ability he never knew he possessed. Once in his uncle's house, Grubbs learns more than he ever wanted to know about the Grady family curse, which involves werewolves, demons, and chess.

CLASSIC book that is a must-have for any serious reader. It is completely absorbing and the description of Sleepy Hollow transports you back in time and to the lazy little hollow. If you're heart doesn't race when Ichabod is being chased by the horseman, you might have to have your imagination checked by a physician.
And for the reviewer who called Tarrytown "unbelievably fake"--I hate to tell you--it IS a VERY REAL town. It existed then and it STILL exists today.

Washington Irving is a master storyteller who can conjure images with his skillful use of adjectives to describe everyday scenes. This story is not very long, so most should be able to read it in one or two sittings. Yet it has a simplistic charm to it that captivates the imagination.

Ichabod Crane is really neither hero nor anti-hero. He is rather self-indulgent but otherwise not unlike many of us today. He is looking for love and looking for gratification. Aren't we all? He encounters rivals in his pursuit of love, one who apparently (it is never proven) who uses a local legend and the appropriate setting to scare old Ichabod into either death or flight (again, we are not quite sure).

The story is really nothing more than a campfire ghost story set in post-Revolutionary War New York. It has a believable plot as far as ghost story premises go, and then builds the legend into the main story line. All in all it is a fun story to read.

One of the most basic storylines I have ever encountered, Sleepy Hollow is not a book to read. Washington Irving does not do the book any justice as the story drags on without any eventful actions to get readers excited or intrigued. Reading the book is merely a waste of time.

Irving starts the book of well with beautiful imagery and descriptions of the setting. The place is fully described and the mood and atmosphere is already in place, yet Irving continues to drag on with his meaningless descriptions that do not help add to the plot in anyway. Irving continues to do that for basically half the book before adding a couple of events to speed things along. Unfortunately for me, I was already burned out reading the useless extraneous descriptions.

The plot is based on a love triangle, yet the love triangle is so overused, that if nothing special is added to help make the story interesting, the story remains an unoriginal, ineffective storyline set to bore readers to sleep. The characters seem too extreme to ever be real. The whole story seems too fake to ever capture anyone's interest.

And what is up with the ending? Brom Bones gets the girl and Ichabod becomes successful. To me the ending is ridiculous because it makes no sense.

Do not waste your time trying to plow through this boring story.

Ugly. That's one word that describes Sleepy Hallow. Set in a unbelievably fake place of Tarry Town (sounds a lot like Toon Town), Irving parallels the events in Sleepy Hollow with those after the American Revolution.

Expressing his views of knowledge in a world of open frontier, Irving repeatedly allows Brom Bones' to get the best of Icabod Crane. Bones' a burly and muscular man often wins the heart of Katrina, a woman who Crane, a scrawny intellect, is in love with. More than often, Crane is ridiculed while Bones' is idolized. Ivring strongly comments on the unimportance of intelligence in a world that is in its early stages of evolving from nature.

The plot is basic and the characters are static. Little change is found within the characters, and the plot is more than predictable. So save yourself some time, and get some sleep instead of reading Sleepy Hallow.

A thrilling and compelling read, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", captures the reader with its intriguing supernatural elements and unique atmosphere. At first read, the short story is entertaining by the masterful way Irving paints his novel. But on a second thought, the story is a prime example of subtleties, its theme and message hidden from most readers.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a short story set in the early 19th century in the mystical town of Sleepy Hollow. The story's protagonist, Ichabod Crane, is a poor school teacher who is a lonely fellow, without friends or family. From his first appearance, Irving has portrayed Crane as an outsider to the town's way of life. His actions rival that of the gentry but earn him little respect from the town as a whole. The story centers on Crane and his attempts to wed the daughter of a local wealthy farmer, Katrina Van Tassel. His plans are soon dwarfed when he learns that the local hero, Brom Bones, is also in a quest to win the hand of the lovely maiden. But the battle over Katrina's hand is only half of what the story has to offer.

The story is more than a ghost tale of superstition and the unknown but the story itself is as mysterious as its atmosphere. The power of the story comes from its abrupt end and disappearance of Crane and the secretive identity of the Headless Horseman. Irving does such a fine job that he forces the reader to question the true identity of the Hessian. The story does imply a connection between Bones and the disappearance of Crane but nothing is solidified and the end of the story. The readers are left to question and debate among themselves.
The subtle connection and tense relationship Crane shares with Bones reveals the changing ideals of that time. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was published in a new era of American history. The early 1800s was a time of quick change for America and Irving sought to portray the tension between the new ideas and old traditions of his time. In a sense, the disappearance of Crane can be seen as the refusal of the new changing times by the community of Sleepy Hollow.

