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This ghastly anthology, compiled by the horror genre's most acclaimed editor, drags you into the twisted minds of modern literary masters, including Neil Gaiman, Joyce Carol Oates, Connie Willis, and Peter Straub, at their fiendish best. Visionary storytellers fill this collection of twenty-four tales, lyrical and strange, monstrous and exhilarating, horrific and transformative. Here you'll find a sweetly vengeful voice on the radio who calls a young soldier out to join a phantom patrol; a hotel maid who throws her newborn child from a fourth-story window, then lingering in an interminable state; an intern in a paranormal research facility who delves deeply into the unexplained deaths of two staff members; and a serial killer who plans his ultimate artistic achievement: the unveiling of an extremely special instrument in a very private concert. At once familiar and shocking, these riveting stories will haunt you long after you put down your book and turn out the light.
- Sales Rank: #832122 in eBooks
- Published on: 2013-03-12
- Released on: 2013-03-12
- Format: Kindle eBook
Review
“This anthology of 24 previously published dark fantasy and horror stories, edited by the ever-adept Datlow (Blood and Other Cravings), explores a variety of situations in which people encounter literal or figurative specters from beyond. Some feature the ghosts of lovers or spouses wronged, while others give readers a powerful lens through which to view the evil people can do here on Earth, as in the gut-wrenching ‘Cargo’ by E. Michael Lewis. The theme is interpreted quite loosely and in varied ways, although many of the stories—such as the atmospheric opener, Pat Cadigan’s ‘Eenie, Meenie, Ipsateenie,’ and Adam L. G. Nevill’s tense ‘Where Angels Come In’—hinge on anxieties relating to children in peril. Even so, the collection flows smoothly, capturing the pleasantly shivery dread of a round of ghost stories told by a fire, with only a few hiccups or sour notes (the most sour being Richard Bowes’s deeply unpleasant “Transfigured Night”). Solid entries by Neil Gaiman, Caitlín R. Kiernan, and Joyce Carol Oates capture the mood perfectly and will thrill fans of the eerie.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[Hauntings is] apt to entertain and disquiet the horror fans.”
—SF Site, featured review
“Datlow once again proves herself as a master editor. Her mission to broaden readers’ concepts of what a haunting can be is nothing short of a success, and the twenty-four stories on display run the gamut from explicitly terrifying to eerily familiar. Readers who wish to be haunted themselves should not miss this one. Highly recommended.”
—Arkham Diges
“That delicious sense of tantalization, of maybe and what if, impelled me through page after page, encountering intriguing characters, spine-shivering settings, and bits and pieces (sometimes literally...of corpses)....”
—Hellnotes
“A book that must surely be an early contender for any and every Best Anthology award going this year.”
—Black Static
“Award-winning horror editor Ellen Datlow offers readers a skillfully crafted, captivating collection with Hauntings, an anthology of twenty-four reprinted ghostly tales from the last 25 years of horror literature.”
—Rue Morgue
“Twenty four tales in all spanning the years 1983 through 2012, Ms Datlow has assembled a formidable community of eminent genre artists working at the very heights of their literary powers to create this outstanding dark fantasy anthology. This is the best of the best--don’t miss it!”
—The Tomb of Dark Delights
“I have a short list of editors that I will buy an anthology of, regardless of whether or not I have even heard of the writers it contains, and Ellen Datlow is at the top of that list. She has this crazy knack of consistently putting together stellar anthologies and Hauntings is no different.”
—Horror Talk
“This collection is formidable...”
—True Review
Praise for Ellen Datlow
“The field’s leading anthologist.”
—Washington Post on The Best Horror of The Year, Volume 6
On Lovecraft's Monsters
“Ellen Datlow's second editorial outing into the realm of Lovecraft proves even more fruitful than the first. Focusing on Lovecraftian monsters, Datlow offers readers sixteen stories and two poems of a variety that should please any fans of the genre.”
—The Arkham Digest
“There’s no need to have previously read Lovecraft’s work to enjoy Lovecraft’s Monsters, but the collection will surely leave you with the desire to acquaint or reacquaint you with HPL canon.”
—Rue Morgue
“...amazing and creative tales each with a striking illustration by John Coulthart…I fully recommend adding this nice anthology for all fans of Lovecraft.”
