The 23rd Pan Book of Horror Stories

by Herbert van Thal (Editor), Angus Gellatly, Paul Theroux

Visions of unspeakable vileness...

'Gwyneth placed the point of the pin on the iris of the left eye and pushed, sinking it in until the pinhead was flush with the surface of the eyeball.' - The Sleeping Prince, Angus Gellatly.

'Across her face, from left to right, was a pink and white zipper that sealed off her mouth as tightly as a locked suitcase...' - Dr Dichter and the Terminal Cosmetic, Jane Louie.

'She plunged white, bloodstained hands into the yawning cavity of his chest. A wild screech of delight tore itself from her throat as she grasped his heart...' - Rightfully Mine, Norman P. Kaufman.

...to stain the world with the sanguine tints of terror.

Genres: Horror

158 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Herbert Maurice van Thal (1904-1983), known as Bertie van Thal, was a British bookseller, publisher, agent, biographer, and anthologist.

Reviews

[Max Rudd · Rating 3 out of 5]

An improvement on the last selection, especially with the inclusion from Ruth Rendall. Low points for me were 'The Sleeping Prince' and 'Rightfully Mine.' the latter in particular felt very rushed and underdeveloped. Best of the bunch? 'Daughter of the House' and 'Kowlongo Plaything.' Also worthy of note are 'Foster Parents' and 'A Backwards Shadow.'

[Hugo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gellatly and Theroux start this selection off strongly, but too soon unpleasantness and poor punchline stories overtake (even if Temperley's notorious Kowlongo Plaything has to be read to be believed).

[! · Rating 5 out of 5]

It contains Kowlongo Plaything, that makes it pretty much essential...