The Nightmare, and Other Tales of Dark Fantasy
The Nightmare, and Other Tales of Dark Fantasy

Author: Francis Stevens

Publisher: U of Nebraska Press

Published: 2004-01-01

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 0803292988

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Slithering from these pages are never-before-collected tales of suspense and wonder by the woman who invented modern-day dark fantasy: A man goes quietly to bed aboard the doomed Lusitania and awakens on a magical South Pacific Island just as the passenger liner is torpedoed. In a future where women rule the world, a sentient island becomes murderously jealous of a shipwrecked couple. Dire consequences await a human swept into the dark, magical world of elves. A deadly labyrinth coils around the dark heart of a picturesque landscape garden. Within an Egyptian sarcophagus lies the horrifying price of infidelity. Swirling unseen around us are loathsome creatures giving form to our basest desires and fears. A beautiful, veiled medium may hold the key to preventing unspeakable evil from slipping through the borderlands between life and death. On a lost island a woman pipe player and her monstrous dancing partner bring death and terror to five adventurers. ø The stories in this collection have played an integral role in the development of modern dark fantasy, greatly influencing such writers as H. P. Lovecraft and A. Merritt.

The Immortal Throne
The Immortal Throne

Author: Stella Gemmell

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2016-12-06

Total Pages: 562

ISBN-13: 1101606525

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No one is safe, and no one is to be trusted as the bloody war that began in Stella Gemmell’s The City continues... The dreaded emperor is dead. The successor to the throne is his nemesis, Archange. Many hope her reign will usher in a new era of freedom and stability. Soon however, word arises of a massive army gathering in the shadows of the north. They are eager to lay waste to the City and annihilate anyone—man, woman, or child—within it. Yet just as the swords clang in fields wet with the blood of warriors, family feuds, ancient rivalries, and political battles rage on within the cold stone walls of the City. A hero must rise up and restore the peace before anything left to fight for is consumed by the madness.

The Citadel of Fear (Sci-Fi Classic)
The Citadel of Fear (Sci-Fi Classic)

Author: Francis Stevens

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-12-02

Total Pages: 275

ISBN-13:

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The Citadel of Fear, an anthology showcasing the work of Gertrude Barrows Bennett, who wrote under the pseudonym Francis Stevens, is a cornerstone in the foundation of science fiction literature. Within its pages, readers will discover an array of speculative narratives that transcend time and space, weaving together elements of fantasy, horror, and early science fiction. The collection encapsulates the diverse and groundbreaking storytelling techniques of its era, offering a splendid display of Stevens' pioneering imagination and mastery over the speculative. Its standout pieces not only explore the unknown but also delve into the complexities of human emotion and the interplay between fear and curiosity, making it a significant contribution to the genre's evolution. The authors behind these narratives, particularly Stevens, are considered trailblazers in science fiction. Bennett, an unsung heroine of her time, effectively laid the groundwork for future generations of writers within these genres. Through her unique lens, readers are offered a glimpse into the early 20th century's burgeoning fascination with the speculative and the fantastic. The anthology aligns with pivotal moments in literary history, where the boundaries of reality are pushed, and new worlds are conceived, cementing its place within the pantheon of science fiction classics. This collection is recommended for those intrigued by the roots of science fiction and the remarkable breadth of themes it encompasses. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the visionary work of Gertrude Barrows Bennett, whose contributions have significantly shaped the landscape of speculative fiction. The Citadel of Fear serves not only as a portal to imaginative realms but also as a critical resource for understanding the evolution of science fiction. Readers, scholars, and enthusiasts alike will find value in this anthology, for it fosters a greater appreciation of the genre's complexities and the diverse perspectives that have contributed to its enduring legacy.

Dark Duets
Dark Duets

Author: Charlaine Harris

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2014-01-07

Total Pages: 549

ISBN-13: 0062240293

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A feast of seventeen original eerie and mesmerizing horror, thriller, and dark fantasy tales from acclaimed writers collaborating for the first time. Charlaine Harris and Rachel Caine enter a shadowy world of demons and angels in “Dark Witness” while Sarah Rees Brennan, Cassandra Clare, and Holly Black look at three weird sisters who face challenges beyond magic in “Sisters Before Misters.” Sarah MacLean and Carrie Ryan explore the exquisite agony of eternal love in “She, Doomed Girl,” and “Welded” by Tom Piccirilli and T. M. Wright offers an unsettling vision of an evil that infects and destroys lives. Mixing the ordinary—parents, teenagers, lovers—with the extraordinary—angels, demons, serial killers—these captivating and vivid tales delve deep into the shadowy, unexplored realms of the imagination . . . Charlaine Harris & Rachel Caine Sarah Rees Brennan & Cassandra Claire & Holly Beck Stuart MacBride & Allan Guthrie Sherrilyn Kenyon & Kevin J. Anderson Chelsea Cain & Lidia Yuknavitch Gregory Frost & Jonathan Maberry Michael Kortya & Jeffrey David Greene Sarah MacLean & Carrie Ryan Robert Jackson Bennet & David Liss Amber Benson & Jeffrey J. Mariotte Tim Lebbon & Michael Marshall Smith Nate Kenyon & James A. Moore Holly Newstein & Rick Hautala Mark Morris & Rio Youers Tom Piccirilli & T. M. Wright Rhodi Hawk & F. Paul Wilson Kasey Lansdale & Joe R. Lansdale