Either reading this short story as a quick entertaining read for a rainy day or fully dissecting the tale for its full brilliance, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow will not disappoint. With a unique atmosphere and unsolved conclusion that leaves readers wanting more, Irving has created a masterpiece.

The book starts out promisingly enough with a female novelist unearthing a spaceship buried on her land. But then Mr King dissolves into hectares of verbiage that don't advance the story one iota. You could take out whole chapters and no one would notice, because the plot doesn't advance an inch in that time. Add to that Mr King's customary infatuation with scatology and what you have is an utterly tedious piece of work.

Stephen king wrote this book with great imagination self moving coke machines etc... I mean how many people can actually imagine dying by a soda machine and it makes sense only in a way he wrote the book a higher intelligence buried in a ground who specialize in making off the wall type stuff and cowinceadently that intelligence is passed on the more the ship in the ground is uncovered.

I thought the characters were well explained and had no trouble imaganing what they looked like. The one thing I did not like was the ending I thought it was vague and kinda short sorta like he was in a hurry to finish it and just threw toghther a ending just to finish this already long book.

I feel he should have shortened the middle which I felt was to long and he should have worked harder on the ending but thats just my opinion

I think the polarization of reviews regarding "The Tommyknockers" stems from making the very easy mistake of thinking of the King as a only and constantly a horror writer. While I did enjoy his other more 'traditional' horror and fantasy tales, "Tommyknockers" was a nice little breath of fresh air, incorporating mostly sci-fi elements into the work. Not quite the ideal read if you're looking to be scared intelligent [I hasten to use the word 'stupid'], but as some other reviewers have said, for a [quite] entertaining, well written and thought provoking sci-fi a la Stephen King, you certainly can't go wrong here.

My first reading of this book, many years ago, was aborted. I simply hadn't the patience to wait for the slowly unfolding revelation of the inhabitants of the spacecraft and found myself scanning rather than reading large tracts of the tale.

So my second attempt at the Tommyknockers was a revelation. For the first time, I now appreciate what a truly magnificent writer Stephen King is. I realise now that my initial impatience was prompted by reluctance to engage with the depth of the characters portrayed and the complexity and richness of the human drama surrounding the central tenet of the story.

I think that at times, I have suffered from the dread disease of the 20th and 21st centuries - attention deficit combined with a lust for instant appeasement of my appetite for entertainment. This is no frame of mind with which to approach a literary work of this quality.

For me, The Tommyknockers is a fine piece of literature premised on a simple idea that is shattered and broken like crystal in King's mind, and then reconstructed as a tendrilous and subtle shadow-creature that creeps into the readers mind as the tale unfolds.

The work of a master.

It took me two attempts to finish this book...I wish I had given up the first time. Everything is so over written here that it could easily fit into a novella if King didn't have dierhea of the word processor. To his credit there are some neat sci-fi things in the book, like the inventions and powers that people get from being in contact with the space-ship, but there is little else worth reading.

There are many frustrating scenes of buildups to scares that just fail to be scary. More than once, this book hooked me with the promise of earth shattering revelations or unberable horror around the corner, and then just fizzled out and started building the next scene. To clairify, in this story SK tells you "there's something scary out there," then leaves it up to you to creep yourself out about it. However, once you get to that "scary thing out there," it's just a trick of light. He offers no real horrors here.

It's also really strange to me how he has to put so many possible reasons for the supernatural in his books. This one has the obvious UFO, but he also mentions an indian burial ground, ghosts from mines, all he needed to do to cover all the basses would be to add vampires and telepathy. Odd. Most of these explainations have nothing to do with the story that is going on. So, they just make it longer and more boring.

The worst is the ending. King doesn't have the best record with endings, but this one takes the cake. It is definately not worth reading a novel this long to get to this crappy ending. In fact it's not worth reading at all, because there is little on the way to the ending that is enjoyable.

Had I not read this after some of King's better works (The Stand, It, The Shining, Green Mile..) I would've stopped right away. From his other, better works, I assumed that this long buildup of characters was going to pay-off at some point. At his best King can make enjoyable epics with a large cast of characters. This is not his best, skip it. Don't make my mistake...just walk away.

This has been a good series up til now. Now it is a great one and the turning point is this book. Arcudi's contributions to the writing are special. The characters are now truly characters with concerns, lives, etc. The action is still top otch ad Guy Davis' art continues to be excellent. His work shuffles along just telling the story and then some creature or other appears across a two-page spread and the reaction is, "Wow!" When I get the newest book in this series, I find myself going back to book one and starting over each time enjoying the whole saga.

As a longtime Mike Mignola fan (I've been collecting the single issue Hellboy since the beginning, as well as Mignola's other works), I'm slowing coming to the belief that BPRD is currently the better than the current Hellboy title. I was very disappointed that Mignola wasn't illustrating BPRD when it first got going. But I've been seduced by Guy Davis' artwork. The more I look at Davis' compositions the more I like it. The stories here in BPRD seem to be consistently a bit stronger than the current Hellboy story lines. The collaborative effort in this title seems to be it's strength. This is a fine collection that recounts the teams effort to save a team mate from death. Excellent all around. Strongly recommended.

Mike Mignola writes very differently from the vast majority of comic artists today. His stuff reminds me a lot of H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Alan Poe. Very rich, detailed stories - -plus the artwork is like looking at a woodcut print.

This continues the years-long story arc of the post-Hellboy BPRD.
If you haven't been reading the previous graphic novels, this
will be almost unintelligible to you. But if you have. . .

we learn more, much more, about Captain Daimio (puzzling, if
intriguing), get some distressing backstory of Dr. Kraus,
get a painfully small reminisce of Abe and HB on assignment
in the Canadian woods, and a touching vignette of Liz's
past.

The main story, so to speak, is Dr. Corrigan in the French Alps,
trying to obtain one of those impossibly rare and eldritch tomes
without which this genre of fiction would seem incomplete. I won't
get into spoilers here, but the moment at which she triumphs over
an adversary is easily the most satisfactory single panel I've
seen in a Hellboy story in quite some time.

And if you want to know what finally happens to Roger - this is
the one to read.

I love Neil Gaiman and I love Dave Mckean, back from the first edition of Coraline. I bought the book for myself and I'm not ashamed. I love children's literature and I love Neil Gaiman's writing & Mckean's artwork. There is such a Tim Burton-ish, Roald Dahl-esque quality which occurs when these two team up; it's a haunting beauty. I think the story is fabulous, not too scary for young kids, & the art is breathtaking. Beautiful elaborate drawings.
A+

I loved this book. The illustrations are fantastic. It's funny, but I recently learn the Chinese have an expression, "lang lai le." This is said when there is an unpleasant noise, such as bad singing. It means "the wolves will come out." I would recommend this book for middle school age kids as it is rather scary. I also loved Gaiman's novel, Coraline. I would recommend also the Visions in Poetry version of The Raven illustrated by Ryan Price. Prices illustrations are very similar to McKean's. In fact I feel like it is Price's illustrations that prop up the poem.

The review will be as short as the book:
I'm a Gaiman's fan, hence I really wanted to have this book in my collection. I'm glad I got it.
The story is short and simple, but creepy an good.
The illustrations by Mckean are superb. I really enjoyed them.

I give it a *** for the story, and a **** for the drawings. I was going to give a *** overall, but decided a **** since it is a children book (BUT Coraline is also a children story, and I'll give it a ***** without blinking).

As always Neil Gaiman is a genius and David McKeans illustrations are beautiful, and I would highly recommend this book to adults who still love childrens books, and to slightly older kids, it a tiny bit scary, but that's what makes it so great!

I purchased this for my grandchildren 6, 8, and 10 for Christmas. When the 8 y.o opened it, his mother asked to see it and said it was too scary for any of them. I had not read it, but that evening proceeded to read the book. For my grandchildren, it is not age appropriate.

Continuing on the footsteps of Jacob here is the second installment on Jacquelyn Frank's Nightwalker series.
I really love Jacki Frank's novels as I love Frank's writing style. She's created a magnificent world of Nightwalkers, so real you almost believe that they exist.

I found myself looking forward in reading GIDEON as I had so enjoyed the first installment - JACOB. GIDEON was a great book - though it had a few flaws and I was a little disappointed. The premise, plotline and characters are memorable - created with great depth, drawing you into their lives - almost like they are family members. However - the huge amount of prose, description and narration - makes you feel at times this is a James Mitchener novel! LOL

GIDEON is the most Ancient and powerful of Nightwalkers - having existed for centuries. Being present even when the Demon and Druids wars took place, he remembers those awful days. Having recently come out of a nine year self-exile and being a Medic Demon - he must ensure that the Enforcer's wife Bella - the newly found Druid/Human is taken care of during her pregnancy.

