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Hauntings
Hauntings is a collection of fifteen original ghost stories, some very traditional in style while others are highly contemporary. Lock the doors, settle into a comfortable armchair, and prepare to be chilled…
Have you ever felt watched by unseen eyes or imagined a caress when there is no one near to touch you…? The realm of spirits lurks just beyond our perception; some are lost, some are lonely, but others are angry, malicious, and hell-bent on vengeance against the living…
Intro – Adele Wearing
Don’t Listen – Ian Whates
The Cradle in the Corner – Marie O’Regan
On the Grey Road – Alison Littlewood
Not a Cat Person – Adrian Tchaikovsky
Fog on the Old Coast Road – Mark West
Dark Peak – Kim Lakin-Smith
The Things I See – Theresa Derwin
Presence – Paul Kane
Starcross – Liz Williams
Forward and Back, Change Places – Marion Pitman
Long Dene Mill – Sarah Singleton
The White Otter – Amanda Hemingway
The Ghost (In Two Letters) – Tanith Lee
The Scariest Place in the World – Mark Morris
Simon Harries – Robert Shearman
About the Authors
Have you ever felt watched by unseen eyes or imagined a caress when there is no one near to touch you…? The realm of spirits lurks just beyond our perception; some are lost, some are lonely, but others are angry, malicious, and hell-bent on vengeance against the living…
Intro – Adele Wearing
Don’t Listen – Ian Whates
The Cradle in the Corner – Marie O’Regan
On the Grey Road – Alison Littlewood
Not a Cat Person – Adrian Tchaikovsky
Fog on the Old Coast Road – Mark West
Dark Peak – Kim Lakin-Smith
The Things I See – Theresa Derwin
Presence – Paul Kane
Starcross – Liz Williams
Forward and Back, Change Places – Marion Pitman
Long Dene Mill – Sarah Singleton
The White Otter – Amanda Hemingway
The Ghost (In Two Letters) – Tanith Lee
The Scariest Place in the World – Mark Morris
Simon Harries – Robert Shearman
About the Authors
- GenresShort StoriesHorror
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2012
12 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Ian Whates
122 books81 followersIan Whates lives in a comfortable home down a quiet cul-de-sac in an idyllic Cambridgeshire village, which he shares with his partner Helen and their pets – Honey the golden cocker spaniel, Calvin the tailless black cat and Inky the goldfish (sadly, Binky died a few years ago).
Ian’s earliest memories of science fiction are fragmented. He remembers loving Dr Who from an early age and other TV shows such as Lost in Space and Star Trek, but a defining moment came when he heard a radio adaptation of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. From that moment on he was hooked and became a frequent haunter of the local library, voraciously devouring the contents of their SF section.
This early love of science fiction manifested most tellingly during his school days, when he produced an SF murder mystery as homework after being set the essay title “The Language of Shakespeare”, much to the bemusement of his English teacher.
Ian’s first published stories appeared in the late 1980s in small press magazines such as Dream and New Moon Quarterly, after which he took a break from writing in order to research his chosen fields of science fiction and fantasy. In other words, he read copious amounts of both. Clearly the research was extensive, because he published nothing further for some seventeen years. In the early 2000s he made the decision to pursue writing seriously, joining the Northampton SF Writers Group in 2004 after being introduced to its chairman, Ian Watson.
In 2006 he started submitting stories again, and has subsequently been surprised at how many otherwise eminently sensible people have chosen to publish him. A couple have even appeared in the science journal Nature, and one, “The Gift of Joy”, even found its way onto the five-strong shortlist for best short story in the British Science Fiction Association Awards. And it didn’t come last! Ironically, the award was actually won by Ken MacLeod’s “Lighting Out”, a piece Ian had commissioned, edited and published in the NewCon Press anthology disLOCATIONS (2007).
In 2006 Ian launched independent publisher NewCon Press, quite by accident (buy him a pint sometime and he’ll tell you about it). Through NewCon he has been privileged to publish original stories from some of the biggest names in genre fiction, as well as provide debuts to some genuinely talented newcomers. The books, their covers and contents have racked up an impressive array of credits – four BSFA Awards, one BSF Award to date, inclusion in ‘Year’s Best’ anthologies and recommendations and honourable mentions from the likes of Gardner Dozios and Locus magazine.
In addition to his publishing and writing, Ian is currently a director of both the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), editing Matrix, the online news and media reviews magazine, for the latter.
His first two completed novels are both due to appear in early 2010: City of Dreams and Nightmare via Harper Collins’ imprint Angry Robot, and The Noise Within from Rebellion imprint Solaris, with sequels to follow. When not pinching himself to make sure this is all really happening, Ian is currently beavering away at the sequels… honest!
Ian’s earliest memories of science fiction are fragmented. He remembers loving Dr Who from an early age and other TV shows such as Lost in Space and Star Trek, but a defining moment came when he heard a radio adaptation of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. From that moment on he was hooked and became a frequent haunter of the local library, voraciously devouring the contents of their SF section.
This early love of science fiction manifested most tellingly during his school days, when he produced an SF murder mystery as homework after being set the essay title “The Language of Shakespeare”, much to the bemusement of his English teacher.
Ian’s first published stories appeared in the late 1980s in small press magazines such as Dream and New Moon Quarterly, after which he took a break from writing in order to research his chosen fields of science fiction and fantasy. In other words, he read copious amounts of both. Clearly the research was extensive, because he published nothing further for some seventeen years. In the early 2000s he made the decision to pursue writing seriously, joining the Northampton SF Writers Group in 2004 after being introduced to its chairman, Ian Watson.
