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The Hound of Death
by Agatha ChristieA collection of macabre mysteries, including the superlative short story Witness for the Prosecution…
Death from a Top Hat
by Clayton RawsonA magician turned detective is caught up in the most baffling locked-room murder mystery...'One of the all-time greatest impossible murder mysteries' Publishers Weekly starred review'Dazzling' Saturday Review'A cornerstone of detective fiction' New York TimesMaster magician The Great Merlini has hung up his top hat and white gloves, and now spends his days running a magic shop in New York and his nights moonlighting as a consultant for the NYPD. When the crimes seem impossible, it is his magician's mind they need. So when two occultists are discovered dead in locked rooms, one spread out on a pentagram, both appearing to have been murdered under similar circumstances, Merlini is immediately called in. The list of suspects includes an escape artist, a professional medium, and a ventriloquist - and it is only too clear that this is a world Merlini knows rather too well...
The Red Right Hand
by Joel Townsley RogersA deranged killer sends a doctor on a quest for the truth - deep into the recesses of his own mind.'Deserves its reputation as one of the greatest mysteries of all time' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred reviewWhat really happened to Inis St. Erme? What was his fatal mistake? Was it when he and his bride-to-be first set out to elope in Vermont? Or did his deadly error occur later, when they picked up a terrifying hitch-hiker, or when the three stopped at 'Dead Bridegroom's Pond' for a picnic? Dr Riddle is determined to find out, but he soon uncovers a series of bizarre coincidences that leave him questioning his sanity and his innocence. After all, he too walked those wild, deserted roads the night of the murder, stranded and struggling to get home to New York City. The more he reflects, the more his own memories become increasingly uncertain, as he veers into the irrational territory of pure terror...
Nightmare Alley: The rediscovered American noir classic, soon to be a major motion picture
by William Lindsay GreshamA cool, cruel, rediscovered classic of American noir, soon to be a major motion picture directed by Guillermo del Toro.'Read and shudder. And relish' Guardian'A creepy, all-too-harrowing masterpiece' Washington PostStanton Carlisle, employed as a carny at a travelling circus watches their freak-show geek - an abject alcoholic, the object of the voyeuristic crowd's gleeful disgust and derision - and wonders how a man could fall so low. There's no way in hell, he vows, that anything like that will ever happen to him.Unlike the tragic figure he sees before him, Stan is young, clever and ambitious and quick to learn from the other carnival acts. Initially teaming up with a beautiful but vulnerable woman as part of a double act in which he mesmerises her, Stan soon leaves his circus days behind him, becoming a successful spiritualist who exploits the weak and the wealthy.But even the very best con men can meet their match....With a new introduction from James Smythe, Nightmare Alley is a forgotten classic of Depression-era America; a brilliant, horrifying, compulsive journey into the true darkness of the human mind.
Dark Carnival
by null Ray Bradbury'Let us now praise Ray Bradbury' THE TIMES Bradbury's first story collection is a must-read for any fan of the genre, spinning stardust and cobwebs in its wondrous wake. It contains twenty-seven stories, from science fiction’s master storyteller.
The Haunter of the Dark and Other Tales (H. P. Lovecraft Omnibus #3)
by H. P. LovecraftA collection of some of the most famous stories from the master of tomb-dark fear…
Jizzle
by John WyndhamA collection of short stories from the master author of THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS and THE MIDWICH CUCKOOS.Giselle is a very talented monkey, although she goes by the name Jizzle. She can draw incredible portraits, as lifelike as can be. But Jizzle isn't just a camera. Jizzle has feelings. And Jizzle can take revenge, when she wants . . .This collection combines fantasy, science fiction, and horror to delight, astound and unsettle you.STORIES INCLUDED:"Jizzle""Technical Slip""A Present from Brunswick""Chinese Puzzle""Esmeralda""How Do I Do?""Una""Affair of the Heart""Confidence Trick""The Wheel""Look Natural, Please!""Perforce to Dream""Reservation Deferred""Heaven Scent""More Spinned Against"
The Edgar Allan Poe Collection
by Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe is regarded as one of the foremost American writers. The stories, poems and novels included here span the breadth of Edgar Allan Poe's unparalleled imagination.From the gothic horror of the classic short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" and his macabre poem "The Raven" to the enticing murder mystery, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", and other works such as The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, this fascinating collection showcases Poe's lyrical writing and masterful plotting.Mysterious, morbid and undeniably fascinating, the tales collected here are a perfect introduction to America's master of horror.A few of his masterpieces included in this collection are:BereniceThe RavenThe Tell-Tale HeartThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pymof NantucketThe Murders in the Rue MorgueMetzengersteinThe Masque of the Red DeathThe Fall of the House of Usher
H. P. Lovecraft: Tales of Terror
by H. P. LovecraftWhen H. P. Lovecraft died in March 1937, he left a legacy of work that has since influenced countless generations of writers and filmmakers and which has seen him hailed as a master of horror and fantasy fiction. With specially commissioned illustrations and an introduction by Dr Keira McKenzie, this collection showcases nine of his most popular stories, including Dagon, The Call of Cthulhu and The Dunwich Horror.
