Masterpieces Of Terror And The Supernatural

This exceptional compilation contains more than fifty short stories, novellas and poems, both classic and modern, by some of the most distinguished writers of all time. Masterful works by Bram Stoker, H.P. Lovecroft, Mary Shelley, Sheridan LeFanu, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Tennessee Williams, Isaac Asimov, J.R.R. Tolkien, in addition to little-known masterpieces of fantasy and terror by such authors as Stanley Ellin, Patricia Highsmith, John Dickson Carr and Damon Runyon, make this one of the most wide-ranging, outstanding collections of its kind. Marvin Kaye provides fascinating prefatory notes to each selection and an annotated bibliography of other recommended reading, as well as an Introduction and Afterword providing further insights into the genres of terror and the supernatural.

This exceptional compilation contains more than 50 short stories, novellas and poems, both classic and modern, by some of the most distinguished writers of all time. Masterful works by Bram Stoker, H.P. Lovecraft, Mary Shelley, Sheridan LeFanu, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Tennessee Williams, Isaac Asimov, and J.R.R. Tolkien, in addition to little-known masterpieces by such authors as Stanley Ellin, Patricia Highsmith, John Dickson Carr and Damon Runyon, make this one of the most wide-ranging and outstanding collections of its kind. Kay provides fascinating prefatory notes to each selection and an annotated bibliography of other recommended reading, as well as an Introduction and Afterword providing further insights into the genres of terror and the supernatural.

"This exceptional compilation-a veritable collector's volume-contains more than fifty short stories, novellas, and poems, by some of the most distinguished writers of all time. Masterful works by Bran Stoker, H.P. Lovecraft, Mary Shelley, Sheridan LeFanu, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Tennessee Williams, Isaa Asimov, in addition to little known masterpieces of fantasy and terror by Stanley Ellin, Patricia Highsmith, John Dickson Carr, Damon Runyon, among others, makes this one of the most wide ranging, outstanding collections of its kind. Of particular interest are the tales "Riddles in the Dark" by J.R.R. Tolkien, reprinted in its original version for the first time in nearly half a century, and "The Pool of the Stone God," an obscure work of eminent fantasy writer A. Merritt. This volume is expertly compiled by Marvin Kaye, who provides fascinating prefatory notes to each selection and an annotated bibliography of other recommended readings, as well as an Introduction and Afterword providing further insights about the genres of terror and supernatural. Now sit back, and prepare to be transfixed by tales of murder and madness, strange rituals, creatures from beyond the grave, and all manner of weird apparitions. They're sure to provide hours of irresistible, spellbinding reading."--Jacket

Fifty tales of terror and horror by masters of the genre. They range from Bianca's Hands, by Theodore Sturgeon, in which a man becomes obsessed with a girl's hands, to Jack Snow's Midnight, the story of an occultist who is attacked by demons.

Selected by Marvin Kaye and Saralee Kaye.

While the numinous and heavily psychological aspects of the Gothic have received serious attention, studies do not tend to examine the relation of the Gothic supernatural to the very different backgrounds of 18th-century and Victorian belief. This study examines the rise of the form, the artistic difficulties experienced by its early practitioners, and the transformation of the original problem-ridden Gothic works into the successful Victorian tales of unearthly terror. In doing so, this study makes a distinct contribution to our grasp of the Gothic and of the links between literature and religion.