—Dark Corner
“The result is a delightful array of little pieces that range in mood and subject. Unholy sacrifice, forbidden love, a private dick on the trail of a murderer—there’s something there for everyone.”
—The Jaded Consumer
“Editor Ellen Datlow has put together an anthology that will rock your liquid fantasies. Tachyon Publications has produced an excellent themed anthology. Lovecraft enthusiasts will plunge into the volume and be happily immersed in the content.”
—Diabolique Magazine
“Where else, in one anthology, can a reader jump from roman noir werewolves to steampunk tanks in the Amazon to tales of forbidden love on the Innsmouth shore to Pinkerton agents in the Wild West?... Fortunately, we have Ellen Datlow to lead the way.”
—Hellnotes
“Each story is a dark wonder and the volume itself is absolutely gorgeous, sumptuously illustrated throughout with steampunky-baroque original art by World Fantasy Award-winning artist John Coulthart. Lovecraft’s Monsters is a must-have for every fan of dark speculative fiction, so click on the cover graphic and grab it!”
—The Tomb of Dark Delights
“[A] delightful array of little pieces that range in mood and subject.... Unholy sacrifice, forbidden love, a private dick on the trail of a murderer—there's something there for everyone.”
—The Jaded Consumer
"So I am telling you now, in the name of Yog-Sothoth, get this book, and prepare to lose some sleep."
—The Bookend Family
“Lovecraft's Monsters, edited by Ellen Datlow and published by Tachyon Publications, is a reprint anthology of some carefully chosen and mighty fine Lovecraftian short stories, novellas and poems.... All in all it is a terrific selection of works, and one that any fan of Lovecratian works should add to their collection.”
—Fear.net
“...an entirely enjoyable read... for Mythos devotees I would highly recommend picking it up”
—Seattle Geekly
“There’s a lot to love in Lovecraft’s Monsters, an anthology which is both faithful and inventive at the same time. Unafraid to take risks and snazzily illustrated, this collection is proof that the Cthulhu cult remains as strong as ever.”
—Starburst
“Datlow brings together some of the top SF/F and horror writers working today and has them play in Lovecraft’s bizarre world. And that’s a delight.”
—January Magazine
“For Lovecraft’s Monsters, each writer had the same agenda: come up with a fresh take on one of the legendary author’s otherworldly creatures, like Cthulhu, the Shoggoths, the Elder Things and Yog-Sothoth. (Trust, they’re scarier than those tongue-twisting names suggest.) Adding to the book's excellence, illustrator John Coulthart provided gorgeous new black-and-white artwork for each story.”
—Complex
“Lovecraft’s Monsters will appeal to fans of Lovecraft’s work, particularly his Mythos stories, and to readers of dark fiction everywhere. Datlow is an experienced and keen editor of dark fiction and has assembled a truly impressive list of stories.”
—LitReactor
“[A]n amazing and diverse treasure trove of stories. As an avid fan of Lovecraft’s monstrous creations, THIS is the anthology I’ve been waiting for.”
—Shattered Ravings
On Darkness: Two Decades of Modern Horror
"Make sure you are in a safe place before you open it up."
—New York Journal of Books
"An anthology to be cherished and an invaluable reference for horror aficionados."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Darkness promises to please both longtime fans and readers who have no clue what 'splatterpunk' was supposed to mean."
—San Francisco Chronicle
"Eclectic...a complete overview of some of the best horror stories published in the last twenty years."
—SF Site
On The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
"As the line between fantasy and horror blurs, this combined presentation of their exemplars will give readers of both genres much to enjoy, and may even broaden a few horizons."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Bring out the bone china—a critically acclaimed fantasy/horror annual celebrates its 20th anniversary in grand style.... Worth a space on any bookshelf."
—Kirkus
“...an excellent anthology of horror stories.... I highly recommend it!”
—Black Gate
About the Author
Ellen Datlow is one of the best-known editors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror working in the field today. She was the fiction editor of OMNI from 1981–1998 and has since edited the online magazines Event Horizon and Sci Fiction. Her many anthologies include Naked City; Snow White, Blood Red; Blood and Other Cravings; and Poe. Datlow has won five Hugo Awards, eight Locus Awards, three Bram Stoker Awards, two Shirley Jackson Awards, and nine World Fantasy Awards.
Most helpful customer reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful.
Datlow once again proves herself as a master editor.
By Justin Steele
Review first appeared on my blog, The Arkham Digest.
When purchasing an anthology, the first thing that readers typically look at is the table of contents to see which authors are represented. I admit, this is one of the things I look at when picking up an anthology as well, but not the first thing I look at. The very first thing I check? The editor. Each editor is different, and has his/her own tastes. When a reader reads an anthology that they find to be exceptional, they should not only remember which authors blew them away, but which editor compiled the satisfying volume. And when a reader finds an editor whose tastes align with theirs then they found something special.
What I am getting at is simple. Ellen Datlow has long ago caught my attention as one of the premiere editors working in the genre today. Whenever I see an anthology with her name on the cover I scoop it up without even looking at the contents, because I've come to trust her judgement. Hauntings is one of her latest offerings, a reprint anthology of twenty-four stories dealing with ghosts and the afterlife. In the introduction Datlow points out that many of the stories involve children and that with this anthology she hopes to broaden the readers understanding of what a haunting is. And in this she was successful, as these are not typical ghost stories.
And now for some stories. Keep in mind this was an ARC and the layout of the stories could change between now and publication.
Pat Cadigan's Eenie, Meenie, Ipsateenie opens the collection with a truly chilling tale concerning a childhood game gone wrong. The story goes back and forth from the present (well, 1983 when the story was written) and the past. The narrator is revisiting his old neighborhood and reminiscing, all while strolling and chatting with a young boy from the neighborhood. The man's recollections are not pleasant, and are about his last night in the neighborhood as a small, anxious boy, and a game of hide and seek that goes completely wrong. There is a darker undercurrent here as well, and by the end it seems apparent that the man has become a child predator of some sort. One of the things that really struck me about this story was how it can be interpreted not just as a ghost story, but also as a story of a man whose mental issues stem from that night long ago, and drive him to do what he now does.
The next story is quite similar in a few ways. Dale Bailey's Hunger: A Confession features a child narrator whose state of mind is also called into question. The young boy is tormented by horror stories told by his older brother, but the tables are turned when they move into an old house with a gory past and the young boy finds a bundle of rusty, old butcher tools under the basement furnace. Bailey expertly builds up the tension to the story's ghastly conclusion. Like the previous story, the ghostly element could be taken at face value or as an aspect of the mentally disturbed narrator's mind.
Cargo by E. Michael Lewis was a story I first read in one of Datlow's Best Horror of the Year collections. This tale concerns one of the great tragedies of the 20th century; the Jonestown Massacre. An Air-Force loadmaster is in charge of a cargo of caskets, and has a hair-raising experience while en route to the Dover Air Force Base. The story is more heart-wrenching than scary, but powerful nonetheless.
Lucius Shepard takes readers to the jungles of Vietnam in Delta Sly Honey. The insanity of war is apparent, and things get even crazier when a young radio operator who jokingly tries to make contact with a ghostly regiment is finally answered. There are truly some weird events going on, and the story has some nice bits of action.
Another heart-wrencher is David Morell's Nothing Will Hurt You. This is a depressing story about a parent driven mad by grief when his daughter becomes the victim of a serial killer. The night she is killed, her father saw Sweeney Todd, and from that night on has the song "Nothing Will Hurt You" stuck in his head. The story serves as a reflection of grief and obsession, and it definitely hits home seeing how the father of the victim falls apart. This is a story which is more about a man being haunted by the events that happened than by an actual ghost, and the supernatural events can once again just as easily be attributed to the madness brought about by grief than by actual spirits.
Caitlin R. Kiernan is an amazing writer. The Ammonite Violin (Murder Ballad No. 4) is another story featuring both a serial killer and music. In this tale a killer who fancies himself a collector has a violinist travel to his house to play a very special instrument that the collector had special made. The story is beautifully written, and a perfect example of Kiernan's gift with language.
Joyce Carol Oates is a literary writer who sometimes dabbles in the horror genre. Whenever I come across one of her tales in a horror themed anthology I know I am in for a treat. Her story Haunted is just as impressive as I knew it was going to be. Oates has a way of leaving the reader chilled, and often hints at the horrors rather than exposing them. Haunted is presented as the writings of a middle aged woman reminiscing about her childhood best friend and their love for exploring abandoned places. Oates brilliantly builds an uneasy atmosphere and stretches it taut until the end. There's a lot here to like.