Dead Silence
Dead Silence

Author: S.A. Barnes

Publisher: Tor Nightfire

Published: 2022-02-08

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 1250778557

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A Best Book of 2022 by the New York Public Library • One of the Best SFF Books of 2022 (Gizmodo) • One of the Best SF Mysteries of 2022 (CrimeReads) • A GoodReads Choice Award finalist for Best Science Fiction! Titanic meets Event Horizon in this SF horror novel in which a woman and her crew board a decades-lost luxury cruiser and find the wreckage of a nightmare that hasn't yet ended. Claire Kovalik is days away from being unemployed—made obsolete—when her beacon repair crew picks up a strange distress signal. With nothing to lose and no desire to return to Earth, Claire and her team decide to investigate. What they find is shocking: the Aurora, a famous luxury spaceliner that vanished on its maiden tour of the solar system more than twenty years ago. A salvage claim like this could set Claire and her crew up for life. But a quick search of the ship reveals something isn’t right. Whispers in the dark. Flickers of movement. Messages scrawled in blood. Claire must fight to hold on to her sanity and find out what really happened on the Aurora before she and her crew meet the same ghastly fate. "Truly un-put-downable in its purest sense.” Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

We Are Where The Nightmares Go and Other Stories
We Are Where The Nightmares Go and Other Stories

Author: C. Robert Cargill

Publisher: Hachette UK

Published: 2018-06-21

Total Pages: 236

ISBN-13: 1473212847

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From the critically acclaimed screenwriter of Doctor Strange and author of Sea of Rust and Queen of the Dark Things comes a hair-raising collection of short fiction that illuminates the strange, humorous, fantastical and downright diabolical that tantalise and terrorise us: demons, monsters, zombie dinosaurs and Death itself. In the novella 'The Soul Thief's Son' C. Robert Cargill returns to the terrain of the Queen of the Dark Things to continue the story of Colby Stevens . . . A Triceratops and an Ankylosaurus join forces to survive a zombie apocalypse that may spell extinction for their kind in 'Hell Creek' . . . In a grand old building atop a crack in the world, an Iraq War veteran must serve a one-year term as a punisher of the damned, condemned to consume the sins of others in the hope that one day he may find peace in 'In a Clean, White Room' (co-authored with Scott Derrickson). . . In 'The Town That Wasn't Anymore', the village of Pine Hill Bluff loses its inhabitants one at a time as the angry dead return when night falls to steal the souls of the living . . . And in the title story, 'We Are Where the Nightmares Go', a little girl crawls through a glowing door beneath her bed and finds herself trapped in a nightmarish wonderland - a crucible of the fragments of children's bad dreams. These tales and four more are assembled here as testament to Cargill's mastery of the phantasmagoric, making We Are Where the Nightmares Go and Other Stories a collection of unnerving horror and fantasy will keep you up all night and haunt your waking dreams.

Horror Literature through History [2 volumes]
Horror Literature through History [2 volumes]

Author: Matt Cardin

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2017-09-21

Total Pages: 1065

ISBN-13: 1440842027

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This two-volume set offers comprehensive coverage of horror literature that spans its deep history, dominant themes, significant works, and major authors, such as Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, and Anne Rice, as well as lesser-known horror writers. Many of today's horror story fans—who appreciate horror through movies, television, video games, graphic novels, and other forms—probably don't realize that horror literature is not only one of the most popular types of literature but one of the oldest. People have always been mesmerized by stories that speak to their deepest fears. Horror Literature through History shows 21st-century horror fans the literary sources of their favorite entertainment and the rich intrinsic value of horror literature in its own right. Through profiles of major authors, critical analyses of important works, and overview essays focused on horror during particular periods as well as on related issues such as religion, apocalypticism, social criticism, and gender, readers will discover the fascinating early roots and evolution of horror writings as well as the reciprocal influence of horror literature and horror cinema. This unique two-volume reference set provides wide coverage that is current and compelling to modern readers—who are of course also eager consumers of entertainment. In the first section, overview essays on horror during different historical periods situate works of horror literature within the social, cultural, historical, and intellectual currents of their respective eras, creating a seamless narrative of the genre's evolution from ancient times to the present. The second section demonstrates how otherwise unrelated works of horror have influenced each other, how horror subgenres have evolved, and how a broad range of topics within horror—such as ghosts, vampires, religion, and gender roles—have been handled across time. The set also provides alphabetically arranged reference entries on authors, works, and specialized topics that enable readers to zero in on information and concepts presented in the other sections.

Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy
Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy

Author: Douglas A. Anderson

Publisher: Del Rey

Published: 2003-08-26

Total Pages: 504

ISBN-13: 034546981X

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Terry Brooks. David Eddings. George R. R. Martin. Robin Hobb. The top names in modern fantasy all acknowledge J. R. R. Tolkien as their role model, the author whose work inspired them to create their own epics. But what writers influenced Tolkien himself? Here, internationally recognized Tolkien expert Douglas A. Anderson has gathered the fiction of authors who sparked Tolkien’s imagination in a collection destined to become a classic in its own right. Andrew Lang’s romantic swashbuckler, “The Story of Sigurd,” features magic rings, an enchanted sword, and a brave hero loved by two beautiful women— and cursed by a ferocious dragon. Tolkien read E. A. Wyke-Smith’s “The Marvelous Land of Snergs” to his children, delighting in these charming tales of a pixieish people “only slightly taller than the average table.” Also appearing in this collection is a never-before-published gem by David Lindsay, author of Voyage to Arcturus, a novel which Tolkien praised highly both as a thriller and as a work of philosophy, religion, and morals. In stories packed with magical journeys, conflicted heroes, and terrible beasts, this extraordinary volume is one that no fan of fantasy or Tolkien should be without. These tales just might inspire a new generation of creative writers. Tales Before Tolkien: 22 Magical Stories “The Elves” by Ludwig Tieck “The Golden Key” by George Macdonald “Puss-Cat Mew” by E. H. Knatchbull-Hugessen “The Griffin and the Minor Canon” by Frank R. Stockton “The Demon Pope” by Richard Garnett “The Story of Sigurd” by Andrew Lang “The Folk of the Mountain Door” by William Morris “Black Heart and White Heart” by H. Rider Haggard “The Dragon Tamers” by E. Nesbit “The Far Islands” by John Buchan “The Drawn Arrow” by Clemence Housman “The Enchanted Buffalo” by L. Frank Baum “Chu-bu and Sheemish” by Lord Dunsany “The Baumhoff Explosive” by William Hope Hodgson “The Regent of the North” by Kenneth Morris “The Coming of the Terror” by Arthur Machen “The Elf Trap” by Francis Stevens “The Thin Queen of Elfhame” by James Branch Cabell “The Woman of the Wood” by A. Merritt “Golithos the Ogre” by E. A. Wyke-Smith “The Story of Alwina” by Austin Tappan Wright “A Christmas Play” by David Lindsay

The Doll-Master
The Doll-Master

Author: Joyce Carol Oates

Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

Published: 2016-05-03

Total Pages: 294

ISBN-13: 0802189938

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This Bram Stoker Award–winning collection is “certain to stick in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Includes “Big Momma,” a finalist for the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Short Story Here are six of Joyce Carol Oates’s most “frightening—and deeply disturbing—short stories” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). In the titular story, a boy becomes obsessed with his cousin’s doll after her tragic death. As he grows older, he begins to collect “found dolls” from surrounding neighborhoods . . . each with its own sinister significance. In “Gun Accident,” a teenage girl is delighted to house-sit for her favorite teacher, until an intruder forces his way inside—changing more than one life forever. The collection closes with the taut tale of a mystery bookstore owner whose designs on a rare bookshop in scenic New Hampshire devolve into a menacing game with real-life consequences. “At the heart of each story is a predator-prey relationship, and what makes them so terrifying is that most of us can easily picture ourselves as the prey, at least at some time during our lives” (Minneapolis Star-Tribune). “Everything she writes, in whatever genre, has an air of dread, because she deals in vulnerabilities and inevitabilities, in the desperate needs that drive people . . . to their fates. A sense of helplessness is the essence of horror, and Oates conveys that feeling as well as any writer around.” —Terrence Rafferty, The New York Times Book Review “One of the stranger parts of the human condition may be our deep fascination, and at times troubling exploration, of the darker aspects of our nature . . . No other author explores the ugly, and at times, blazingly unapologetic underbelly of these impulses quite like Joyce Carol Oates in The Doll-Master.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “In her new collection . . . [Oates] relishes moments of gothic melodrama, while rooting them firmly in grindingly ordinary American lives.” —The Guardian “Oates convincingly demonstrates her mastery of the macabre with this superlative story collection . . . This devil’s half-dozen of dread and suspense is a must read.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Muse of Nightmares
Muse of Nightmares

Author: Laini Taylor

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Published: 2018-10-02

Total Pages: 463

ISBN-13: 0316341703

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The highly anticipated, thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer, from National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy. Sarai has lived and breathed nightmares since she was six years old. She believed she knew every horror, and was beyond surprise. She was wrong. In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep. Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice--save the woman he loves, or everyone else?--while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of. As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead? Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer./DIV