Horror Short Stories
by H. P. LovecraftGhouls, ghosts, and macabre terrors stalk the night in this spine-tingling collection. With tales describing unnatural frights and haunting visions of cosmic terror, you will be taken on a journey into the disturbing imaginations of some of horror's greatest writers. The stories' heroes face incredible creatures, unknowable gods, and supernatural beings who have no regard for human life.Horror literature has its roots in the mists of time. In the 19th century, writers delved into ancient folk tales and local legends to inspire an entire genre. In the 20th century, the next generation of writers brought to life a brand new array of terrifying monsters.The authors in this volume range from Victorian pioneers, such as Bram Stoker and Edgar Allan Poe, to the pulp writers of the 20th century, such as William Hope Hodgson and H. P. Lovecraft. The tradition of horror writing that developed took very different turns on either side of the Atlantic - while American authors turned to unknowable horrors and cosmic terrors, British writers such as E. F. Benson and M. R. James mastered a more familiar form, the classic ghost story.It was not only English-speakers who sought to terrify their readers. The French writer Guy de Maupassant, a prolific short story writer and pupil of the acclaimed novelist Gustave Flaubert, found ways to make his protagonists doubt their own sanity as they faced terrors that would drive any ordinary man mad.This collection of bone-chilling tales comes from the pens of some of horror's most acclaimed writers. Authors include:E. F. BensonAmbrose BierceFrancis Marion CrawfordW. W. JacobsM. R. JamesWilliam Hope HodgsonH. P. LovecraftGuy de MaupassantEdgar Allan PoeBram Stoker
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories (Arcturus Classics)
by Washington IrvingSet in 1790, 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' tells the tale of superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane who seeks the hand of Katrina, but finds he has a rival for her affections in the form of Brom Bones Van Brunt who likes to play tricks on him. Turned down by Katrina, 'heavy-hearted and crestfallen' he rides through the autumn night where he encounters a headless horseman in a classic American ghost story that is often referenced today.It's a companion piece to 'Rip Van Winkle', which you'll also find here among many other great short stories from Washington Irving, who was a good friend of Charles Dickens and perhaps the first America author to earn a living from writing. Interestingly, Irving was the man who first popularized the name 'Gotham' for New York City and he also invented the flying sequence for Santa Claus's sleigh.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.
Supernatural Short Stories
by Bram Stoker Arthur Machen Charlotte Perkins Gilman Guy de Maupassant Ambrose Bierce Edward Frederic Benson Montague Rhodes James Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu Francis Marion Crawford M. P. Shiel Clifford Ball William H. Kingston John William PolidoriLegends of vampires, werewolves, and unruly spirits have been a feature of European folklore for centuries. The authors whose work is collected together in this volume range from early Gothic writers to modern pulp enthusiasts.English writers like John William Polidori (1795-1821), the physician who wrote The Vampyre, and William H. G. Kingston (1814-1880), were pioneers of supernatural fiction, while others chose to master the ghost story. E. F. Benson was a part time archaeologist and M. R. James, a medieval historian at King's College, Cambridge. James would read his ghost stories aloud to his friends and students at Christmas-time. With good reason, he has been described as 'the best ghost-story writer England has ever produced.'Classic literary writers such as Ambrose Bierce and Guy de Maupassant found an outlet for their imagination in their terrifying tales, and later writers like Clifford Ball and M. P. Shiel established supernatural fiction in the pulp magazines of the early 20th century.Together, these stories demonstrate a stunning mastery of atmosphere and show an unmatched ability to terrify readers to this day.This collection features several of the leading purveyors of supernatural horror. Authors include:Clifford BallE. F. BensonAmbrose BierceFrancis Marion CrawfordCharlotte Perkins GilmanM. R. JamesWilliam H. G. KingstonArthur MachenGuy de MaupassantJohn William PolidoriM. P. ShielBram Stoker
Alan Garner Classic Collection (7 Books) - Weirdstone of Brisingamen, The Moon of Gomrath, The Owl Service, Elidor, Red Shift, Lad of the Gad, A Bag of Moonshine)
by Alan GarnerA collection of seven timeless classics from one of the greatest fantasy writers of all time.
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath
by Alan GarnerTwo timeless classics from one of the greatest fantasy writers of all time.
The Scarlet Boy
by Arthur Calder-Marshall'A variation on the theme of The Turn of the Screw in the manner of Graham Greene with an olive from The Cocktail Party and a dash of Dashiell Hammett.' Cyril ConnollyFirst published in 1961, The Scarlet Boy saw the versatile Arthur Calder-Marshall venturing into gothic terrain with a study in the paranormal. Historian George Grantley agrees to find a property for his school-friend Kit Everness, now a successful QC, in Grantley's home town of Wilchester. Grantley's eye falls on a place dear to him in childhood: Anglesey House, where his boyhood companion Charles Scarlet lived with his glamorous mother, Helen. But Charles committed suicide there, and some say the house is haunted. Grantley and Everness are undeterred; however, they will come to find their rational views tested, and the lives of their loved ones endangered.
Cordelia
by Winston GrahamFrom the author of Poldark, the bestselling book and hit television series.Brook Ferguson is compelled into marriage by his domineering father after being widowed in mysterious circumstances . . .His new bride Cordelia is beautiful and strong-willed - but after moving into the Ferguson family household, filled with eccentric family members, she starts to feel locked in a quiet war of dominance with Brook’s father. The stifling atmosphere, petty arguments and rising tensions push Cordelia to make the hardest decision of all, loyalty or love?Set against a backdrop of a Victorian Manchester manor house, Cordelia is a passionate Gothic romance from Winston Graham.
The Silence of Herondale (Murder Room Ser.)
by Joan AikenA child in danger, an isolated house - and a killer on the loose...'Joan Aiken's triumph with this genre is that she does it so much better than others' New York Times Book ReviewSnow-covered fields and moors stretch away on all sides of Herondale House. Despite rumours of an escaped killer on the run, Deborah Lindsay knows that she must control her terror - she has a young charge, 13-year-old prodigy Carreen, to care for.But the isolated Yorkshire farmhouse already holds the terrible secret of one death - and an increasing number of sinister 'accidents' lead Deborah to wonder how long it would be before evil strikes again ...'A splendidly romantic first thriller' Times Literary Supplement
Barbarians of Mars
by Michael MoorcockMichael Moorcock's Eternal Champion returns in the form of Michael Kane, a brilliant Earthman stranded on the treacherous deserts of Ancient Mars! In this sweeping, epic sword-and-planet adventure in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Kane and his blue giant companion Hool Haji must travel to the far reaches of the Red Planet to halt the hideous Green Death, an unstoppable disease that rots the mind as well as the body. From gorgeous Karnala, City of Green Mists, to the empty streets of tainted Cend-Amrid to the forgotten weird-science laboratories of the lost, highly advanced Yaksha culture, Masters of the Pit promises stunning locales, disgusting Martian creatures, and relentless action from the Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winning creator of Elric of Melniboné! Enjoy book three of the Warrior of Mars series in ebook for the first time!
Blades of Mars
by Michael MoorcockThat first visit to Mars had been a mistake. A miraculous journey out through the myriad miles of space and back, back through the millennia to a time before Man existed, it had been the chance result of a small-scale malfunction in an experimental matter transfer machine.But Michael Kane's first great adventure in a world where great mythic armies battled, where hugely bizarre creatures roamed and deeds of high heroism and dark treachery resounded, was but the start. For as he learned to control and use the machinery, he was to return to Mars again and again. The second volume of the Martian adventures of Michael Kane, of the proud Princess Shizala, her warrior brother and the darkly beautiful but evil Horguhl, as book two of the Warrior of Mars series is available in ebook for the first time!