Every since Magdalegna was Summoned by the Necromancers, she has been experiencing a surge in her powers. A Mind - Empath Demon, she realizes that these powers don't manifest themselves until a Demon is an Elder. Legna has no choice but to confide in Gideon - as she doesn't understand these new powers.
After Gideon conducts his Medic exam - he realizes Legna is his destined mate and she has inherited some of his powers since he rescued her from the Summoning.

He's carried tremendous guilt and inner turmoil, as he was in the Counsel that approved that Druids were removed from their Demon mates and therefore die without each other. He doesn't believe in absolution and he's forever dammed to carry that guilt in his soul.

After a brutal attack by the Necros almost kills Bella and her unborn child, the Demon race realize that the evil of the Necromancers has grown powerful and they are about to launch a war of extinction on all Nightwalkers.

I enjoyed GIDEON, but as I mentioned the narration and self-reflection got way out of hand. I agree that considering the complexity of the story, events that took place in JACOB needed to be revisited, but it felt that this was a re-telling of JACOB all over again and Gideon's and Legna's was dimmed for all the recounting.

There was not enough interaction and involvement between Gideon and Legna and the story revolved too much around the Necro confict. Also, the battle that ensues between the all-women-necro forces VS the Nightwalkers is a bit ludicrous and found myself skimming.

The book ends with the Beltane wedding celebration. There is rejoicing and mourning as well - as Demons and other Nightwalkers have been killed in the battle. For the first time in Centuries, Demons, Lycanthropes and Vampires are putting aside their differences to fight a very real foe, as a Demon traitor is now leading the Necros in a fight to extinguish all the Nightwalkers.

I am looking forward in reading ELIJAH and I hope that the story revolves around Elijah and Siena - Lycanthrope Queen - I hope that the storyline revolves around them and not entirely the Necro war.

I really didn't enjoy the first book (Jacob) in Frank's Nighwalkers series... It seemed that book was a bit rushed and didn't really include much in the way of a story... BUT, since I had purchased the first and second books together, I decided I would give the second book a go... WOW am I ever glad I did!

This book was fun, interesting, and even romantic! I felt that I really connected with the characters and was hoping for the relationship with Gideon and Legna to bloom. I appreciated the demon world Frank designed so much more this time through because the bulk of the book was written in it! Frank took her time developing the connection between the main characters, so those super steamy love scenes felt quite sensual and sweet.

Frank has definitely won me over with Gideon and I have already picked up the next book in the Nightwalker series and am counting down the hours until I can explore the next character!

Overall, GREAT romantic read with a wonderful paranormal setting! Well done Frank!

I liked Jacob (Book 1) and Gideon (Book 2). A little wordy, there are many repetitive descriptions. I like the concept behind the series and the story lines. The mind reading thing between couples gets a litte old, but that is across the entire paranormal romance genre. Looking forward to Elijah next.

Gideon is the most powerful and oldest demon. He has the ability to heal. Magdelegna is still considered a child in demon years and she is still learning how to control her powers. They are destined to be together whether either one wanted or expected the union.
This book explores how even a healer can be broken and how the young can teach the old. It also demonstrates how the weaknesses in one person may be the strengths in the other person, and together they are whole. Both characters have to overcome internal and external battles to that happy ever after, but it's a battle of which the reader wants to be a part.
This book delivers a powerful lover story. Jacki Frank is a master story teller.

I am sorry to say that I struggled with this one. It was an act of sheer will and perseverance that allowed me to even get to the end. I can't say that I didn't skim a few pages hear and there...but I did finish it!

I loved the first book, Jacob, and couldn't wait for this one. I could've/should've waited and saved my time. Legna is someone I couldn't wait to hear more about. I loved her heart and soul that she showed in Jacob, but unfortunately it didn't continue in this one. I found her character boring and "overworked" for much of the book. She did not live up to what her potential was.

Gideon as well fell flat for me. As he is called the "Ancient" because he is the oldest of the demons, very powerful, and a healer..I felt that he was ANCIENT. He was boring and tired and felt "old" to me. I struggled to find him as mysterious and intriguing as I did in Jacob.

This book is nicely setting up the next book Elijah. Sounds familiar. Jacob set up Gideon and Legna's story beautifully and then just "mailed it in". I hope the same will not be true of Elijah's story or we might be looking at a one hit wonder!

