Henry Mazzeo

Very solid book of short stories carefully selected to include a diverse collection of horror of all different moods, approaches and proximities to classic/ Gothic horror. Maybe sacrilegious to say as a diehard Gorey lover, but I feel he phoned it in slightly with the illustrations included here. The setting and action of most of the stories is so conducive to framing visually in that bleak, black and white, heavily hatched style that I could almost swear that I had seen illustrations that in fact didn’t exist of certain passages. Thank you, imagination!

“And as he went past me, he laughed - a sort of gasping laugh, with his mouth open and his eyes glaring - I tell you, sir, he fair scared me! - like this.”
According to his imitation it was anything but a pleasant laugh. “He waved his hand, with all his fingers crooked and clawing - like that. And he said, in a sort of fierce whisper, ‘Life.’ Just that one word, ‘Life!’”
- The Stolen Body, H. G. Wells… (més)

What a wonderful horror anthology. The stories in this book, not to mention Edward Gorey's magnificent illustrations, made such an impression on me that thirty years later I still remembered them. Finally found and bought a used library edition of this book. It was well-thumbed when I got it, and it's even more well-thumbed now. I envy those young, middle-aged, and old people who might be reading it for the first time. Enjoy the ride!

Each story should be savored on a dark, stormy night, by candlelight in solitude. My two favorites: W. H. Hodgson's 'The Whistling Room,' and H. R. Wakefield's 'The Red Lodge.'… (més)