The Sundered Worlds
by Michael MoorcockDorian Hawkmoon... Corum Jhaelen Irsei... Elric of Melniboné. Over the years, Michael Moorcock has captivated readers with his unending versions of the Eternal Champion, the timeless warrior who serves the Cosmic Balance in the ongoing battle that rages between Law and Chaos through the many planes and levels of the multiverse. But what is the multiverse and what are its origins? In this essential novel, Michael Moorcock provides readers these critical answers.World War Three has come and gone, and humankind has survived its brutal past to assume its place among the stars. Yet their existence is endangered nonetheless, as their entire universe is threatening to collapse. All their hopes rest on the shoulders of Count Renark von Bek, a nobleman of extraordinary psychic abilities and carefully guarded secrets.Aided by his companions, von Bek will delve into the Sundered Worlds, a mysterious galaxy outside the space-time continuum that has materialized on the edges of known space. Inside this roving galaxy, they will uncover the secrets of the multiverse and embark upon a last desperate gamble to save humankind.But as they will soon discover, even survival comes laden with danger, as the solutions to their dilemma may also hold the final keys to their destruction
Warriors of Mars
by Michael MoorcockBrilliant physicist and warrior Michael Kane's experiments in matter transmission catapult him across space and time to the verdant and war-torn Mars of the distant past. There he meets the beautiful Princess Shizala and learns the ways of her people, the Kamala, and of their war with the Argzoon. Swept up in their civil war, with Kane win the day, and the heart of the Princess? The creator of Elric of Melniboné, Michael Moorcock remains one of the most honored science fiction and fantasy authors of all time. Moorcock's Eternal Champion makes his debut in book one of the Warrior of Mars series.
The Winds of Limbo
by Michael MoorcockHe was a mysterious cosmic presence who came out of nowhere with the incredible promise to free the dying planet. Earth's future is one of peace. There are no more wars, nuclear weapons are outlawed, and technology is raising mankind to new heights. Many cities are now underground. Alain von Bek is a bastard of distinguished lineage working an unassuming job with city administration in the underground city of Switzerland. But with the appearance of a massive clownish figure calling himself the Fireclown, Alain's life and the course of Earth's future are both about to change. The Fireclown claims to hold the keys to mankind's salvation. He carries an undeniable charisma that is winning him followers, chief among them Helen Curtis, Alain's cousin and former lover, not to mention serious candidate in the next presidential election. But there are also those who mistrust the Fireclown. At the forefront of this opposition is Minister Simon von Bek, Alain's grandfather, and Helen's chief competition in the forthcoming election. Gradually, Alain finds himself sucked into a game of chess between these three polarizing forces, but each new revelation raises new questions, about his past and that of the world's future. He will have to put his trust in someone, and time is running out-for him and the world.
The Shores of Death
by Michael MoorcockWith Earth teetering on the brink of extinction, only one man dares to defy the legacy of the Spaceraiders - Clovis Marca, the twilight man.Long ago Earth, now fixed on her axis, with eternal day on one side, eternal night on the other and a ribbon of twilight in between, was ravaged by galactic raiders. Earthlings recovered, grew stronger. But now, unable to reproduce, the last humans are frenzied with final decadence. And fear.Only Clovis Marca, the last man born on Earth, dares to brave infected space to seek the impossible solution. His dark quest leads him to face Orlando Sharvis, the scientist whose insane experiments on his own mind and body might just save the human race... but would that race then be more, or less, human?
Three Gothic Novels (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Horace Walpole Mary Shelley William Beckford Peter Fairclough Mario PrazThe Gothic novel, which flourished from about 1765 until 1825, revels in the horrible and the supernatural, in suspense and exotic settings.This volume, with its erudite introduction by Mario Praz, presents three of the most celebrated Gothic novels: The Castle of Otranto, published pseudonymously in 1765, is one of the first of the genre and the most truly Gothic of the three. Vathek (1786), an oriental tale by an eccentric millionaire, exotically combines Gothic romanticism with the vivacity of The Arabian Nights and is a narrative tour de force. The story of Frankenstein (1818) and the monster he created is as spine-chilling today as it ever was; as in all Gothic novels, horror is the keynote.
The Courtesy of Death
by Geoffrey HouseholdWhen retired mining engineer Yarrow is disturbed after midnight by Barnabas Fosworth, he assumes that he is just a curious eccentric. But by helping Fosworth in his search for the mysterious girl he seeks, Yarrow soon finds his life inexplicably threatened by a mystical sect who believe that taking life is forgivable, since death is only a transition.Entombed in a cavern in the Mendips, Yarrow discovers the ancient secrets that have their origins in paleolithic paintings; and it is only through this new knowledge that he can hope to escape a very unpleasant death.