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Eleven Great Horror Stories
Short horror stories, including tales by Lovecraft and Poe.
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First published January 1, 1969
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September 12, 2024
For an obscure paperback collection of horror stories that I saved from the town dump, this was actually pretty good, with my favorite being "the Judge's House" by Bram Stoker.
This was also my introduction to H.P. Lovecraft (for his writings, anyway), with the Dunwich Horror. Which, if I'm not mistaken, is the first sort of appearance of Cthulhu, or so I've read.
Also found within is, "the Oblong Box", which I decided to listen to the audiobook of, instead of reading, since Edgar Allen Poe's writing style isn't really for me, despite him having written a handful of great stories.
Jack Finney, who wrote the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers, wrote a short story in this one called "Love Letter." It was pretty good, but not unsettling or anything. It was, in fact, a love story. But it's still one of my favorites from this collection.
The rest are somewhat forgettable, though I don't believe there were any stinkers. One of them reveals the secret reasoning behind Mona Lisa's smile, which was played for laughs, so I don't really know why that was in here, but it was still a fun read.
It's definitely not an essential read, but worth it for the above-mentioned.
Recommended.
This was also my introduction to H.P. Lovecraft (for his writings, anyway), with the Dunwich Horror. Which, if I'm not mistaken, is the first sort of appearance of Cthulhu, or so I've read.
Also found within is, "the Oblong Box", which I decided to listen to the audiobook of, instead of reading, since Edgar Allen Poe's writing style isn't really for me, despite him having written a handful of great stories.
Jack Finney, who wrote the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers, wrote a short story in this one called "Love Letter." It was pretty good, but not unsettling or anything. It was, in fact, a love story. But it's still one of my favorites from this collection.
The rest are somewhat forgettable, though I don't believe there were any stinkers. One of them reveals the secret reasoning behind Mona Lisa's smile, which was played for laughs, so I don't really know why that was in here, but it was still a fun read.
It's definitely not an essential read, but worth it for the above-mentioned.
Recommended.
July 17, 2022
This volume was complied by Owen in 1969 with most of the stories from the 50s and 60s, except for Lovecraft's "Dunwich Horror" and Poe's "Oblong Box." All of the stories are good, with come being more weird than horror, but so be it. Nice collection, but several of the stories exist in other compilations like the two mentioned above. Worth picking up if you can find it, but probably not worth seeking out especially.
February 25, 2018
I picked up II Great Horror Stories because I wanted to re-read Lovecraft's Dunwich Horror, and I didn't want to cause any wear and tear to my more valuable editions.
Also, I'm quite sure that I bought this book when I was about 12 years old, from Scholastic Book Services. I knew that Lovecraft's story was included, but could not remember any of the others.
I remember what a pleasure it was, in grade school, to browse the Scholastic Books catalogs that the teachers distributed to the class. I'd take the catalog home and pick out some books, and return to school with a completed order form and check signed by my Mom. Six or eight weeks later, I big box would arrive at the school and all the kids would receive their orders. I still remember how exciting it was to go home at the end of the day with my pile! I could not wait to browse through each volume and hopefully get lost in one of them.
Anyway: The Dunwich Horror, which is the first offering in this book, is a celebrated classic. It's definitely a good introduction to what has been called the "Cthulhu Mythos." Lovecraft was primarily a descriptive writer who excelled at creating an atmosphere of cosmic dread. His style is slow-paced, and in his best tales the suspense builds gradually and depends on the reader's patience and imagination. Essentially, Lovecraft imagined in the "Mythos" tales a host of powerful, extra-dimensional demi-gods lurking outside our world; these beings are waiting for some human helper, susceptible to their influences, to open a gate which would allow them back into this world, which they once ruled eons ago. Upon their return, all human life will presumably be utterly devastated.
The Dunwich Horror is, for the most part, the biography of Wilbur Whately, who is born in the early 20th century in the back-water town of Dunwich, MA. Wilbur is a semi-human freak who seems ready and able to unlock the gates and let the old Lovecraftian gods back in. His true identity, which is fully revealed at the tale's conclusion, may or may not come as a surprise but certainly explains his motivations. This story gives the reader a good taste of Lovecraft's "Mythos" scheme, and is easily the best tale in the collection. Atypically for Lovecraft, this story ends with humans prevailing (at least for the time being) over the terrifying demi-gods.
"The Love Letter," by Jack Finney, is a ghostly love story, and it is more touching than scary. The narrator, a young man in his early 20's, communicates through letters with a woman long dead. He has purchased an old desk that was once owned by the deceased, and finds secret drawers inside it. One contains a letter she was writing before she died, and the narrator decides to respond to it. Her answer shows up inside one of the secret compartments. There are only three compartments, which limits the correspondence. Finally, the narrator visits his correspondent's grave and finds a surprising memento.
"W.S.," by L.P. Hartley, is a clever tale of an author who is being stalked by an admirer who claims to have read all his books. First, the admirer only sends post cards, but ultimately shows up in person. The identity and motives of the admirer come as a surprise at the shocking conclusion.
"The Oblong Box," by Poe, is almost more of a mystery story than a horror story. The narrator is traveling by ship from S.C. to NYC. On the same boat is an old friend, newly married, who brings along an oblong box which is obviously a coffin. Part of the mystery is how the narrator could have deluded himself otherwise. (He imagines, quite absurdly, that the box contains a painting shaped like The Last Supper!) A hurricane destroys the ship, and the passengers barely escape on lifeboats. An incident during the escape serves to reveal the identity of the corpse.
I am completely puzzled by the inclusion of "The Ape and the Mystery," by Gerald Kersh. This is a humorous tale, which consists of a dialogue between Leonardo da Vinci and a duke, during which the secret of the Mona Lisa's smile is revealed. Perhaps the "horror" of it is that you will never again be able to look upon the Mona Lisa in the same way you did before reading the story.
"The Judge's House," by Bram Stoker, is the story of a college student who is preparing for some kind of high-level mathematics examination. He decides to go to a random small town where he doesn't know anyone, to prevent distractions. He succeeds in renting a house and buckles down to his studies. At first, it's quiet and perfect, but soon he hears the scurrying feet and scratching of a legion of rats behind the walls. The rope of an alarm bell, which is housed in the roof, dangles down into the dining room where the student has set up his studies. A large rat with "baleful" eyes crawls down it and glares at the student. Upon investigation, the student discovers that the big rat lives behind a painting of a now deceased judge who previously owned the house. The judge had a reputation for handing down draconian sentences, and apparently enjoyed watching the hanging of his convicts. Needless to say, this story does not end well for the student.
"The Judge's House" is a story that I have been familiar with for decades. I first encountered it as a comic book adaptation by Reed Crandall (a fabulous artist) and Archie Goodwin (a deft comic book writer). It first appeared in Creepy Magazine # 5 (ca. 1965) and was reprinted later on in an annual edition that I bought when I was about 12 years old. I remember once re-reading that comic book version late at night when I was still a kid, and getting some serious chills. I just pulled out one of my old Creepy mags and read the story again. It's an excellent adaptation of Stoker's original, and the black & white rendering is very atmospheric. Crandall's fine line-work pairs perfectly with this Gothic tale.
The best way to describe John Collier's "Thus I Refute Beelzy" is to say it reads very much like a Gahan Wilson gag cartoon. Short, witty, and gruesome! The only thing I can say without spoiling it is that it's about the power dynamics between adults and children.
"Return of the Griffins" is more of a straight fantasy story than a horror story. It concerns a diplomat from an unnamed European country. While serving as a delegate to the U.N., he awakes in his hotel room to discover a griffin crawling out from under his bed. He begins sighting griffins in random places, and communicates with them. He believes that they have a message that can save humanity, and he is inspired to speak out. At first, he withholds the griffin sightings from others. But eventually he admits to them and implores others to open their eyes. Needless to say, this does not advance his career. Ultimately, he is quarantined and persecuted, but escapes on the back of a griffin. It's unclear whether he's gone mad, or whether the griffins are real or simply a kind of metaphorical device. This is a most unusual story with an unsettling conclusion.
"Flies" concerns a homeless man who breaks into a house (in London, if I recall correctly). He's searching for a soft bed and a nourishing meal. Instead, he finds horror. It seems that once he crosses the threshold, he's been transported back in time to the years of the bubonic plague.
"The Shed" tells the story of some children in early 20th century Michigan who detect a mysterious, shadowy being in an old railway building that has been converted into a gym for their entertainment. This specter eats some pets for lunch and one of the boys for dinner. The children come up with a clever plan to vanquish it, which involves a sick cow. I really enjoyed how the author was able to evoke childhood and innocence in a small town at the turn of the century.
"The Mistake" is quite a clever tale of psychological horror in the mold of Poe. It's difficult to say much about it without spilling the beans, so I won't.
Overall, this is an excellent collection of stories and I recommend it without reservation.
Also, I'm quite sure that I bought this book when I was about 12 years old, from Scholastic Book Services. I knew that Lovecraft's story was included, but could not remember any of the others.
I remember what a pleasure it was, in grade school, to browse the Scholastic Books catalogs that the teachers distributed to the class. I'd take the catalog home and pick out some books, and return to school with a completed order form and check signed by my Mom. Six or eight weeks later, I big box would arrive at the school and all the kids would receive their orders. I still remember how exciting it was to go home at the end of the day with my pile! I could not wait to browse through each volume and hopefully get lost in one of them.
Anyway: The Dunwich Horror, which is the first offering in this book, is a celebrated classic. It's definitely a good introduction to what has been called the "Cthulhu Mythos." Lovecraft was primarily a descriptive writer who excelled at creating an atmosphere of cosmic dread. His style is slow-paced, and in his best tales the suspense builds gradually and depends on the reader's patience and imagination. Essentially, Lovecraft imagined in the "Mythos" tales a host of powerful, extra-dimensional demi-gods lurking outside our world; these beings are waiting for some human helper, susceptible to their influences, to open a gate which would allow them back into this world, which they once ruled eons ago. Upon their return, all human life will presumably be utterly devastated.
The Dunwich Horror is, for the most part, the biography of Wilbur Whately, who is born in the early 20th century in the back-water town of Dunwich, MA. Wilbur is a semi-human freak who seems ready and able to unlock the gates and let the old Lovecraftian gods back in. His true identity, which is fully revealed at the tale's conclusion, may or may not come as a surprise but certainly explains his motivations. This story gives the reader a good taste of Lovecraft's "Mythos" scheme, and is easily the best tale in the collection. Atypically for Lovecraft, this story ends with humans prevailing (at least for the time being) over the terrifying demi-gods.
"The Love Letter," by Jack Finney, is a ghostly love story, and it is more touching than scary. The narrator, a young man in his early 20's, communicates through letters with a woman long dead. He has purchased an old desk that was once owned by the deceased, and finds secret drawers inside it. One contains a letter she was writing before she died, and the narrator decides to respond to it. Her answer shows up inside one of the secret compartments. There are only three compartments, which limits the correspondence. Finally, the narrator visits his correspondent's grave and finds a surprising memento.
"W.S.," by L.P. Hartley, is a clever tale of an author who is being stalked by an admirer who claims to have read all his books. First, the admirer only sends post cards, but ultimately shows up in person. The identity and motives of the admirer come as a surprise at the shocking conclusion.
"The Oblong Box," by Poe, is almost more of a mystery story than a horror story. The narrator is traveling by ship from S.C. to NYC. On the same boat is an old friend, newly married, who brings along an oblong box which is obviously a coffin. Part of the mystery is how the narrator could have deluded himself otherwise. (He imagines, quite absurdly, that the box contains a painting shaped like The Last Supper!) A hurricane destroys the ship, and the passengers barely escape on lifeboats. An incident during the escape serves to reveal the identity of the corpse.
I am completely puzzled by the inclusion of "The Ape and the Mystery," by Gerald Kersh. This is a humorous tale, which consists of a dialogue between Leonardo da Vinci and a duke, during which the secret of the Mona Lisa's smile is revealed. Perhaps the "horror" of it is that you will never again be able to look upon the Mona Lisa in the same way you did before reading the story.
"The Judge's House," by Bram Stoker, is the story of a college student who is preparing for some kind of high-level mathematics examination. He decides to go to a random small town where he doesn't know anyone, to prevent distractions. He succeeds in renting a house and buckles down to his studies. At first, it's quiet and perfect, but soon he hears the scurrying feet and scratching of a legion of rats behind the walls. The rope of an alarm bell, which is housed in the roof, dangles down into the dining room where the student has set up his studies. A large rat with "baleful" eyes crawls down it and glares at the student. Upon investigation, the student discovers that the big rat lives behind a painting of a now deceased judge who previously owned the house. The judge had a reputation for handing down draconian sentences, and apparently enjoyed watching the hanging of his convicts. Needless to say, this story does not end well for the student.
"The Judge's House" is a story that I have been familiar with for decades. I first encountered it as a comic book adaptation by Reed Crandall (a fabulous artist) and Archie Goodwin (a deft comic book writer). It first appeared in Creepy Magazine # 5 (ca. 1965) and was reprinted later on in an annual edition that I bought when I was about 12 years old. I remember once re-reading that comic book version late at night when I was still a kid, and getting some serious chills. I just pulled out one of my old Creepy mags and read the story again. It's an excellent adaptation of Stoker's original, and the black & white rendering is very atmospheric. Crandall's fine line-work pairs perfectly with this Gothic tale.
The best way to describe John Collier's "Thus I Refute Beelzy" is to say it reads very much like a Gahan Wilson gag cartoon. Short, witty, and gruesome! The only thing I can say without spoiling it is that it's about the power dynamics between adults and children.
"Return of the Griffins" is more of a straight fantasy story than a horror story. It concerns a diplomat from an unnamed European country. While serving as a delegate to the U.N., he awakes in his hotel room to discover a griffin crawling out from under his bed. He begins sighting griffins in random places, and communicates with them. He believes that they have a message that can save humanity, and he is inspired to speak out. At first, he withholds the griffin sightings from others. But eventually he admits to them and implores others to open their eyes. Needless to say, this does not advance his career. Ultimately, he is quarantined and persecuted, but escapes on the back of a griffin. It's unclear whether he's gone mad, or whether the griffins are real or simply a kind of metaphorical device. This is a most unusual story with an unsettling conclusion.
"Flies" concerns a homeless man who breaks into a house (in London, if I recall correctly). He's searching for a soft bed and a nourishing meal. Instead, he finds horror. It seems that once he crosses the threshold, he's been transported back in time to the years of the bubonic plague.
"The Shed" tells the story of some children in early 20th century Michigan who detect a mysterious, shadowy being in an old railway building that has been converted into a gym for their entertainment. This specter eats some pets for lunch and one of the boys for dinner. The children come up with a clever plan to vanquish it, which involves a sick cow. I really enjoyed how the author was able to evoke childhood and innocence in a small town at the turn of the century.
"The Mistake" is quite a clever tale of psychological horror in the mold of Poe. It's difficult to say much about it without spilling the beans, so I won't.
Overall, this is an excellent collection of stories and I recommend it without reservation.
June 8, 2013
This book is an anthology of eleven strange and horrific short stories that was compiled by Betty M. Owen in 1969. These are short stories written by such well-known authors as H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe and Bram Stoker, as well as eight stories written by several lesser-known authors. All the stories were written in the late 19th or early 20th centuries - from classic to more contemporary horror.
In my opinion, each story was certainly very good reading, however none of them actually scared me enough to give me nightmares. I think that I may want to read some more anthologies in the future, and I give this particular book an A! I'm definitely glad that I read it, but I can send this book away to another good home should anyone else want it.
In my opinion, each story was certainly very good reading, however none of them actually scared me enough to give me nightmares. I think that I may want to read some more anthologies in the future, and I give this particular book an A! I'm definitely glad that I read it, but I can send this book away to another good home should anyone else want it.
July 4, 2009
I don't know much about Betty Owen, who edited this collection and another that I have, but man she could pick some weird (read good) stories. I liked this collection a lot too. It's got some classic Lovecraft and Poe, and even an unusual piece from Bram SToker. My favorite might have been "thus I refute Beelzy" by John Collier, but also very good is "Flies" by Anthony Vercoe.
Betty Owen, if you're out there, I like your sense of taste.
Betty Owen, if you're out there, I like your sense of taste.
November 19, 2010
The book that inspired a 13-year-old to write horror fiction. Thank you, Scholastic Books, for launching my writing career! See my blog, "When I Decided to Write Horror," at http://weldonburge.com/blog.htm?post=...
February 12, 2025
I bought this one for the cover, which I remembered from our classroom library in fifth or sixth grade. That was a long time ago (like, in the early 1980s), so obviously the cover made an impression; the artist isn't credited, but it's quite well done.
As for the contents, I am reminded of the old saw about the Holy Roman Empire being neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire. There are indeed eleven stories here, but not all of them are great (indeed, several are not even mediocre), and not all of them are horror stories, either. My reviews:
"The Dunwich Horror" by H.P. Lovecraft. 2/5 stars. This was probably where I first came across Lovecraft. As an adolescent I read everything by him that I could lay my hands on. These days, there are only a couple of his stories that I still enjoy (At the Mountains of Madness and "Pickman's Model"). Most of his stuff I find insufferable, and "Dunwich" falls into that category.
"The Love Letter" by Jack Finney. 3/5 stars. Finney seems to have been fascinated by time travel, and this early work by him prefigures his novels Time and Again and From Time to Time. And this isn't really a horror story.
"W.S." by L.P. Hartley 2/5 stars. Another in a long line of stories about writers whose fictional characters come to life. Nothing special about this one.
"The Oblong Box" by Edgar Allan Poe 2/5 stars. A classic, but not one of my favorite Poe stories.
"The Ape and the Mystery" by Gerald Kersh. 1/5 stars. I had heard great things about Kersh (Harlan Ellison was a fan), but this was disappointing. Also not a horror story.
"The Judge's House" by Bram Stoker. 4/5 stars. Nothing about this standard-issue ghost story seemed especially promising, but somehow Stoker's mannerist style has a pleasing effect on the reader. One of the better stories here, and one which has been anthologized frequently.
"Thus I Refute Beelzy" by John Collier. 1/5 stars. Another highly-touted author (by Fritz Leiber, no less) who disappointed with this trifling tale.
"Return of the Griffins" by A. E. Sandeling. 4/5 stars. I was tempted to give this one a fifth star, but I'll refrain until I re-read it. The copyright is to Sandeling's agent, but a search of the author's name didn't turn up any other publications. Which is odd, because this one is quite polished, seemingly the product of a professional. I also think it is the best story in this collection. Depending on your reading, this could be a tale of magical realism, or it could be a story about a man hallucinating as he loses his mind.
"Flies" by Anthony Vercoe. 1/5 stars. A time-slip story which did nothing for me.
"The Shed" by E. Everett Evans. 4/5 stars. I gave this one a fourth star for two reasons: 1) although originally published in 1952, it depicts an earlier era (the early aughts, I think) in which fire engines were horse-drawn, etc., and I enjoyed the period detail; 2)
"The Mistake" by Fielden Hughes. 1/5. Perhaps an unintentionally cogent title.
As for the contents, I am reminded of the old saw about the Holy Roman Empire being neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire. There are indeed eleven stories here, but not all of them are great (indeed, several are not even mediocre), and not all of them are horror stories, either. My reviews:
"The Dunwich Horror" by H.P. Lovecraft. 2/5 stars. This was probably where I first came across Lovecraft. As an adolescent I read everything by him that I could lay my hands on. These days, there are only a couple of his stories that I still enjoy (At the Mountains of Madness and "Pickman's Model"). Most of his stuff I find insufferable, and "Dunwich" falls into that category.
"The Love Letter" by Jack Finney. 3/5 stars. Finney seems to have been fascinated by time travel, and this early work by him prefigures his novels Time and Again and From Time to Time. And this isn't really a horror story.
"W.S." by L.P. Hartley 2/5 stars. Another in a long line of stories about writers whose fictional characters come to life. Nothing special about this one.
"The Oblong Box" by Edgar Allan Poe 2/5 stars. A classic, but not one of my favorite Poe stories.
"The Ape and the Mystery" by Gerald Kersh. 1/5 stars. I had heard great things about Kersh (Harlan Ellison was a fan), but this was disappointing. Also not a horror story.
"The Judge's House" by Bram Stoker. 4/5 stars. Nothing about this standard-issue ghost story seemed especially promising, but somehow Stoker's mannerist style has a pleasing effect on the reader. One of the better stories here, and one which has been anthologized frequently.
"Thus I Refute Beelzy" by John Collier. 1/5 stars. Another highly-touted author (by Fritz Leiber, no less) who disappointed with this trifling tale.
"Return of the Griffins" by A. E. Sandeling. 4/5 stars. I was tempted to give this one a fifth star, but I'll refrain until I re-read it. The copyright is to Sandeling's agent, but a search of the author's name didn't turn up any other publications. Which is odd, because this one is quite polished, seemingly the product of a professional. I also think it is the best story in this collection. Depending on your reading, this could be a tale of magical realism, or it could be a story about a man hallucinating as he loses his mind.
"Flies" by Anthony Vercoe. 1/5 stars. A time-slip story which did nothing for me.
"The Shed" by E. Everett Evans. 4/5 stars. I gave this one a fourth star for two reasons: 1) although originally published in 1952, it depicts an earlier era (the early aughts, I think) in which fire engines were horse-drawn, etc., and I enjoyed the period detail; 2)
"The Mistake" by Fielden Hughes. 1/5. Perhaps an unintentionally cogent title.
December 18, 2024
I am a confirmed Haunter of the Dark, especially the gloomier corners of secondhand bookshops, in which emporia I like to pore the mossy grimoires that are anthologies of science fiction, horror and ghost stories. I tend to pick these up when I am too busy elsewhere to invest time and energy in something more substantial, and when I do, I am enchanted, once again, by the charm of a well-turned short story. The stand-out story in this example is The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft, that master of cosmic schlock, whose fiction is, it has to be said, so bad that it's good. As Brian Aldiss and David Wingrove wrote about Lovecraft in Trillion Year Spree, their history of SF, his work succeeds as psychological case history even if it fails as literature. Long after reading, and even when one has forgotten all the details, Lovecraft's fiction leaves a kind of ectoplasmic stain on the mind. None of the other stories tend to stay as much in the memory as this, not even Poe's The Oblong Box, and I'd say that most of the stories might be classified more as fantasy, even whimsy, than the kind of horror that gives one the heebie jeebies as one lies awake too afraid to see what's making those strange snuffling sounds under the bed...
June 7, 2019
A collection of classic horror tales which range from the romantic to the terrifying. I’d read one or two before, but all are worth a second go round.
June 15, 2023
Only a few of these stories are what I would consider "horror" and fewer still would I call "great".
May 4, 2024
Mostly trash.
October 5, 2011
This is an old collection of short horror stories published in 1974 that I must have picked up when I was about ten years old. Most of them are set in the late 19th century or early 20th century. And there are some big names among the contributing authors. The only reason it gets 3 stars is that most of the stories are rather dated. Here's a quick rating for each of them (and comments if they're particularly good ;-)
* "The Dunwich Horror" - H.P. Lovecraft - 4/5 - Get through the thick prose, and something really horrible is going on in Dunwich...
* "The Love Letter" - Jack Finney - 3/5
* "W.S." - L.P. Hartley - 3/5 - I've no doubt Stephen King took inspiration from this one.
* "The Oblong Box" - Edgar Allan Poe - 4/5 - Second best one here. Most of the plot is easily forseen, but the last sentence is a killer.
* "The Ape and the Mystery" - Gerald Kersh - 3/5 - Why does the Mona Lisa have that smile?
* "The Judge's House" - Bram Stoker - 5/5 - Subtle, sensible, sneaking, until the monster jumps out in front of you! Then brutal, in Stoker's laid back Victorian prose.
* "Thus I Refute Beelzy" - John Collier - 2/5
* "The Return of the Griffins" - A.E. Sanderling - 3/5
* "Flies" - Anthony Vercoe - 3/5
* "The Shed" - E. Everett Evans - 4/5 - Kids always understand these things better than their parents do.
* The Mistake - Fielden Hughes - 2/5
* "The Dunwich Horror" - H.P. Lovecraft - 4/5 - Get through the thick prose, and something really horrible is going on in Dunwich...
* "The Love Letter" - Jack Finney - 3/5
* "W.S." - L.P. Hartley - 3/5 - I've no doubt Stephen King took inspiration from this one.
* "The Oblong Box" - Edgar Allan Poe - 4/5 - Second best one here. Most of the plot is easily forseen, but the last sentence is a killer.
* "The Ape and the Mystery" - Gerald Kersh - 3/5 - Why does the Mona Lisa have that smile?
* "The Judge's House" - Bram Stoker - 5/5 - Subtle, sensible, sneaking, until the monster jumps out in front of you! Then brutal, in Stoker's laid back Victorian prose.
* "Thus I Refute Beelzy" - John Collier - 2/5
* "The Return of the Griffins" - A.E. Sanderling - 3/5
* "Flies" - Anthony Vercoe - 3/5
* "The Shed" - E. Everett Evans - 4/5 - Kids always understand these things better than their parents do.
* The Mistake - Fielden Hughes - 2/5
December 11, 2012
Thank goodness there were at least one or two good stories in this book, to save the entire collection from being boring and not in the least horrifying.
The two redeeming tales, in my opinion, were "The Love Letter" by Jack Finney, which was not in the least a horror tale, but instead a rather sad love story, since the couple never actually meet. But it was a good tale and it did pull at my heartstrings.
And "The Judge's House" by Bram Stoker. The one and only tale, in the book, IMHO, that was remotely a horror tale. A creepy house no one else will have anything to do with. Creepy rats that overrun the place, and threaten anyone daring to move in. This was a bit chilling. Probably because no one likes rats, so it's easy to think of them in a menacing and dangerous way.
Otherwise, the book was a waste of my time, but live and learn. It could be that I'm very hard to please too. After all, I don't find most of Stephen King's works all that scary either.
The two redeeming tales, in my opinion, were "The Love Letter" by Jack Finney, which was not in the least a horror tale, but instead a rather sad love story, since the couple never actually meet. But it was a good tale and it did pull at my heartstrings.
And "The Judge's House" by Bram Stoker. The one and only tale, in the book, IMHO, that was remotely a horror tale. A creepy house no one else will have anything to do with. Creepy rats that overrun the place, and threaten anyone daring to move in. This was a bit chilling. Probably because no one likes rats, so it's easy to think of them in a menacing and dangerous way.
Otherwise, the book was a waste of my time, but live and learn. It could be that I'm very hard to please too. After all, I don't find most of Stephen King's works all that scary either.
August 11, 2016
I bought this book at a Friends of the Library sale in the early 90's for 25 cents. I'd say I got my moneys worth out of this book. I was surprised how much I liked Bram Stoker's story. I was also surprised how little I cared for H.P. Lovecraft's story. It drug on and on. I probably won't read any more of his stories. There were a few others that surprised me how well I liked them after all the years. Some stories stand the test of time better than others. Most of these stories did just fine in this book. Only one story was a complete waste of time in MHO. I haven't mentioned it here.
March 13, 2013
Only a few were actually horror stories and at least one had no supernatural element at all. Collection is on the Scholastic imprint, not exactly known for rigorous editorial standards. I think Scholastic publishes for the grade school market (those book club lists your teacher would hand out in class that you could shop from) and it's hard to imagine this title would be allowed in schools today!
May 4, 2011
A collection of classic and contemporary horror short stories.
Read
March 24, 2015this book was amazing. it got my attention right away and it kept it all the way through.
September 14, 2015
11 OK Horror Stories
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