Twenty Years of Hugh Lamb Anthologies 1972-1992: Index by Author

An index to Hugh Lamb’s British anthologies, from 1972’s A Tide Of Terror through to 1992 and the Constable ‘best of’ that shares it’s name with the earlier (and better) Terror By Gaslight. I’ve omitted the single author collections and – controversially! – the Barry Pain-Robert Barr-Jerome K. Jerome shared-anthology, Stories In The Dark. That’s about it. You never know, it might come in useful.

From the dust-jacket of A Wave Of Fear: Photo: Bob Marchant

Twenty Years of Hugh Lamb Anthologies 1972-1992: Index by Author

Robert Aickman – The Fetch (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)
______________ Laura (Cold Fear, 1981)
Ken Alden – Justice Tresilian In The Tower (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)
______________ The Papal Magician (Cold Fear, 1981)
Grant Allen – The Beckoning Hand (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
______________ Pallinghurst Barrow (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ Wolverden Tower (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
Raymund Allen – The Black Knight (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Anon – The Dead Man Of Varley Grange (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
______________ The Golden Bracelet (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ The Mountain Of Spirits (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ The Weird Woman (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
Edwin Lester Arnold – A Dreadful Night (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)

J. G. Ballard – Now Wakes The Sea (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
J. K. Bangs – Ghosts That Have Haunted Me (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Mrs G. Linnaeus Banks – The Pride Of The Corbyns (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
S. Baring-Gould – A Dead Man’s Teeth (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
______________ Mustapha (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Nugent Barker – One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
Robert Barr – An Alpine Divorce (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
______________ The Hour And The Man (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ Purification (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
______________ The Vengeance Of The Dead (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
J. A. Barry – A Derelict (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________ The Red Warder Of The Reef (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
T. O. Beachcroft – The Eyes (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
A. C. Benson – Basil Netherby (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________The Closed Window (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
______________ Out Of The Sea (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ The Slype House (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ The Snake, The Leper And The Grey Frost (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ The Uttermost Farthing (The Taste Of Fear, 1976) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
E. F. Benson – The Case Of Frank Hampden (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ The Chippendale Mirror (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
______________ The Step (A Tide Of Terror, 1972) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
______________ The Thing In The Hall (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
______________ Wishing Well (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
R. H. Benson – Father Bianchi’s Story (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ Father Brent’s Tale (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
______________ The Traveller (A Wave Of Fear, 1973) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
______________ The Watcher (Return From The Grave, 1976)
J. D. Beresford – The Late Occupier (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
Eddy C. Bertin – Composed Of Cobwebs (Return From The Grave, 1976)
Ambrose Bierce – A Bottomless Grave (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
______________ The Death Of Halpin Frayser (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________ My Favourite Murder (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
______________ One Summer Night (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
______________ A Resumed Identity (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ Some Haunted Houses (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
______________The Way Of Ghosts (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
Charles Birkin – Dinner In A Private Room (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ The Happy Dancers (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ Marjorie’s On Starlight (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ Some New Pleasures Prove (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
______________ Waiting For Trains (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
John Blackburn – Aunty Green (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ Dad (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ Drink To Me Only (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
______________ The Field Of Blood (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________- The Final Trick (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
Algernon Blackwood – Full Circle (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
Oswell Blakeston – The Fear From The Lake (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
______________ Snow Time (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ The Ultimate Thrill (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
Robert Bloch – Edifice Complex (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________ Untouchable (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
Guy Boothby – The Black Lady Of Brin-Tor (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
______________ Remorseless Vengeance (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ A Strange Goldfield (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Marjorie Bowen – Twilight (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
Elizabeth Braddon – The Mystery At Fernwood (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
Joseph Payne Brennan – On The Elevator (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
D. K. Broster – Clairvoyance (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
Rhoda Broughton – The Man with the Nose (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
______________ Nothing But The Truth (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
Valerie Bryusov – In The Mirror (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
Thomas Burke – Johnson Looked Back (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
Joy Burnett – “Calling Miss Marker” (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ Lot 87 (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
______________ Marlston Water (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________ Phantom Silhouette (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)

Ramsey Campbell – After The Queen (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ Ash (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
______________ Baby (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________ In The Bag (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ In The Shadows (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ Run Through (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
Bernard Capes – The Accursed Cordonnier (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________ The Black Reaper (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________ Dark Dignum (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
______________ An Eddy On The Floor (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ The Green Bottle (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ The Moon-Stricken (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
______________ The Vanishing House (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Robert W. Chambers – In The Court Of the Dragon (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________ The Messenger (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ The Third Eye (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
______________ Un Peu D’Amour (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Georgina C. Clark – A Life-watch (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Adrian Cole – The Demon In The Stone (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ Midnight Hag (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)
W. Bourne Cooke – The Woman With A Candle (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Frederick Cowles – The Cavader Of Bishop Louis (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
______________ Death In The Well (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ Eyes For The Blind (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ The Horror Of Abbot’s Grange (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ The House In The Forest (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ Punch And Judy (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
______________ Terrible Mrs. Green (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ Three Shall Meet (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
John Keir Cross – Hands (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)

W. Carlton Dawe – Coolies (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
August Derleth – The Coffin Of Lissa (Return From The Grave, 1976)
Charles Dickens – The Black Veil (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
______________ The Drunkard’s Death (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
Ken Dickson – The Snorkel, The Starfish And The Salt, Salt Sea (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)
Lady Dilke – The Black Veil (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ The Serpent’s Head (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________ The Shrine Of Death (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
Dick Donovan – The Cave Of Blood (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
______________ The Corpse Light (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
______________The Doomed Man (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
______________ The Mystic Spell (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________ A Night Of Horror (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Lot No. 249 (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
Charles Duff – The Haunted Bungalow (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
______________ Murderers Corner (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
Alexandre Dumas – Marceau’s Prisoner (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)

A. Erskine Ellis – Compartment 1313A (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________The Life-Buoy (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
Erckmann-Chatrian – The Crab Spider (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
______________ The Invisible Eye (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
______________ The Man-Wolf (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ The Murderer’s Violin (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
______________ The Three Souls (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)

Elizabeth Fancett – Baby Hate (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)
______________ A Strange And Awful Coincidence (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)
George Mandeville Fenn – Haunted by Spirits (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Les Freeman – Late (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
______________ Mind (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)

John Gawsworth – How It Happened (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
W. L. George – Waxworks (Return From The Grave, 1976)
Dorothea Gerard – My Nightmare (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Wirt Gerrare – The Dark Shadow (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
______________ Mysterious Maisie (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
Perceval Gibbon – The King Of The Baboons (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
R. Murray Gilchrist – The Basilisk (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
______________ Dame Inowslad (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ Roxana Runs Lunatick (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ The Return (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
______________ Witch-In-Grain (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)

H. Rider Haggard – Only A Dream (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
Robert Haining – An Emissary For The Devil (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ Montage Of Death (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ Sylow Springs (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)
______________ This House Is Evil (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
______________ The Wall (Return From The Grave, 1976)
Joel Chandler Harris – The Late Mr. Watkins Of Georgia (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
L. P. Hartley – Podolo (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
Lafcadio Hearn – Nightmare-Touch (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
______________ The Reconciliation (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
C. D. Heriot – The Trapdoor (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
E. and H. Heron – The Story of Baelbrow (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
William Hope Hodgson – From The Tideless Sea (The Taste Of Fear, 1976) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
______________ The Mystery Of The Derelict (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
______________ A Tropical Horror (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
______________ The Weed Men (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)

Eleanor Inglefield – The Music In The House (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ The Singing Stream (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)

Sir T. G. Jackson – The Lady Of Rosemount (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
M. R. James – The Experiment (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
______________ Twelve Medieval Ghost Stories (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
Jerome K. Jerome – The Haunted Mill (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________ The Woman Of The Saeter (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)

Rudyard Kipling – A Matter of Fact (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)

Perceval Landon – Mrs. Rivers’s Journal (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Andrew Lang – The House Of Strange Stories (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
Margery Lawrence – The Dogs Of Pemba (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
Warden Ledge – The Legion Of Evil (Return From The Grave, 1976)
J. S. Le Fanu – Madam Crowl’s Ghost (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
Maurice Level – Blue Eyes (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ In The Light Of The Red Lamp (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
______________ The Kennel (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ The Test (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
S. Levett-Yates – The Devil’s Manuscript (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
L. A . Lewis – The Child (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ The Meerschaum Pipe (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ The Tower Of Moab (Return From The Grave, 1976)
Jonas Lie – The Earth Draws (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
Lewis Lister – The Terror By Night (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Brian Lumley – In The Glow Zone (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ The Man Who Photographed Beardsley (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________ Snarker’s Son (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)

Charles J. Mansford – Maw-Sayah (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
H. B. Marriott-Watson – The Devil of the Marsh (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Richard Marsh – The Haunted Chair (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
______________ The Houseboat (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ The Mask (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
______________ A Psychological Experiment (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
Guy De Maupassant – The Mother Of Monsters (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
______________ The Tomb (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
T. H. McCormick – Morton (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)
L. T. Meade & Robert Eustace – The Mystery Of The Felwyn Tunnel (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Vivian Meik – A Honeymoon In Hate (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
Richard Middleton – The Wrong Turning (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
Bertram Mitford – The Sign Of The Spider (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
Mrs. Molesworth – Old Gervais (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
______________ The Shadow In The Moonlight (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
Frank Frankfort Moore – The Strange Story Of Northavon Priory (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Bassett Morgan – Laocoon (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
W. C. Morrow – His Unconquerable Enemy (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
______________ The Permanent Stiletto (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
A. N. L. Munby – A Christmas Game (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
______________ The Tregannet Book Of Hours (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
______________ The Tudor Chimney (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
The Countess Of Munster – The Page Boy’s Ghost (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________ The Tyburn Ghost (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
Kathleen Murray – All The Amenities (Cold Fear, 1981)
Philip Murray – The Charnel House (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ The Trunk (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)

Hume Nisbet – The Haunted Station (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ The Phantom Model (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
Frank Norris – The Ship That Saw a Ghost (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Amyas Northcote – The Downs (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ The Late Mrs. Fowke (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)

Fitz-James O’Brien – The Wondersmith (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
Charles Ollier – The Haunted House Of Paddington (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)

Barry Pain – Smeath (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
______________ The Undying Thing (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
C. D. Pamely – The Crimson Plague (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________The Murder Of The Hunchbacked Boy (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
Roger Parkes – Interim Report (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
J. H. Pearce – An Unexpected Journey (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
______________The Man Who Coined his Blood Into Gold (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
Howard Pease – The Warlock Of Glororum (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
Alice Perrin – The Sistrum (Return From The Grave, 1976)
Marion Pitman – “Lullaby For A Baby Horror-story Writer” (verse)[/color] (Cold Fear, 1981)
Edgar Allan Poe – Some Words With A Mummy (Return From The Grave, 1976)
Arthur Porges – In The Tomb (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ The Man Who Wouldn’t Eat (Cold Fear, 1981)
K. & H. Pritchard – The Fever Queen (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)

Alice Rea – The Beckside Boggle (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
Mrs. J. H. Riddell – The Last Of Squire Ennismore (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974) & (Terror by Gaslight: An Anthology of Rare Tales of Terror **, 1992)
______________ Nut Bush Farm (Tales from a Gaslit Graveyard, 1979)
______________ The Old House In Vauxhall Walk (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
Morgan Robertson – The Battle of the Monsters (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Sax Rohmer – The Master Of Hollow Grange (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
L. T. C. Rolt – Hawley Bank Foundry (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ The House Of Vengeance (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
______________ The Shouting (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)