I have to say these sorts of stories have gotten me through grad school... Though I own more than one Victorian horror anthology, this was my latest acquisition and undoubtedly high ranking amongst my favorites...most of the time I'd study all day and just want something relaxing to read a 20 minute getaway and since most of the stories are short enough to not be imposing and if you have quite an imagination about you, you'll enjoy the ornate details which will carry you back to a more decadent era filled with mystery... I felt thoroughly entertained by the eloquence and detailed verbal imagery. I was able to sustain myself through yet another day...The book is a compilation of many authors such as sir Arthur Conan Doyle... it is a nice medley... so you'll always have a "surprise me" trust me you will not regret this buy.. If you want a break from the politics, economics, social structure of the world around you to your private little sanctuary... then just turn on a few candles on a chilly autumn evening and prepare to be delighted with any one of these tales...

For the sake of atmosphere, read "Victorian Ghost Stories" with a candle to light your way through its mysterious passages.

A very large candle.

There are thirty-five stories within its four-hundred-and-eighty-nine pages, and you must read them all before dawn.

Actually, you should savor this supernatural feast one story at a time. Its editors, who are both scholars of occult literature, collected the best of the best from the Golden Age of ghost story writing. If you are already a reader of the phantasmagoric, some of the anthology will be familiar, e.g. "An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street," "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes," or "John Charrington's Wedding."

There are also lesser-known tales of vengeful ghosts, haunted houses, and "things in a dead man's eye," the latter courtesy of Rudyard Kipling's "At the End of the Passage."

According to the editors' introduction, one of their aims for this anthology was to "map out the development of the Victorian ghost story from circa 1850...it is in the 1850s that the distinct, anti-Gothic character of the Victorian ghost story begins to emerge." Which is not to say that the Gothic emphasis on moldering sepulchres is altogether missing. Try "The Tomb of Sarah" by F. G. Loring, whose story begins with the memorial inscription:

"SARAH. 1630. FOR THE SAKE OF THE DEAD AND THE WELFARE OF THE LIVING, LET THIS SEPULCHRE REMAIN UNTOUCHED AND ITS OCCUPANT UNDISTURBED TILL THE COMING OF CHRIST."

Of course, the story's protagonist believes he has an excellent reason for disturbing the dead. Or in Sarah's case, the Undead.

Make certain your candle is not burning low before you start "The Tomb of Sarah," or any of the other tales in this haunting collection.

A sampling of the stories:

"Father Macclesfield's Tale" (1907) by Monsignor R.H. Benson--This author was a lesser-known brother of the famed E.F. Benson, and private chamberlain to Pope Pius X. This story is narrated by a priest who is called to the death-bed of a man who could not tolerate the thought of annihilation.

"The Kit Bag" (1908) by Algernon Blackwood--The private secretary of a criminal lawyer accidentally takes home the kit bag of a brutal murderer to pack up for a Christmas trip to the Alps.

"An Eddy on the Floor" (1899) by Bernard Capes--The warden of one of His Majesty's prisons invites a young doctor to accept a post at the prison. The new physician soon learns that a certain empty cell was not only bolted, but screwed shut from the outside. All of the prisoners are afraid of it.

"The Old Nurse's Story" (1852) by Elizabeth Gaskell--A young girl goes to work as little Rosamund's maid at Furnivall Manor, a very grand mansion located at the foot of the lonely Cumberland Fells. Rosamund's distant relative, eighty-year-old Miss Furnival is a proud, cold spinster with many secrets to hide.

"At the End of the Passage" (1890) by Rudyard Kipling--A very atmospheric tale of four English Civil servants who are trying to cope with the dust, heat, and disease of an Indian summer. One of them admits that he can't sleep. In fact it terrifies him to even think of falling asleep.

"John Charrington's Wedding" (1891) by E. Nesbit--A much-collected Victorian ghost story. It's bad enough when brides are accidentally locked into chests or pursued by demon lovers, but when the groom is overheard telling his fiancée, "My dear, my dear, I believe I should come from the dead if you wanted me!" watch out!

"The Body-snatcher" (1884) by Robert Louis Stevenson--"To see, fixed in the rigidity of death and naked on the coarse layer of sack-cloth, the man whom he had left well-clad and full of meat and sin upon the threshold of a tavern, awoke, even in the thoughtless Fettes, some of the terrors of the conscience." Two medical students venture into a graveyard to find a subject for dissection.

"Thurnley Abbey" (1908) by Perceval Landon--The new owners of Thurnley Abbey invite one of their friends to stay overnight, without telling him that he will be sleeping in the haunted bedroom. Believing the creature that appears at his bedfoot to be a hoax, the angry guest tears it apart bone by bone.

This is an exceptional anthology of Victorian ghost stories; all are short stories which are easily read in a brief sitting. The book serves as a remarkable spyglass into another era, one wholly foreign to our own. I enjoy each creepy tale and find the mix of authors to be effectively selected and simply organized. A truly fun read. Recommended.