In 2006 he started submitting stories again, and has subsequently been surprised at how many otherwise eminently sensible people have chosen to publish him. A couple have even appeared in the science journal Nature, and one, “The Gift of Joy”, even found its way onto the five-strong shortlist for best short story in the British Science Fiction Association Awards. And it didn’t come last! Ironically, the award was actually won by Ken MacLeod’s “Lighting Out”, a piece Ian had commissioned, edited and published in the NewCon Press anthology disLOCATIONS (2007).
In 2006 Ian launched independent publisher NewCon Press, quite by accident (buy him a pint sometime and he’ll tell you about it). Through NewCon he has been privileged to publish original stories from some of the biggest names in genre fiction, as well as provide debuts to some genuinely talented newcomers. The books, their covers and contents have racked up an impressive array of credits – four BSFA Awards, one BSF Award to date, inclusion in ‘Year’s Best’ anthologies and recommendations and honourable mentions from the likes of Gardner Dozios and Locus magazine.
In addition to his publishing and writing, Ian is currently a director of both the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), editing Matrix, the online news and media reviews magazine, for the latter.
His first two completed novels are both due to appear in early 2010: City of Dreams and Nightmare via Harper Collins’ imprint Angry Robot, and The Noise Within from Rebellion imprint Solaris, with sequels to follow. When not pinching himself to make sure this is all really happening, Ian is currently beavering away at the sequels… honest!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 1, 2018
Very Nice Selection
The selection of stories selected for this anthology were all very good. All well written and I don't believe I had read one of them before which is always nice. It may start a little shaky for some but the quality of the works for sure increased for myself the more I read. From Adrian Tchaikovsky on the stories are just excellent. My favorite is definitely the second to last as the scariest and the last story was not particularly scary or creepy but it was damned awesome.
The selection of stories selected for this anthology were all very good. All well written and I don't believe I had read one of them before which is always nice. It may start a little shaky for some but the quality of the works for sure increased for myself the more I read. From Adrian Tchaikovsky on the stories are just excellent. My favorite is definitely the second to last as the scariest and the last story was not particularly scary or creepy but it was damned awesome.
November 9, 2023
Only read “Not a Cat Person” by Adrian Tchaikovsky
November 14, 2013
Within the cover of this well put together book we have stories by Tanith Lee, Mark West, Paul Kane, Alison Littlewood and you get the picture! 15 fantastic authors, all in one book.
The Cradle in the Corner by Marie O’Regan is a haunting tale of life lost. Mary is pregnant with 6 weeks to go when her husband Alan brings home a cradle found in an antique shop. While eager to refinish his find for the coming baby, Mary begins to suffer nightmares and ill feelings regarding the cradle. At first Alan doesn't share Mary’s fears but as the birth day approaches he too begins to suspect something isn't right.
Paul Kane’s Presence is about letting go. Annette Griffiths has been existing in a fog since the death of her husband Terry. Trying to stay strong for their daughter Hayley and giving some normalcy to their lives. One day while in Terry’s study she hears a beeping coming from his computer, curious she decides to sign in on his social networking page, where she finds to her horror messages from Terry. A cruel hoax or is there something more after death?
My favorite of the collection is The Scariest Place in the World by Mark Morris. This story stayed with me long after I finished reading. Sometimes when life’s issues are left unresolved before death, they can follow you into the hereafter. Annette works from home, annoyed constantly by unwanted visitors, always ready to snap at someone interrupting her work. One day a young man knocks on the door and against her better judgment Annette allows him entrance. He just wants a quick look see of his childhood home. Soon enough Annette’s uncharacteristic lapse in judgment is realized!
I could go on and on but why don’t you just see for yourself. All of these stories are worthy of reading and all are haunting in one way or another!
The Cradle in the Corner by Marie O’Regan is a haunting tale of life lost. Mary is pregnant with 6 weeks to go when her husband Alan brings home a cradle found in an antique shop. While eager to refinish his find for the coming baby, Mary begins to suffer nightmares and ill feelings regarding the cradle. At first Alan doesn't share Mary’s fears but as the birth day approaches he too begins to suspect something isn't right.
Paul Kane’s Presence is about letting go. Annette Griffiths has been existing in a fog since the death of her husband Terry. Trying to stay strong for their daughter Hayley and giving some normalcy to their lives. One day while in Terry’s study she hears a beeping coming from his computer, curious she decides to sign in on his social networking page, where she finds to her horror messages from Terry. A cruel hoax or is there something more after death?
My favorite of the collection is The Scariest Place in the World by Mark Morris. This story stayed with me long after I finished reading. Sometimes when life’s issues are left unresolved before death, they can follow you into the hereafter. Annette works from home, annoyed constantly by unwanted visitors, always ready to snap at someone interrupting her work. One day a young man knocks on the door and against her better judgment Annette allows him entrance. He just wants a quick look see of his childhood home. Soon enough Annette’s uncharacteristic lapse in judgment is realized!
I could go on and on but why don’t you just see for yourself. All of these stories are worthy of reading and all are haunting in one way or another!
April 4, 2016
Excellent!
This has got to be one of the best ghost/hauntings anthologies that I've read in a long while. Unfortunately can't speak for everyone of course but each story was great. Maybe two that were a bit meh but even those were much better than some I've read lately.
This has got to be one of the best ghost/hauntings anthologies that I've read in a long while. Unfortunately can't speak for everyone of course but each story was great. Maybe two that were a bit meh but even those were much better than some I've read lately.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews