Some Things Strange and Sinister

by Joan Kahn (Editor)

Fourteen stories by Agatha Christie,John Collier,Algernon Blackwood,Wilkie Collins,Neil Bell,Bram Stoker and others


ix • Introduction (Some Things Strange and Sinister) • (1973) • essay by Joan Kahn
13 • The Lamp • (1924) • short story by Agatha Christie
23 • Nerves • (1926) • short story by Guy de Maupassant (trans. of Le tic 1884)
29 • Thus I Refute Beelzy • (1940) • short story by John Collier
36 • Keeping His Promise • (1906) • short story by Algernon Blackwood
53 • The House • (1931) • short fiction by André Maurois (trans. of La maison)
56 • The Call of the Hand • (1924) • short story by Louis Golding
72 • The Dream Woman • (1920) • novelette by Wilkie Collins (variant of The Dream-Woman 1874) [as by W. Wilkie Collins]
100 • The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham • (1896) • short story by H. G. Wells
119 • The Strange Occurrences Connected with Captain John Russell • (1973) • short story by Neil Bell
137 • The Book • (1930) • short story by Margaret Irwin
156 • Dracula's Guest • [Dracula] • (1914) • short story by Bram Stoker
171 • The Cocoon • (1946) • short story by John B. L. Goodwin
191 • The Empty Schoolroom • (1950) • short story by Pamela Hansford Johnson
209 • The Ghost of Washington • (1904) • short story by uncredited [as by Anonymous]

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction

223 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 1973

Reviews

[Shawn]

PLACEHOLDER REVIEW

Margaret Irwin's "The Book" is one of those sparkling, inventive little pieces of fiction that just suck you in and carry you along until the end. A middle class businessman is looking for something to read one night when he comes across a volume on his bookshelf, inherited from a dead relative, written in Latin. And mere exposure to this diabolical tome begins the slow corruption of his soul... What's really nice about this piece is that's it's specifically about an aspect of "satanic evil" that rarely gets attention - the idea of HOW evil worms it's way into one's thoughts and worldview (our main character goes from reading popular authors with an eye towards sourly uncovering their misanthropy, to taking underhanded financial advantage of his customers, to thinking poorly of his wife and children, to poisoning the family dog... etc.). Just a really solid yarn.

"The House" (aka "La Maison") by André Maurois (aka Emile Herzog) is a short, pithy tale of a woman who dreams repeatedly of a dstinctive house in the countryside, until one day she stumble across it and finds it is for rent...and why... Familiar, but effective at the length.

[Doodles McC]

Loved this collection of 14 horror and twisted stories as a young teen, including stories by Agatha Christie, John Collier, Algernon Blackwood, Wilkie Collins, Neil Bell and Bram Stoker. Published 1973
Contents
ix • Introduction (Some Things Strange and Sinister) • (1973) • essay by Joan Kahn
13 • The Lamp • (1924) • short story by Agatha Christie
23 • Nerves • (1926) • short story by Guy de Maupassant (trans. of Le tic 1884)
29 • Thus I Refute Beelzy • (1940) • short story by John Collier
36 • Keeping His Promise • (1906) • short story by Algernon Blackwood
53 • The House • (1931) • short fiction by André Maurois (trans. of La maison)
56 • The Call of the Hand • (1924) • short story by Louis Golding
72 • The Dream Woman • (1920) • novelette by Wilkie Collins (variant of The Dream-Woman 1874) [as by W. Wilkie Collins]
100 • The Story of the Late Mr. Elvesham • (1896) • short story by H. G. Wells
119 • The Strange Occurrences Connected with Captain John Russell • (1973) • short story by Neil Bell
137 • The Book • (1930) • short story by Margaret Irwin
156 • Dracula's Guest • [Dracula] • (1914) • short story by Bram Stoker
191 • The Empty Schoolroom • (1950) • short story by Pamela Hansford Johnson
209 • The Ghost of Washington • (1904) • short story by uncredited [as by Anonymous]

[B.]

The older stories are truly the best in terms of classic suspense and horror, and this collection really proves it. It was so refreshing to dive into the older tales again and reinforce the reasons why I have such high standards for this genre. An absolutely wonderfully put together compilation.

[Candy]

This is a collectiom of short stories. They are from authors like Bram Stoker, Agatha Christie and others. As in all collections like this some are better than others. They are older stories but still entertaining.