The Best of Shadows

In his introduction, the editor described various trends in horror writing. In the 1970s, these included works concerned mainly with themes like gods and demonology, possession and exorcism, the Antichrist, and reincarnation. Later popular themes included zombies, psycho-killers, horror springing out of ordinary life, and aliens. The editor was critical of unrelenting, graphic violence in horror stories -- in violence for its own sake. He praised imaginative, well-crafted stories, horror springing from the everyday, and called for violence only if a moment demanded it.

Included are:

• The Man Who Could Not Shake Hands by Stephen King
• Naples by Avram Davidson
• The Storn by David Morrell
• The Spider Glass by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
• Petey by T.E.D. Klein
• Saturday's Shadow by Willilam F. Nolan
• Macintosh Willy by Ramsey Campbell
• The Gorgon by Tanith Lee

ARC/Proof: Published in 1988. In Good condiction; a little fading.