Eleanor Scott – At Simmel Acres Farm (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ Celui-La (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ The Cure (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
______________ Randall’s Round (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ The Twelve Apostles (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
John C. Shannon – The Spirit Of The Fjord (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
M. P. Shiel – Huguenin’s Wife (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ Xelucha (Victorian Tales of Terror, 1974)
G. R. Sims – A Tragic Honeymoon (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Michael Sims – Benjamin’s Shadow (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
J. Keightley Snowdon – A Ghost Slayer (Victorian Nightmares, 1980)
Dermot Chesson Spence – The House On The Rynek (Forgotten Tales Of Terror , 1978)
Harriet Beecher Stowe – The Ghost In The Mill (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)
E. R. Suffling – The Phantom Riders (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
David Sutton – The Fetch (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
______________ A Little Bit Of Egypt (Cold Fear, 1981)

W. F. W. Tatham – Manfred’s Three Wishes (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
Rosemary Timperley – The Darkhouse Keeper (Cold Fear, 1981)
______________ The Other Woman (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ Some Travellers Return … (New Tales Of Terror, 1981)

R. E. Vernede – The Finless Death (The Man-Wolf And Other Horrors, 1978)
E. H. Visiak – Medusan Madness (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ The Queen Of Beauty (The Taste Of Fear, 1976)
______________ The Skeleton At The Feast (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)

H. R. Wakefield – Blind Man’s Buff (A Wave Of Fear, 1973)
______________ Ingredient X (Return From The Grave, 1976)
______________ Into Outer Darkness (Star Book Of Horror #2, 1976)
______________ Mr. Ash’s Studio (The Thrill Of Horror, 1978)
______________ The Red Lodge (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
Hugh Walpole – Mrs Lunt (A Tide Of Terror, 1972)
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward – Kentucky’s Ghost (Terror by Gaslight, 1975)
Edward Lucas White – The Pig-Skin Belt (Gaslit Nightmares 2, 1991)
Don C. Wiley – The Head Of Wu Fang (Star Book Of Horror #1, 1975)
Mary E. Wilkins-Freeman – Luella Miller (Gaslit Nightmares, 1988)

see also Hugh Lamb: bibliography in progress thread on the Vault forum:

Charles Black – The 2nd Black Book Of Horror

more good news!

Charles Black (ed.) – The 2nd Black Book Of Horror (Mortbury Press, Feb. 2008)

Cover: Paul Mudie

Gary McMahon – Black Glass
David A. Sutton – Amygdala
David A. Riley – Now and Forever More
Steve Goodwin – The Cold Harvest
Craig Herbertson – On the Couch
Mike Chinn – All Under Hatches Stow’d
Daniel McGachey – The Crimson Picture
D. F. Lewis – Squabble
Eddy C. Bertin – The Eye in the Mirror
Julia Lufford – The Meal
John L. Probert – In Sickness And …
L. H. Maynard & M. P. N. Sims – Onion
Rog Pile – The Pit

ISBN 978-0955606113

200 Pages

£7 + £1-50 P&P in the UK

order from Mortbury Press

AVAILABLE NOW!

Several Vault readers nominated Charles’ debut anthology as their most treasured book of 2007 and here’s a second volume. I don’t have a copy yet, but just look at that wonderful line-up! It is to be hoped that a third Book Of Horror will be published toward the end of this year.

It is to be hoped that a review will appear here soon, but don’t let that put you off your enjoyment. For now, I know how much work Mr. Black and his contributors have put into this, and my sincere respect and congratulations to them all.

Richard Davis – Orbit Book Horror Stories

Richard Davis (ed.) – The First Orbit Book Of Horror Stories Ed. (Orbit, 1976) *

Richard Davis – Introduction

Harlan Ellison – The Whimper Of Whipped Dogs
J. Ramsey Campbell – The Man in The Underpass
T. E. D. Klein – S.F.
Clive Sinclair – Uncle Vlad
Brian M. Stableford – Judas Story
Brian Lumley – The House Of Cthulhu
Allan Weiss – Satanesque
Steve Chapman – Burger Creature
Tim Stout – Wake Up Dead
Bernard Taylor – Forget-Me-Not
Gregory Fitz Gerald – Halloween Story
Charles E. Fritch – Big, Wide, Wonderful World
Eddy C. Bertin – The Taste Of Your Love

* Published in the USA as The Years Best Horror Stories Series III

I’d imagine this one was considered cutting edge when first published and 30 years haven’t diminished the power of these stories. More-so than David Sutton, Davis introduces SF into the mix, not my thing but there are enough out-and-out horrors to keep the likes of me happy.

Taylor’s history of Dr. Crippen’s wallpaper and the prog rock nightmare, “Judas Story”, have been commented upon elsewhere. Ellison’s opener is horror with a social conscience, the authors angry response to the big city, broad daylight murder of Kitty Genovese while people stood around and watched. Campbell locates a demon in a subway, and has a child narrate the nasty things that ensue. Ellison aside (nothing is scarier than reality), Weiss’s black magic outing, “Satanesque”, is maybe the most frightening and gory of the bunch – a statue comes to violent life and it’s none too choosy about who it kills …

Bernard Taylor – Forget-Me-Not: New Yorker Sandra, 26, arrives in London on a one year teacher exchange programme. On the tube she meets a helpful young man who, by way of chit-chat indicates the former 10 Rillington Place, once home to mass-murderer Reginald Christie. Before long Sandra is obsessing over the killer, reading all she can find about him and even hanging his photo on the wall of her new flat. When she learns that his house is due for demolition, Sandra pays it a final visit and peels a small strip of wallpaper from above the fireplace as a souvenir which she later pastes next to his image. Gradually it spreads across the flat, draining her of all vitality as it does so. Maybe as innovative a variation on the hoary vampire theme as I’ve read.

Tim Stout – Wake Up Dead: Camber Fell Prison for the Criminally Insane. Dr. Kellin invites select colleagues along to witness the unveiling of his new invention, a machine that transmits dreams as though they were regular TV shows. His volunteer is mass-murderer John Vanner who has always maintained that he committed his crimes while asleep. Vanner endured the most traumatic childhood – his father killed his mother and then came looking for him – and has been a martyr to his nightmares ever since. Should be fun getting to see what so terrorises him then …

Eddy C. Bertin – The Taste Of Your Love: Riccione, near Rimini. A serial-killer with a long history of torture-murders behind him picks up his latest intended victim at a disco and takes her back to his lodgings for a night of passion. But the girl with ‘the finely drawn features and dark lonely eyes’ is every bit his match. Soon she has him pinned to the bed in a grip of steel. And then she flicks her hair aside to show him the left side of her face, deformed by what looks like something one of Marilyn Manson’s cheerleaders would paint on her cheek ….

Steve Chapman – Burger Creature: Trudy and Maureen find him lurking around the burger joint where they work as waitresses. He’s an animated mass of hamburger, fries, onion and ketchup with pickles for eyes. Otherwise he looks like a regular guy. Trudy, the looker of the pair, falls for him – she’s suddenly very keen for Maureen to knock off early – and keeps him hidden away in the freezer. Everything’s going nicely until their appalling manager discovers the Happy meal on legs and tries to kill him …

Clive Sinclair – Uncle Vlad: Wait a minute. The Clive Sinclair? Anyhow … A descendant of the infamous impaler – with all the family niceties off pat – initiates the far-from-unwilling Madelaine into the clan.

Charles E. Fritch – Big, Wide Wonderful World: Following the nuclear holocaust, everybody is on state prescribed hallucinogenic drugs to keep them from seeing just how ugly their world really is. Thrill-seekers Chuck, Bill and Len get their kicks from sharing a “nightmare” – deliberately not taking their fix at the appointed time and resisting from doing so for as long as they can endure it. Within a few minutes they’ve all gone to pieces and there’s even a fatality. The publication details given for this story are Magazine of Fantasy & SF, 1968, but it was written at least ten years earlier and appears in the Charles Beaumont edited The Fiend In You (Ballantine, 1962).