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The Autopsy and Other Tales
Michael Shea has demonstrated an unnerving facility for the macabre, the cerebral, and the whimsical, and he possesses the deceptively effortless ability to conjure scenes of horror and dread leavened by sly humor. Over 590 pages long, this collection features all of Shea’s best award-winning horror, fantasy, science fiction, and Cthulhu Mythos tales, with two complete novels and several stories that have never been collected. Laird Barron’s insightful introduction provides a unique look at this remarkable, visionary storyteller. Combined with the illustrations of John Stewart, as well as several color photographs and devices, this marks the most important collection yet from an undisputed master of the short story.
590 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2008
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897 people want to read
About the author
Michael Shea
73 books199 followersFor the British author of thrillers and non-fiction see Michael Shea
Michael Shea (1946-2014) was an American fantasy, horror, and science fiction author who lived in California. He was a multiple winner of the World Fantasy Award and his works include Nifft the Lean (1982) (winner of the World Fantasy Award) and The Mines of Behemoth (1997) (later republished together as The Incomplete Nifft, 2000), as well as The ARak (2000) and In Yana, the Touch of Undying (1985).
Michael Shea (1946-2014) was an American fantasy, horror, and science fiction author who lived in California. He was a multiple winner of the World Fantasy Award and his works include Nifft the Lean (1982) (winner of the World Fantasy Award) and The Mines of Behemoth (1997) (later republished together as The Incomplete Nifft, 2000), as well as The ARak (2000) and In Yana, the Touch of Undying (1985).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 4, 2016
A masterful collection, wonderfully presented with gorgeous full colour artwork. A cherished item. Contains the greatest horror short story (title story) I've ever read. Shea will be greatly missed.
November 12, 2008
A very thorough collection of the majority of Shea's shorter works - it includes a previous collection, POLYPHEMUS as well as newer stories and two short novels, THE COLOR OUT OF TIME, and I, SAID THE FLY. The version I read were galleys which didn't include the short novels.
Shea is known for dark fantasy (NIFFT THE LEAN, IN YANA) and this collection highlights mainly the other area that Shea is known for - mashups of science-fiction and horror, sometimes with a droll dark humor.
Shea is known for dark fantasy (NIFFT THE LEAN, IN YANA) and this collection highlights mainly the other area that Shea is known for - mashups of science-fiction and horror, sometimes with a droll dark humor.
May 2, 2019
I only read "The Autopsy" (nominated for the Nebula, Hugo and Locus Awards in 1980) and it was a let down for me. It's boring , superficial, verbose, and not scary at all. Even though it's a short novella, I couldn't bring myself to finish it.
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January 28, 2023Disturbing……
August 26, 2016
Talk about screwed up! What an interesting first assigned read for the school year.
August 20, 2023
I only read the short story "The Autopsy".
I read this short story because I saw the TV adaptation by Guillermo Del Toro's show "Cabinet of Curiosities." This is my first time willingly venturing into horror literature. Having watched the episode helped me understand the short story better.
Though, the most difficult part of this short story was the flowery writing. I found myself needing to constantly reference my dictionary. This isn't a particularly bad aspect of the story, but rather a disruptive one on my part.
On top of that, the last third of the short story, one particular character talks too much. There was so much conversation, that the plot seemed second to his monologue.
What I did enjoy was the ways in which zombies, aliens, parasites, demons, predators and cannibals were explored. These tropes were explored all within fifty pages and I found that to be quite amusing.
I'd recommend this short story to anyone that first watched "Cabinet of Curiosities." Beyond that, I think it is a particularly niched short story that not many folks would enjoy reading.
I read this short story because I saw the TV adaptation by Guillermo Del Toro's show "Cabinet of Curiosities." This is my first time willingly venturing into horror literature. Having watched the episode helped me understand the short story better.
Though, the most difficult part of this short story was the flowery writing. I found myself needing to constantly reference my dictionary. This isn't a particularly bad aspect of the story, but rather a disruptive one on my part.
On top of that, the last third of the short story, one particular character talks too much. There was so much conversation, that the plot seemed second to his monologue.
What I did enjoy was the ways in which zombies, aliens, parasites, demons, predators and cannibals were explored. These tropes were explored all within fifty pages and I found that to be quite amusing.
I'd recommend this short story to anyone that first watched "Cabinet of Curiosities." Beyond that, I think it is a particularly niched short story that not many folks would enjoy reading.
February 25, 2025
Don't start with the story The Autopsy, it will force an unfair comparison and the rest of the collection will seem to disappoint.
The Autopsy gets a re-read from me about every 6 months. It is a phenomenal story, so succinct and well structured. Go into it blind. Don't read any spoilers. That is a perfect reading experience. The intrigue builds simultaneously while you learn about the narrator, the suspense and dread will follow toward a perfect inevitable climax. It doesn't need a sequel or a prequel or any connected works. There are so few perfect stories. Save this one for last.
The Autopsy gets a re-read from me about every 6 months. It is a phenomenal story, so succinct and well structured. Go into it blind. Don't read any spoilers. That is a perfect reading experience. The intrigue builds simultaneously while you learn about the narrator, the suspense and dread will follow toward a perfect inevitable climax. It doesn't need a sequel or a prequel or any connected works. There are so few perfect stories. Save this one for last.
September 27, 2023
Gracias a él gabinete de curiosidades por presentarme tan bella historia como lo es la autopsia. Sin duda Michael Shea me sorprendió con el giro que da al final.
August 16, 2019
I only read "The Autopsy" as it was recommended by a coworker. I enjoy sci-fi horror, but this story failed to captivate me in the way it had for my coworker. Still, it was an enjoyable enough to finish. Personally I would not recommend.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews