Horror & Supernatural
PHANTOMS.
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1983]. Octavo, boards. First edition. "...Phantoms is extremely well written and set the tone for Koontz's later big bestsellers..." Barron (ed.): Horror Literature 4-188. Filmed in 1998 from a screenplay by the author.
THE EVIL GUEST ...
London: Downey & Co., n.d., [1895]. Octavo, pp. [1-4] [1] 2-238 [239-240: ads] + 1-2 [3-6]: ads dated "March, 1895" on page [1] [7-8: blank] [note: last leaf is a blank], 30 illustrations, some full page, by Brinsley Le Fanu, original pictorial green cloth, front panel stamped in gold and black, spine panel stamped in gold, publisher's monogram on rear panel stamped in black, black coated endpapers, t.e.g. First separate edition. This was the fourth story in Le Fanu's rare collection GHOST STORIES AND TALES OF MYSTERY (1851), an extension of "Some Account of the Latter Days of the Hon. Richard Marston of Dunoran" from THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE, 1848, and the intermediate form of A LOST NAME (1867-1868). There are some omissions and variations from the original text. "'The Evil Guest' was the most gory of Le Fanu's tales, a melancholy romance brimming with bloodshed and pain." - Tymn (ed), Horror Literature 2-60. Bleiler (1948), p. 177. Hubin (1994), p. 492.
THE HILL OF DREAMS.
N.p. [Horam, East Sussex]: Tartarus Press, [1998]. Octavo, boards. Later edition. Limited to 350 numbered copies. This novel, first published as a six-part serial in HORLICK'S MAGAZINE July - December 1904 under the title "The Garden of Avallaunius," was first published in book form in February 1907 as THE HILL OF DREAMS. "The ultimate novel of escapism, obviously deeply felt and written with considerable artistry." - Barron (ed), Fantasy Literature 3-229. The Tartarus edition adds two illustrations by Sime intended for the book but not included, two introductions by Arthur Machen written for later editions (one previously unpublished), an introduction for a later edition by Lord Dunsany, and a new introduction by Mark Valentine. Ashley, Who's Who in Horror and Fantasy Fiction, pp. 124-25. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1073. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, p. 147. Sullivan (ed), The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural, p. 278. Bleiler (1978), p. 130. Reginald 09462.
ORNAMENTS IN JADE.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1924. Octavo, pp. [1-8] [1-2] 3-46 [47: blank] [48: colophon] [49-54: blank] [note: first three and last two leaves are blanks], title page printed in green and black, original black cloth, front and rear panels ruled in blind, printed paper label affixed to spine panel, top edge stained green, decorated green endpapers. First edition. Limited to 1000 numbered copies signed by Machen. Book design by T. M. Cleland. Collects ten essays and short stories. "'Witchcraft' and 'The Ceremony' are small gems." - Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1079. Goldstone & Sweetser 30a. Bleiler (1978), p. 130. Not in Reginald (1978; 1992).
RITUAL AND OTHER STORIES.
[Lewes, East Sussex]: The Tartarus Press, 1992. Octavo, cloth. First edition. Limited to 300 numbered copies, this being number 101. Collects twenty-five stories including some tales previously uncollected in book form, originally published between 1889 and 1937, nearly half first published in obscure British magazines in 1890 and 1891.
MAGAZINE OF HORROR. (Thirty-six issues, all published).
New York: Health Knowledge Inc., 1963-1971. Octavo, thirty-six issues, pictorial wrappers. Digest size magazine. This publication included new and reprint fiction. Reprints coming mainly from the pulps and with the knowledgeable editor and his two consultants Robert A. Madle and Sam Moskowitz, stories long out of print and virtually unobtainable were reprinted. Lowndes was also able to print stories by some old time writers which had been unpublished. Editor Lowndes was also able to capitalize on the resurgence of Robert E. Howard of the mid 1960s with publication of several unpublished stories including a Conan story (Spring 1967, #15). Newer material included writers as Stephen Goldin, Joanna Russ, Roger Zelazny, August Derleth, Joseph Payne Brennan, Robert Silverberg, and others. Tymm and Ashley, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Weird Fiction Magazines, pp. 391-395.
THE EYES OF DARKNESS.
[Loughton, Essex]: Piatkus, [1981]. Octavo, boards. First British and first hardcover edition. First published in the U.S. as a paperback original.
NIGHT VISIONS 2.
Niles, IL: Dark Harvest, 1985. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 300 numbered copies signed by the Morrell, Brennan, Wagner, editor Grant, and artist Robert W. Lavoie. This is copy number 233. Original anthology with twelve stories. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 4-356.
NIGHT VISIONS 3.
Niles, IL: Dark Harvest, 1986. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 400 numbered copies signed by the Campbell, Tuttle, Barker, editor Martin, and artist Stephen Gervais. This is copy number 58. Original anthology with eleven stories, including "The Hellbound Heart" by Barker. The Barker novella is the source for the feature film "Hellraiser" (1987) which was written and directed by Barker.
NIGHT VISIONS 4.
Arlington Hgts, IL: Dark Harvest, 1987. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 500 numbered copies signed by Koontz, Bryant, McCammon, introducer Barker and artist Kevin Davies. This is copy number 389. Original anthology with twelve stories. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 4-356.
NIGHT VISIONS 6.
Arlington Hgts, IL: Dark Harvest, 1988. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 600 numbered copies signed by Wilson, Tepper Garton, Koontz (introduction) and artist Phil Parks. This is copy number 276. Original anthology with five stories. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 4-356.
NIGHT VISIONS 8.
Arlington Heights, IL: Dark Harvest, 1989. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 600 numbered copies signed by Farris, Gallagher, Lansdale, McCammon (afterword) and artist Paul Sonju. This is copy number 391. Original anthology with fifteen stories.
NIGHT VISIONS 9.
Arlington Heights, IL: Dark Harvest, 1991. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 475 numbered copies signed by Tessier, Kisner, Hautala, Wilson (introduction) and artist Phil Parks. This is copy number 411. Original anthology with thirteen stories.
NIGHT VISIONS 1.
Niles, IL: Dark Harvest, 1984. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 300 numbered copies signed by the Grant, Tem, Lee, editor Ryan, and artist Gregory Manchess. This is copy number 86. Original anthology of seventeen stories.
NIGHT VISIONS 7.
Arlington Heights, IL: Dark Harvest, 1989. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 550 numbered copies signed by Laymon, Williamson, Bradner, Stanley Wiater (editor) and artists Wendy and Charles Lang. This is copy number 250. Original anthology with eight stories and an afterwords of each author's selections with a brief interview by Stanley Wiater. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 4-356.
NIGHT VISIONS 5.
Arlington Hgts, IL: Dark Harvest, 1988. Octavo, cloth. First edition. One of 850 numbered copies signed by King, Simmons, Martin, editor Winter and artists Ron and Val Lakey Lindahn. This is copy number 692. Original anthology with seven stories. The Martin novella "Skin Trade" won a World Fantasy Award (1989). Barron (ed), Fantasy and Horror (1999) 6-449.
THE COLLECTED GHOST STORIES OF OLIVER ONIONS.
London: Ivor Nicholson and Watson Limited, 1935. Octavo, pp. [i-vi] vii [viii] ix-xi [xii] [1-2] 3-689 [690-692: blank] [note: last leaf is a blank], original decorated black cloth, front and spine panels stamped in white. First edition, first printing. An omnibus volume collecting nineteen stories, several appearing here for the first time in book form, by a master of the English ghost story. Onions is best known for his supernatural fiction and "is regarded by many as one of the twentieth century masters of the genre ... [his ghost stories] are notable for their depth of psychological insight, elegant writing and sophisticated plots ... 'The Beckoning Fair One' (1911) is regarded by many as one of the greatest English tales of the supernatural but has overshadowed Onions' other work in the genre which some consider of equal, if not greater, importance. In fact, the majority of the author's supernatural fiction is of an extremely high standard and is notable for its originality, subtlety and careful characterizations which lift it well above the average ... Although Onions' ghost fiction is traditional in form, he concentrates more fully than his contemporaries upon his characters' inner feelings and physical reaction when faced with the seemingly inexplicable. A common theme is the gradual breakdown of an individual's personality following the realization that the supernatural is not confined to the haunted castles of the past but flourishes in the contemporary everyday world. Interestingly, Onions was a great pragmatist and did not believe in ghosts or occult agencies of any sort. It is therefore testament to his writing skills that he so convincingly conveys supernatural atmosphere and events." - Wilson, Shadows in the Attic, p. 398. Ashley, Who's Who in Horror and Fantasy Fiction, p. 141. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 3-155. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1264. Clute and Grant (eds), The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997), p. 709. Sullivan (ed), The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural, pp. 309-10. Survey of Modern Fantasy Literature I, pp. 294-99. Tymn (ed), Horror Literature 3-187. Bleiler (1978), p. 151. Reginald 11002.
THE DREAM DETECTIVE: BEING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE METHODS OF MORIS KLAW.
Garden City: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1925. Octavo, pp. [1-10] 1-309 [310-312: blank] [note: title leaf is a tipped in singleton; last leaf is a blank], title printed in orange and black, original red cloth, front and spine panels stamped in gold. First U.S. and first expanded edition. This edition adds one story ("The Chord in G") to the collection first published by Jarrolds in 1920. It features the occult detective Moris Klaw, who reads minds by sleeping at the scene of the crime. "The Moris Klaw stories are cleverly plotted and crisply told, and they have dated very little over they have dated very little over the years. Klaw himself is a fascinating creation. The book has been reprinted several times, most recently in 1977, but deserves to be more widely known." - Pronzini and Muller, 1001 Midnights, pp. 691-92. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1407. Clute and Grant (eds), The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, p. 819. Hubin (1994), p. 695. Queen's Quorum 64. Bleiler (1978), p. 192. Reginald 12372.
THE VAIVAISUKKO'S BRIDE.
