The Dark takes a look at the tormented and unquiet dead; the darkness in us, the living; and the sometimes tenuous boundary between the two.

    In addition to nineteen superb stories of dark fantasy and horror, The Color of Evil includes a long, insightful introduction, which delineates the evolution of horror fiction, and, for each writer, notes which say something about the literature and the author's place in it.

    Shapiro finds in them not the expected alienation but rather an odd, companionable solitude rising up from the quiet emptiness.In other poems, Shapiro writes movingly of his 1950s and 60s childhood in Brookline, Massachusetts, with special focus on the house he grew up in. These meditations, always inflected with Shapiro’s quick wit and humor, lead to recollections of tragic and haunting events such as the Cuban missile crisis and the assassination of JFK. While Night of the Republic is Shapiro’s most ambitious work to date, it is also his most timely and urgent for the acute way it illuminates the mingling of private obsessions with public space.

    Thirty-two good stories--some previously anthologized, some hot off the press ("Beauty and the Opera" by Suzy McKee Charnas appeared in July 1996), and a few once considered classic, but now nearly forgotten (Thomas Burnett Swann is rapidly falling out of sight)--offer entertainment for every taste. Many of the stories ("The Overworld" by Jack Vance, and "The Changeling" by Michael Swanwick) also offer continuation elsewhere as part of a longer work.Gardner Dozois's emphasis is on magazine fiction. As such, it's an interesting view of the evolution and increasing sophistication of the "pulps"--and their readers. For this reason this would be an excellent text for a course on modern fantasy writing. Stories from Asimov Science Fiction Magazine, which Dozois edits, are prominent among the recent pieces. Providing a brief history of 20th-century fantasy, the introduction seems written with the new reader in mind.ContentsWalk Like a Mountain • [John the Balladeer] • (1955) • shortstory by Manly Wade WellmanScylla's Daughter • [Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser] • (1961) • novella by Fritz LeiberPaper Dragons • (1985) • novelette by James P. BlaylockThe Golem • (1955) • shortstory by Avram DavidsonFlowers of Edo • (1987) • novelette by Bruce SterlingBears Discover Fire • (1990) • shortstory by Terry BissonThe Changeling's Tale • (1994) • shortstory by Michael SwanwickMissolonghi 1824 • (1990) • shortstory by John CrowleyBlunderbore • (1990) • shortstory by Esther M. FriesnerInto Gold • (1986) • novelette by Tanith LeeSpace-Time for Springers • [Gummitch the Cat] • (1958) • shortstory by Fritz LeiberBeauty and the Opéra or the Phantom Beast • (1996) • novelette by Suzy McKee CharnasThe Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule • [Griaule] • (1984) • novelette by Lucius ShepardA Cabin on the Coast • (1984) • shortstory by Gene WolfeThe Sleep of Trees • (1980) • shortstory by Jane YolenTrouble with Water • (1939) • shortstory by H. L. GoldThe Gnarly Man • (1939) • novelette by L. Sprague de CampDeath and the Executioner • [Lord of Light] • (1967) • novelette by Roger ZelaznyThe Manor of Roses • [John & Stephen] • (1966) • novella by Thomas Burnett SwannThe Overworld • [Dying Earth] • (1965) • novelette by Jack VanceExtempore • (1956) • shortstory by Damon KnightGod's Hooks! • (1982) • shortstory by Howard WaldropBuffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight • (1987) • novelette by Ursula K. Le GuinThe Tale of Hauk • (1977) • novelette by Poul AndersonA Gift of the People • (1988) • shortstory by Robert SampsonConfiguration of the North Shore • (1969) • shortstory by R. A. LaffertyTwo Sadnesses • (1973) • shortstory by George Alec EffingerManatee Gal, Won't You Come Out Tonight • [Jack Limekiller] • (1977) • novelette by Avram Davidson (aka Manatee Gal Ain't You Coming Out Tonight)The Signaller • [Pavane] • (1966) • novelette by Keith RobertsThe Troll • (1935) • shortstory by T. H. WhiteDeath and the Lady • (1992) • novelette by Judith TarrProfessor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros • (1995) • novelette by Peter S. BeaglePreface (Modern Classics of Fantasy) • (1997) • essay by Gardner DozoisRecommended Reading (Modern Classics of Fantasy) • essay by Gardner Dozois