Following the chiller from Oates is a light-hearted story from Elizabeth Hand called The Have-Nots. The language is fun, and told in the voice of a southern woman, telling a story of her friend and their weird, ghostly experience as she tries to sell her makeup to some of her housewife acquaintances. It's quite humorous, and touching.
Neil Gaiman comes next with Closing Time, a frame story which makes for quite an effectively creepy tale. The narrator is in an after-hours club drinking with a few other regulars and a stranger when they decide to swap ghost stories. The story-within-a-story is told about a young boy's terrifying experience after school. The imagery is quite chilling, and the story is about the loss of innocence if anything else. There is also more going on under the surface, and the identity of just which character tells the story is called into question, making this a story that rewards rereads.
A few tales lighter in tone follow. F. Paul Wilson's Anna is a straightforward tale about ghostly revenge. Jonathan Carroll's Mr. Fiddlehead focuses on a type of "ghost" that we can create ourselves, and Terry Dowling's The Fooley is a silly little story about a man's experience with a stranger on a nighttime road.
After the lighthearted excursion, Datlow brings us right back into horror by throwing us head first into the deep end. First Paul Walther brings readers to the lake shore on the last day of summer in The Toll. A young lifeguard deals with an increasingly creepy man who has failed to mature past his teenage years all while seeing shadowy figures out in the water.As creepy as this story is, it is only an appetizer for the next one.
Simon Kurt Unsworth's The Pennine Tower Restaurant was perhaps my favorite story in the entire book, and had me genuinely creeped out. The author took the approach of presenting the story as nonfiction. He describes how a former coworker, who appears to be falling apart at the seams, approaches him with files and asks him to write about why the Pennine Tower Restaurant can not be reopened. What follows is a compilation of events that transpired in the restaurant over the years. The matter-of-fact presentation of the events lends a certain coldness to the story that adds to the overall effect, making for a grade-A horror tale.
Distress Call by Connie Willis is an interesting story, a bit confusing at times as it seems to jump around, although the confusion seems intentional, helping the reader relate to the confused protagonist. The story eventually comes together but still leaves several questions open. Overall not a bad story, but not exceptional either.
Stephen Gallagher's The Horn follows three men trapped in a blizzard with an angry ghost. There are some pretty strong moments in the story, but it seems more like a monster story than a ghost story.
Michael Marshall Smith's Everybody Goes is another story that's not scary, and has a nice little twist of an ending.
Transfigured Night by Richard Bowes is another story that touches on the theme of childhood's loss of innocence, although in a much more disturbing manner than Gaiman's story. The story itself has moments that are quite intense, and is probably the darkest story in the book. A lonely boy cuts his finger, uses his blood to make a circle, and wishes for a best friend. His wish is answered, with the appearance of a boy who seems to know too much for his age. As the man grows into a drifting hustler, he goes on a dark, bloody quest to be reunited with his old friend, bringing the story full circle to quite a conclusion. Definitely a haunting story, this one will be stuck in the mind for awhile.
James P. Blaylock, an author mostly known for being a pioneer of steampunk, pens a tale about a man searching for something. He doesn't really know what it is he is searching for, but it seems connected to a visitation he had during his childhood. Not a horror story, Hula Ville is more of a dark fantasy and whether or not it's about a ghost is up to the reader to decide.
The Bedroom Light by Jeffrey Ford is an interesting story, while there isn't really much of a plot. A couple lies in bed, avoiding a certain conversation topic, instead talking about their neighbors, in particular a creepy young girl they refer to as the "demon seed". Despite not much actually happening, Ford's talent as an author is on display; conversation that feels truly natural and some creepy stories shared by husband and wife.
Spectral Evidence reads as a case file at a paranormal research facility. The file consists of photographs which are described, the notes on each photograph (written by three different characters), and footnotes written by another character. While not scary, the story works on many levels and is quite a fun read. It makes for a perfect example of why Gemma Files is an author well worth reading.
Kelly Link brings us into space with Two Houses. Members of a decades-long space mission awaken from slumber and swap ghost stories. While some of the stories are interesting and some interesting questions are raised I thought the ending was a bit of a let down.
Adam Nevill, a British horror author who has really been making a name for himself with his novels, brings us a story of cinematic horror with Where Angels Come In. Two schoolboys decide to brave the huge white house on the hill, in order to find some sort of treasure and come back as schoolyard heroes.What they find in the building (Is it a mansion? An asylum?) is something that completely justifies their fears and helps explain the many disappearances in the town. Nevill excels when it comes to creating horrific imagery, and leaves enough unexplained to add a sense of dreadful mystery to the setting.
The collection closes with Peter Straub's Hunger, An Introduction. The narrator is a psychopath who is quite clearly delusional, and is definitely a character most readers will be familiar with. Everyone knew or went to school with one of these people at some point. A person who can be quite smart yet thinks they are much smarter than they are, lacking in social skills, quick to point out other's failings and alienating themselves from everyone else. Instead of finding the success they wrongfully think they are entitled, they usually tend to be underachievers who live in their own little world. The narrator is one of these familiar faces, and is quite far from likable. When he comes into contact with a ghost from his town's local folklore he finds a sort of inspiration. The narrator also has an interesting theory about ghosts and why they haunt the living, and the end of the story shows why this is the perfect story to close out the collection.
Datlow once again proves herself as a master editor. Her mission to broaden readers' concepts of what a haunting can be is nothing short of a success, and the twenty-four stories on display run the gamut from explicitly terrifying to eerily familiar. Readers who wish to be haunted themselves should not miss this one. Highly recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
A dose of haunting stories to give you sleepless nights.
By Pabkins
Hauntings was such a creepy collection of ghost stories that I found I could read only a few each night to avoid disturbing dreams. Ellen Datlow is a master at collecting stories that complement each other. Most of these seemed to have a theme dealing with children or innocence lost.
Eenie, Meenie, Ipsateenie by Pat Cadigan
5/5
Sad and twisted. A young boy always the victim of cruelty from the other children, perpetually scared and trying to run away. Oddly enough, I got the creepy heebie jeebies more from him as an adult than I did from the ghost haunting him as a child. I can imagine that maybe this was one way how a serial killer could develop.
Hunger: A Confession by Dale Bailey
5/5
Sometimes we have a love hate relationship with our family members. This little story took that concept and ran with it. I could totally relate and I think anyone who has a sibling would also.
Cargo by E. Michael Lewis
3/5
A mission to transport cargo, of the dead body kind. Unfortunately, most of the bodies are those of dead children murdered by their own parents in a mass suicide. While this was sad I wasn’t as connected or creeped out by the atmosphere. I wanted more undefinable something, us know?
Delta Sly Honey by Lucius Shepard
4/5
This character sounded like the true voice of a soldier. It made me wonder if the author was a veteran. The setting was a military camp during the Vietnam war. We don’t see any warfare thankfully just the mental warfare that such circumstances and environs inflict upon the mind. But is it just the mind breaking down or are those from the other side really out in force?
Nothing Will Hurt You by David Morrell
5/5
This story references one of my favorite movies, Sweeney Todd. Similarly there is a serial killer on the loose, killing young female college students. Cannibalizing them. This is one father’s story of his downward spiral after his daughter is murdered by this maniac. He is so consumed by the promise he made his daughter when she was a child that nothing would hurt her. The twist at the end was exquisite and painful. So far this is my favorite of the stories on this anthology.
The Ammonite Violin (Murder Ballad No. 4) by Caitlin R. Kiernan
5/5
So haunting I can almost hear the music. Disturbing to read this and get a serial killer’s perspective. I really wonder though…would I be able to keep something like that from a loved one? But then hey – some people keep the ashes of their loved ones in their homes…in jars no less. So would this be any different? *creepy chuckle*
Haunted by Joyce Carol Oates
2/5
A disjointed tale of recording ones awful memories. I had a hard time caring or even wanting to follow along.
The Have-Nots by Elizabeth Hand
2/5
I hate the idea of someone’s baby being taken away. But worse yet I found the narrator and the style the story delivered in particularly annoying. It made it hard to enjoy.
Closing Time by Neil Gaiman
3/5
Surprisingly I didn’t love this one. There just want anything memorable about it as I’ve come to expect from Neil Gaiman. Just a simple story, folks getting together telling stories and reminiscing about the past.
Anna by F. Paul Wilson
5/5
You don’t know what you are in for with this one. It starts off sad and then eases you into the strange, then kicks you in the face with anger, and ends with the just desserts!
Mr. Fiddlehead by Jonathan Carroll
5/5
A story of best friends, imaginary friends, and new love you would do anything to keep. What would you do to keep your Love? It’s left open ended for your own chilling thoughts.
The Fooly by Terry Dowling
5/5
A chilling encounter one night with a ghost and a completely unexpected twist ending!
The Toll by Paul Walther
3/5
A young lifeguard and Someone’s endless summer…it was a good read but a tad too predictable.
The Pennine Tower Restaurant by Simon Kurt Unsworth
4/5
Is it true? I really didn’t know what to believe by the end of this one, other than: I didn’t want to think about it anymore!
Distress Call by Connie Willis
5/5
The strangest mix between a murder mystery being told with odd comparisons to the Titanic tragedy. Wicked interesting.
The Horn by Stephen Gallagher
5/5
Have you ever wanted to smack someone got being a smart ass, criminals pffft! Haha? But enough of that, this story was awesome. It brings the fear of being stuck in a blizzard to a whole brew level of scary.
Everybody Goes by Michael Marshall Smith
4/5
Written in the voice of a child, he sounded just like one of my 10 year old nephews. It wasn’t creepy at all but actually pleasant and nostalgic and most certainly enjoyable.
Transfigured Night by Richard Bowes
5/5
Completely wackadoo! This short has definitely been the darkest and most disturbing out of the anthology. It touches on things that none of the others did in quite the same way. Nature or nurture and destroyed innocence? It is visceral and I can’t help wondering now about what else this author writes and whether I would be able to handle it.
Hula Ville by James P. Blaylock
2/5
I don’t believe this particular story belongs in Hauntings. I didn’t get the impression that it was about ghosts at all and it wasn’t particularly dark. Being dark isn’t a retirement of course as not all of them have been, but I was expecting some sort of specter which I didn’t feel was delivered.
The Bedroom Light by Jeffrey Ford
3/5
The only thing that comes to mind after reading this short is: “A day in the lives of tenants of a creepy house.” I picture it as one of those big old places that were converted into tenements. The only thing I’d note is the evil little girl that lives there and some of the off happenings that the couple in bed are discussing. And woooo some flickering on and off light. Just not much to this one.
Spectral Evidence by Gemma Files
4/5
Evidence of spooks or research evidence. It’s strange and I had to go back and re-read a few bits again. I think it would have been so much more excellent with the actual photos that were being described.
Two Houses by Kelly Link
4/5
Three passengers waking up from a slumber while traveling through space. I absolutely loved this because of the concept and the ship’s ability to change but I felt there was just something lacking in delivery. I did really enjoy one character by name of Aune and her quip, “I don’t know any ghost stories. I know stories about trolls.” It sounds like something I would say!
Where Angels Come In by Adam L.G. Nevill
5/5
Some places are off limits, and got good reason. Some things aren’t spoken of because even thinking of them can cool you to the bone. But children are curious, and satisfying that curiosity can sometimes come at a high price. Stay away from the house on the hill kids.
Hunger, An Introduction by Peter Straub
3/5
Oh I couldn’t help it! I wanted to like this final story more than I did, it was a fitting end but I just couldn’t help being annoyed with the stuffy narrator and that know it all better than thou attitude! I think it could have been considerably shorter.
Overall this is an excellent collection of ghost stories to chill and definitely not delight you. But that’s the point nite isn’t it? To make you uncomfortable, which these stories definitely do very well! I recommend it for lovers of ghost stories.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
A Mixed Bag
By Dr. John D
As multiple-author anthologies go, this is a good one. There are some first rate stories here, and the good news is that they aren't always by the biggest names. That's good because I like coming across new writers in the horror genre who have that special gift.
There are some less than special stories as well, but that's par for the course in collections. Let's focus on the positives.
E. Michael Lewis' 'Cargo' is a winner. An air force plane carries home bodies from Jonestown. Atmospheric, humane and insightfully written. Oh - and creepy.
Caitlin Kiernan's 'The Amonite Violin' has a nicely twisted premise that's actually quite grotesque but which, in the context of the story, works tremendously.
Joyce Carol Oates' 'Haunted' was probably the scariest story in the book, at least for me. Takes a bit to get going, but there are scenes in this that are truly disturbing.
Michael Marshal Smith's 'Everybody Goes' is one of those subtle, sad ghost stories that are hard to shake. He's a very, very fine writer and this one shows why.
Finally, Richard Bowes' 'Transfigured Night' is great, but thoroughly nasty.
So not perfect, but these stories are not ones to miss.
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