[Glasgow: Published by Scots Digest Ltd.], n.d., [1949]. Octavo, pp. [1] 2-63 [64: ads], pictorial wrappers, stapled. First edition. The author's second collection of horror fiction, preceded by NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH (1948). Collects ten stories, mostly weird. Includes "Not Forty Months Ago" (a tale of Victorian black magic) and a weird chess story, among others. Several tales quite effective, others sadistic, crude material horror. Author's strong suit was ideas, not execution. Cover has a large coverline, "The Horror Club," though it's not clear what this refers to. Reginald 12841. Tuck (1978), p. 382. Hubin (1994), p. 727.
THE BOOK OF SKULLS.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, [1972]. Octavo, cloth backed boards. First edition. "A student finds an ancient manuscript in the rare books room at the university library, which seems to promise immortality if he and three friends can track down the Brotherhood of the Skull. They travel to Arizona on their quest, only to find that what awaits is not immortality but terror and death. Very much a product of the late-1960s and early-1970s fascination with the occult and hallucinogenic transcendent experience, this novel still packs a considerable punch." - Michael M. Levy in Barron (ed), Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-1406. 1972 Nebula nominee.
DYING INSIDE.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, [1972]. Octavo, boards. First edition. "David Selig's extraordinary telepathic powers have made him an outcast. He is unable to come to terms with his declining talents and is terrified of losing them. A powerful and moving study that explores from a unique perspective the psychological, moral and social implications of psychic powers, a major concern in contemporary dark fantasy, especially in works such as Kings's THE DEAD ZONE and Matheson's A STIR OF ECHOES. Regarded by many as Silverberg's finest work." - Stefan Dizemianowicz in Barron (ed), Fantasy and Horror (1999) 6-334. Nominated for both the Hugo award and Nebula award. Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-1017. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 4-271. Survey of Science Fiction Literature II, pp. 671-75.
THE WHITE SYBIL BY CLARK ASHTON SMITH AND MEN OF AVALON BY DAVID H. KELLER, M.D.
[Everett, PA: Fantasy Publications], n.d., [1934]. Small octavo, pp. [1-2] 3-38 [39: colophon] [40: ad for Marvel Tales], printed wrappers, stapled. First edition. Of two binding states, priority, if any, not established, this copy has rule on front cover measuring 2.2 cm incorporating two dots. This undated booklet was printed and published by William L. Crawford, an early fan publisher and editor of MARVEL TALES. Science Fiction Bibliography (1935) states it was published in 1934 and was the first of a projected series. No more volumes in the series were produced. ISFDB online states: "500 printed, but only 200 bound (saddle stapled) and the rest "just sort of lost" according to "Daddy!" by Jack L. Chalker in Fantasy Newsletter No. 61, August 1983. "The White Sybil" is part of his Hyperborea stories. Pavlat and Evans, Fanzine Index, p. 135. Reginald 15270.
STARTLING MYSTERY STORIES. (Eighteen issues, all published).
New York: Health Knowledge Inc., 1966-1971. Octavo, eighteen issues, pictorial wrappers. Digest size magazine. This publication included new and reprint fiction. Reprints coming mainly from the pulps, including Seabury Quinn's Jules de Grandin stories, Paul Ernst's Dr. Satan, and Edward Hoch's Simon Ark stories. As for new material, a claim to fame is the publication of Stephen King's first two stories "The Glass Floor" in issue number 6 and "The Reaper's Image," in issue number 12. Other new fiction included authors Ramsey Campbell, John Brunner, and F. Paul Wilson with his first professional appearance. Lowndes editorials were also of interest as he covered subjects in the detective fiction genre. Tymm and Ashley, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Weird Fiction Magazines, pp. 608-611.
STRANGE TALES [SECOND SELECTION].
London: Utopian Publications Ltd., n.d., [1946]. Small octavo, single issue, cover illustration by Alva Rogers, pictorial wrappers, stapled. The second of two issues published. Most of the stories were reprinted from WEIRD TALES. Fiction by John Beynon Harris, Clark Ashton Smith, Robert Bloch (two tales, one as Bloch, the other as "Tarleton Fiske"), H. P. Lovecraft ("Cool Air") and others. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, Volume 1, p. 3. Parnell, Monthly Terrors, p. 202. Tymn and Ashley (eds), Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Weird Fiction Magazines, pp. 625-26. Tuck (1982), p. 596.
STRANGE TALES [FIRST SELECTION].
London: Utopian Publications Ltd., n.d., [1946]. Small octavo, single issue, cover by H.W. Perl, pictorial wrappers, stapled. This the variant cover by Perl. The first of two issues published. Most of the stories were reprinted from WEIRD TALES. Fiction by Jack Williamson, Robert Bloch (as "Tarleton Fiske"), Clark Ashton Smith, Ray Bradbury and others. This was allegedly Bradbury's first U.K. magazine appearance. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, Volume 1, p. 3. Parnell, Monthly Terrors, p. 202. Tymn and Ashley (eds), Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Weird Fiction Magazines, pp. 625-26. Tuck (1982), p. 596.