    3) • (1968) • essay by Roger Zelazny 9 • The Cloud-Sculptors of Coral D • [Vermilion Sands] • (1967) • shortstory by J. G. Ballard 27 • Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes • (1967) • novelette by Harlan Ellison 49 • Mirror of Ice • (1967) • shortstory by Gary Wright 60 • Aye, and Gomorrah • (1967) • shortstory by Samuel R. Delany (aka Aye, and Gomorrah . . .) 71 • Gonna Roll the Bones • (1967) • novelette by Fritz Leiber 95 • Behold the Man • (1966) • novella by Michael Moorcock 146 • Weyr Search • [Dragonriders of Pern] • (1967) • novella by Anne McCaffrey 204 • Afterword (Nebula Award Stories No. 3) • (1968) • essay by Roger Zelazny 206 • Nebula Awards 1967 • essay by uncredited 206 • Roll of Honour (Nebula Award Stories No. 3) • essay by uncredited 206 • 1966 Nebula Awards • essay by uncredited 207 • 1965 Nebula Awards • essay by uncredited

    Major authors like Stephen King, Peter Straub, and F. Paul Wilson were asked to choose and introduce the 15 classic stories that frightened and inspired them. The results, of course, are chilling.Stories chosen and introduced by:Stephen King Peter StraubF. Paul WilsonJoyce Carol OatesDennis Etchison Rick HautalaRichard Christian MathesonHarlan EllisonStories written by:Robert BlochRichard MathesonM.R. JamesNathaniel HawthorneH.P. LovecraftEdgar Allan PoeContents:ix · Introduction · Mike Baker & Martin H. Greenberg · in 1 · Introduction to “Sweets to the Sweet” by Robert Bloch · Stephen King · is 1 · Sweets to the Sweet · Robert Bloch · ss Weird Tales Mar ’47 11 · Introduction to “The Father-Thing” by Philip K. Dick · Ed Gorman · is 11 · The Father-Thing · Philip K. Dick · ss F&SF Dec ’54 26 · Introduction to “The Distributor” by Richard Matheson · F. Paul Wilson · is 27 · The Distributor · Richard Matheson · ss Playboy Mar ’58 47 · Introduction to “A Warning to the Curious” by M. R. James · Ramsey Campbell · is 48 · A Warning to the Curious · M. R. James · ss The London Mercury Aug ’25 68 · Introduction to “Opening the Door” by Arthur Machen · Peter Atkins · is 70 · Opening the Door · Arthur Machen · ss When Churchyards Yawn, ed. Cynthia Asquith, London: Hutchinson, 1931 85 · Introduction to “The Colour Out of Space” by H. P. Lovecraft · Richard Laymon · is 89 · The Colour Out of Space · H. P. Lovecraft · nv Amazing Sep ’27 124 · Introduction to “The Inner Room” by Robert Aickman · Peter Straub · is 125 · The Inner Room · Robert Aickman · nv The Second Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories, ed. Robert Aickman, Fontana, 1966 162 · Introduction to “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne · Rick Hautala · is 163 · Young Goodman Brown · Nathaniel Hawthorne · ss New England Magazine Apr, 1835 179 · Introduction to “The Rats in the Walls” by H. P. Lovecraft · Michael Slade · is 180 · The Rats in the Walls · H. P. Lovecraft · ss Weird Tales Mar ’24 204 · Introduction to “The Dog Park” by Dennis Etchison · Richard Christian Matheson · is 205 · The Dog Park · Dennis Etchison · ss Dark Voices 5, ed. David Sutton & Stephen Jones, London: Pan, 1993 219 · Introduction to “The Animal Fair” by Robert Bloch · Joe R. Lansdale · is 219 · The Animal Fair · Robert Bloch · ss Playboy May ’71 236 · Introduction to “The Pattern” by Ramsey Campbell · Poppy Z. Brite · is 236 · The Pattern · Ramsey Campbell · nv Superhorror, ed. Ramsey Campbell, W.H. Allen, 1976 258 · Introduction to “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe · Joyce Carol Oates · is 259 · The Tell-Tale Heart · Edgar Allan Poe · ss The Pioneer Jan, 1843 266 · Introduction to “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce · Dennis Etchison · is 267 · An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge · Ambrose Bierce · ss San Francisco Examiner Jul 13, 1890 279 · Introduction to “The Human Chair” by Edogawa Rampo · Harlan Ellison · is 281 · The Human Chair [1925] · Edogawa Rampo · ss Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Tuttle, 1956 299 · About the Authors · Misc. Material · bg

    Wings of Fire brings you all these dragons, and more, seen clearly through the eyes of many of today's most popular authors. Introduction - Jonathan Strahan and Marianne S. JablonStable of Dragons - Peter S. Beagle The Rules of Names - Ursula K. Le Guin The Ice Dragon - George R. R. Martin Sobek - Holly BlackKing Dragon - Michael Swanwick The Laily Worm - Nina Kiriki Hoffman The Harrowing of the Dragon of Hoarsbreath - Patricia A. McKillip The Bully and the Beast - Orson Scott Card Concerto Accademico - Barry N. Malzberg The Dragon's Boy - Jane Yolen The Miracle Aquilina - Margo Lanagan Orm the Beautiful - Elizabeth Bear Weyr Search - Anne McCaffrey Paper Dragons - James P. BlaylockDragon's Gate - Pat Murphy In Autumn, A White Dragon Looks Over the Wide River - Naomi Novik St. Dragon and the George - Gordon R. DicksonThe Silver Dragon - Elizabeth A. LynnThe Dragons of Summer Gulch - Robert ReedBerlin - Charles de Lint Draco, Draco - Tanith LeeThe Dragon on the Bookshelf - Harlan Ellison and Robert Silverberg Gwydion and the Dragon - C. J. CherryhThe George Business - Roger Zelazny Dragon's Fin Soup - S. P. Somtow The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule - Lucius Shepard

    Love missives unread, gifts unreceived, lost in postal limbo. Dead Letters: An Anthology features new stories from the masters of horror, fantasy and speculative fiction, each inspired by object from the Dead Letters Office. Featuring original stories by:Joanne Harris * Maria Dahvana Headley & China Miéville * Michael Marshall Smith * Lisa Tuttle * Ramsey Campbell * Pat Cadigan * Steven Hall * Alison Moore * Adam LG Nevill * Nina Allan * Christopher Fowler * Muriel Gray * Andrew Lane * Angela Slatter * Claire Dean * Nicholas Royle * Kirsten Kaschock

    Here are gathered the best of their chilling, thrilling, upsetting, and unsettling experiments with our sexual psyches. And rest assured, flesh will tingle--but whether from horror or pleasure or a bit of both, we'll leave you to judge.From its opening pages, with King's blackly humorous portrait of a very, very mad housewife to its conclusion, where we find Barker's wholly shocking tale of a deadly quest into the heart of passion, I Shudder at Your Touch brings you a host of kinky, perverse, bizarre and creepy figures. You'll find a cricket-playing vampire, a sleek sea creature likely to give mermaids a bad name, a strangely seductive handyman who's equally adept at knocking down apartment walls and female inhibitions, and a plastic religious statue offering X-rated enlightenment from its perch atop the family TV.I Shudder at Your Touch features 22 daring writers who prefer to go too far, writers whose every tale will have you fighting back a scream...and a cry of delight.Contents:The revelations of 'Becka Paulson / Stephen King --Sea lovers / Valerie Martin --Psychopomp / Haydn Middleton --A glowing future / Ruth Rendell --The tiger returns to the mountain / T.L. Parkinson --Consanguinity / Ronald Duncan --Keeping house / Michael Blumlein --The Villa Desiree / May Sinclair --Cleave the vampire, or, a gothic pastorale / Patrick McGrath --The swords / Robert Aickman --Salon Satin / Carolyn Banks --How love came to Professor Guildea / Robert Hichens --Wings / Harriet Zinnes --The Basilisk / R. Murray Gilchrist --A quarter past you / Jonathan Carroll --The master builder / Christopher Fowler --Festival / Eric McCormack --Ladies in waiting / Huch B. Cave --Death and the single girl / Thomas M. Disch --Master / Angela Carter --The conqueror worm / Stephen R. Donaldson --Jacqueline Ess: her will and testament / Clive Barker

    Datlow has produced a collection filled with some of the most powerful voices in the field: Pat Cadigan, Terry Dowling, Jeffrey Ford, Christopher Fowler, Glen Hirshberg, K. W. Jeter, Joyce Carol Oates, and Lucius Shepard, to name a few. Each author approaches fear in a different way, but all of the stories' characters toil within their own hell. An aptly titled anthology, Inferno will scare the pants off readers and further secure Ellen Datlow's standing as a preeminent editor of modern horror.

    Among them are: Harlan Ellison, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Paul McAuley, Peter Tremayne, Steve Rasnic Tem, and Ramsey Campbell.This anthology collects the very best in vampire fiction which blends sheer horror with dark humor, deadly tenderness with tingling terror. For the classic vampire, as this volume amply shows, the Blood is the Life. From Hugh B. Cave's pulp thriller "Stragella" through to Harold Waldrop's bizarre mix of vampire and Nazis in "Der Untergang Des Abendlandesmenschen" and Christopher Fowler's "The Legend of Dracula Reconsidered as a Primetime TV Special." In between lie artful chillers by the likes of Clive Barker, Brian Lumley, R. Chetwynd-Hayes, Robert Bloch and John Burke, along with new and original stories by Niel Gaiman with "Cards from a Vampire Tarot," and Kim Newman with "Andy Warhol's Dracula: anno Dracula 1978-79." You can sink your teeth, too, in F. Paul Wilson's fast-paced thriller "Midnight Mass," Manly Wade Wellman's "Chastel," offering bloody intrigue and adventure with Judge Keith Hilary Pursuivant; and Les Daniel's "Yellow Fog," which features his enigmatic vampire-hero Don Sebastian de Villanueva.CONTENTSIntroduction: The Children of the Night by Stephen JonesHuman Remains by Clive BarkerNecros by Brian LumleyThe Man Who Loved The Vampire Lady by Brian StablefordA Place To Stay by Michael Marshall SmithThe Brood by Ramsey CampbellRoot Cellar by Nancy KilpatrickHungarian Rhapsody by Robert BlochThe Legend of Dracula Reconsidered as a Prime-Time TV Special by Christopher FowlerVampire by Richard Christian MathesonStragella by Hugh B. CaveA Week In The Unlife by David J. SchowThe House At Evening by Francis GarfieldVampyrrhic Outcast by Simon ClarkThe Labyrinth by R. Chetwynd-HayesBeyond Any Measure by Karl Edward WagnerDoctor Porthos by Basil CopperStraight To Hell by Paul McAuleyIt Only Comes Out At Night by Dennis EtchisonInvestigating Jericho by Chelsea Quinn YarbroDracula's Chair by Peter TremayneA Taste For Blood by Sydney J. BoundsThe Better Half by Melanie TemThe Devil's Tritone by John BurkeChastel by Manly Wade WellmanDer Untergang Des Abendlandesmenschen by Howard WaldropRed As Blood by Tanith LeeLaird of Dunain by Graham MastersonA Trick of the Dark by Tina RathMidnight Mass by F. Paul WilsonBlood Gothis by Nancy HolderYellow Fog by Les DanielsFifteen Cards From a Vampire Tarot by Neil GaimanVintage Domestic by Steve Rasnic TemTry A Dull Knife by Harlan EllisonAndy Warhol's Dracula: Anno Dracula 1978-1979 by Kim Newman

    Something calls Tom back to the ruins of his boyhood home, to the scene of the devastation that almost destroyed him.

    A Marine Corps psychiatrist with a crisis of faith encourages his patients to enact their fantasies as part of their therapy. However, he proves himself to be more deeply disturbed than at first appears and finally sacrifices himself to save one of his patients.

    And that's a scary place to be.