In the Grip of Terror

by Groff Conklin (Editor), E.F. Benson, H.L. Gold

22 short stories, with the focus being on terror and human cruelty rather than the supernatural.

The last kiss / by Maurice Level --
The illustrated man / by Ray Bradbury --
The upturned face / by Stephen Crane --
The incredible elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey / by Dorothy Sayers --
The horror horn / by E.F. Benson --
Night drive / by Will F. Jenkins --
In the vault / by H.P. Lovecraft --
The diary of a madman / by Guy de Maupassant --
The tool / by William Fryer Harvey --
Bianca's hands / by Theodore Sturgeon --
The cross of Carl / by Walter Owen --
Hathor's pets / by Margaret S. Clair --
A terribly strange bed / by Wilkie Collins --
The well / by W.W. Jacobs --
Revenge / by Samuel Blas --
The pit and the pendulum / by Edgar Allan Poe --
Macklin's little friend / by Howard Wandrei --
The Easter egg / by H.H. Munro (Saki) --
Problem in murder / by H.L. Gold --
The moth / by H.G. Wells --
A resumed identity / by Ambrose Bierce --
Bubbles / by Wilbur Daniel Steele.

Genres: Horror, Anthologies, Short Stories

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Edward Groff Conklin (September 6, 1904, Glen Ridge, New Jersey - July 19, 1968, Pawling, New York) was a leading science fiction anthologist. Conklin edited 41 anthologies of science fiction, wrote books on home improvement and was a freelance writer on scientific subjects. From 1950 to 1955, he was the book critic for Galaxy Science Fiction.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology of excellent classic horror stories; Conklin very ably demonstrated that his knowledge of genre short fiction extended beyond the science fiction field. It includes stories by classic figures of literature such as Guy de Maupassant, Stephen Crane, Dorothy Sayers, W.W. Jacobs, H.H. Munro (Saki), H.G. Wells, Wilkie Collins, and Ambrose Bierce. Mixed in with those are stories by early genre favorites such as H.P. Lovecraft and Will F. Jenkins, and then it's rounded out with stories by more contemporary names (remember the book appeared in 1951) like H.L. Gold, Margaret St. Clair, Theodore Sturgeon, and Ray Bradbury. It's a real stand-out, and one of Conklin's best efforts.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduction • essay by Groff Conklin ✔
The Last Kiss • (1912) • Maurice Level 4⭐

The Illustrated Man • (1950) • Ray Bradbury 5⭐
This short story version tells the story of an overweight carnival worker that is given a second chance as a Tattooed Man and visits a strange old woman who applies skin illustrations over his entire body. She covers two special areas, claiming they will show the future. The first is an illustration of the man strangling his wife. Shortly after this comes to pass, the carnival workers run the man down, beat him, and look at the second area. It shows an illustration of the beating in which they are engaged.

The Upturned Face • (1900) • Stephen Crane 3.5⭐
The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey • (1933) • Dorothy L. Sayers 5⭐
The Horror-Horn • (1922) • E. F. Benson 5⭐
Night Drive • (1950) • Murray Leinster [as by Will F. Jenkins] 4⭐
In the Vault • (1925) • H. P. Lovecraft 4⭐
The Diary of a Madman • (1903) • Guy de Maupassant (trans. of Un fou 1885) 5⭐
The Tool • (1928) • William Fryer Harvey 4⭐
Bianca's Hands • (1947) • Theodore Sturgeon 3.25⭐
The Cross of Carl • (1931) • Walter Owen 3⭐
Hathor's Pets • (1950) • Margaret St. Clair 2.5⭐
A Terribly Strange Bed • (1852) • Wilkie Collins 3.5⭐
The Well • (1902) • W. W. Jacobs 5⭐
Revenge • (1947) • Samuel Blas 4⭐
The Pit and the Pendulum • (1842) • Edgar Allan Poe 5⭐
Macklin's Little Friend • (1936) • Howard Wandrei 2.75⭐
The Easter Egg • (1930) • Saki 4⭐
Problem in Murder • (1939) • H. L. Gold 3⭐
The Moth • (1895) • H. G. Wells 4⭐
A Resumed Identity • (1908) • Ambrose Bierce 5⭐
Bubbles • (1926) • Wilbur Daniel Steele 3.5⭐