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Horrors Unknown
DANGER! This book contains hazardous levels of horror, shock and panic. Ten stories from the darkest recesses of the world of fantastic terror. Read only at your own risk!
Contents:
The challenge from Beyond, by C.L. Moore, A. Merritt, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and Frank Belknap Long, Jr.
The Flying Lion, by Edison Marshall
Grettir at Thorhall-Stead, by Frank Norris
Werewoman, by C.L. Moore
From Hand to Mouth, by Fitz-James O'Brien
Body and Soul, by Seabury Quinn
Unseen--Unfeared, by Francis Stevens
The Pendulum, by Ray Bradbury
Pendulum, by Ray Bradbury and Henry Hasse
The Pool of the Stone God, by W. Fenimore
Contents:
The challenge from Beyond, by C.L. Moore, A. Merritt, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and Frank Belknap Long, Jr.
The Flying Lion, by Edison Marshall
Grettir at Thorhall-Stead, by Frank Norris
Werewoman, by C.L. Moore
From Hand to Mouth, by Fitz-James O'Brien
Body and Soul, by Seabury Quinn
Unseen--Unfeared, by Francis Stevens
The Pendulum, by Ray Bradbury
Pendulum, by Ray Bradbury and Henry Hasse
The Pool of the Stone God, by W. Fenimore
- GenresHorrorFictionAnthologies
210 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Sam Moskowitz
126 books14 followersSam Moskowitz (June 30, 1920-April 15, 1997) was an early fan and organizer of interest in science fiction and, later, a writer, critic, and historian of the field. As a child, Moskowitz greatly enjoyed reading science fiction pulp magazines. As a teenager, he organized a branch of the Science Fiction League. Meanwhile, Donald A. Wollheim helped organize the Futurians, a rival club with Marxist sympathies. While still in his teens, Moskowitz became chairman of the first World Science Fiction Convention held in New York City in 1939. He barred several Futurians from the convention because they threatened to disrupt it. This event is referred to by historians of fandom as the "Great Exclusion Act."
Moskowitz later worked professionally in the science fiction field. He edited Science-Fiction Plus, a short-lived genre magazine owned by Hugo Gernsback, in 1953. He compiled about two dozen anthologies, and a few single-author collections, most published in the 1960s and early 1970s. Moskowitz also wrote a handful of short stories (three published in 1941, one in 1953, three in 1956). His most enduring work is likely to be his writing on the history of science fiction, in particular two collections of short author biographies, Explorers of the Infinite and Seekers of Tomorrow, as well as the highly regarded Under the Moons of Mars: A History and Anthology of “The Scientific Romance” in the Munsey Magazines, 1912-1920. Moskowitz has been criticized for eccentrically assigning priorities and tracing influences regarding particular themes and ideas based principally on publication dates, as well as for some supposed inaccuracies. His exhaustive cataloguing of early sf magazine stories by important genre authors remains the best resource for nonspecialists.
Moskowitz's most popular work may be The Immortal Storm, a historical review of internecine strife within fandom. Moskowitz wrote it in a bombastic style that made the events he described seem so important that, as fan historian Harry Warner, Jr. quipped, "If read directly after a history of World War II, it does not seem like an anticlimax."
Moskowitz was also renowned as a science fiction book collector, with a tremendous number of important early works and rarities. His book collection was auctioned off after his death.
As "Sam Martin", he was also editor of the trade publications Quick Frozen Foods and Quick Frozen Foods International for many years.
First Fandom, an organization of science fiction fans active before 1940, gives an award in Moskowitz' memory each year at the World Science Fiction Convention.
Moskowitz smoked cigarettes frequently throughout his adult life. A few years before his death, throat cancer required the surgical removal of his larynx. He continued to speak at science fiction conventions, using an electronic voice-box held against his throat. Throughout his later years, although his controversial opinions were often disputed by others, he was indisputably recognized as the leading authority on the history of science fiction.
Moskowitz later worked professionally in the science fiction field. He edited Science-Fiction Plus, a short-lived genre magazine owned by Hugo Gernsback, in 1953. He compiled about two dozen anthologies, and a few single-author collections, most published in the 1960s and early 1970s. Moskowitz also wrote a handful of short stories (three published in 1941, one in 1953, three in 1956). His most enduring work is likely to be his writing on the history of science fiction, in particular two collections of short author biographies, Explorers of the Infinite and Seekers of Tomorrow, as well as the highly regarded Under the Moons of Mars: A History and Anthology of “The Scientific Romance” in the Munsey Magazines, 1912-1920. Moskowitz has been criticized for eccentrically assigning priorities and tracing influences regarding particular themes and ideas based principally on publication dates, as well as for some supposed inaccuracies. His exhaustive cataloguing of early sf magazine stories by important genre authors remains the best resource for nonspecialists.
Moskowitz's most popular work may be The Immortal Storm, a historical review of internecine strife within fandom. Moskowitz wrote it in a bombastic style that made the events he described seem so important that, as fan historian Harry Warner, Jr. quipped, "If read directly after a history of World War II, it does not seem like an anticlimax."
Moskowitz was also renowned as a science fiction book collector, with a tremendous number of important early works and rarities. His book collection was auctioned off after his death.
As "Sam Martin", he was also editor of the trade publications Quick Frozen Foods and Quick Frozen Foods International for many years.
First Fandom, an organization of science fiction fans active before 1940, gives an award in Moskowitz' memory each year at the World Science Fiction Convention.
Moskowitz smoked cigarettes frequently throughout his adult life. A few years before his death, throat cancer required the surgical removal of his larynx. He continued to speak at science fiction conventions, using an electronic voice-box held against his throat. Throughout his later years, although his controversial opinions were often disputed by others, he was indisputably recognized as the leading authority on the history of science fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 26, 2016
This is a very excellent book. Not so much that the stories go above and beyond the authors' usual abilities, but that the stories are hard to find and very interesting to see how the authors work together and how some of their rare items fit in with their other works.
Especially interesting was the short story that was handed off and worked on sequentially, and included Lovecraft and RE Howard.
Of course my personal favorite was the Bradbury story, simply because of how much I've always enjoyed him. It was interesting to see his own short story and then how he expanded on it with another author.
You should also know that the stories were written at times where bigotry was just as rampant as it is now, but to even more cultures and races then currently . You will find slurs against the Irish and Italians and Jews, for example, as well as Blacks.
Especially interesting was the short story that was handed off and worked on sequentially, and included Lovecraft and RE Howard.
Of course my personal favorite was the Bradbury story, simply because of how much I've always enjoyed him. It was interesting to see his own short story and then how he expanded on it with another author.
You should also know that the stories were written at times where bigotry was just as rampant as it is now, but to even more cultures and races then currently . You will find slurs against the Irish and Italians and Jews, for example, as well as Blacks.
May 19, 2020
Not a blow-you-away anthology, rather an interesting collection of intriguing and forgotten oddities from editor Sam Moskowitz. For pulp horror fans it's most of interest for featuring THE CHALLENGE FROM BEYOND, a round robin effort from the team of C.L. Moore, A. Merritt, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and Frank Belknap Long, Jr. The end result isn't perhaps the masterpiece that you might expect given the talent involved, but fans of weird stuff will love the cosmic oddity of it all.
Edison Marshall's THE FLYING LION is one of those old-fashioned adventure yarns in which the protagonist hunts down a mythical creature living out in the wilderness. It's straightforward enough, but pales when put next to Frank Norris' GRETTIR AT THORSTALL-STEAD, a quite wonderful slice of Icelandic horror in which a merciless zombie stalks a remote farmhouse. It's packed with brooding atmosphere and genuine fear and builds to a fine climax; an unexpected gem, this one. C.L. Moore's WEREWOMAN is a forgotten tale featuring her popular hero Northwest Smith, who entangles with the titular creature on an alien salt marsh. It's fun, but perhaps goes on a little bit too long.
Fitz-James O'Brien contributes the lengthy FROM HAND TO MOUTH, a truly weird Victorian fantasy about a man staying in the oddest hotel on the planet. The only fault is that the author had no idea how to end it, leading to a hideous cop-out. Meanwhile, BODY AND SOUL sees Seabury Quinn on familiar ground with Jules de Grandin and Dr Trowbridge battling a reanimated mummy with a penchant for snapping human necks, a great pulp effort. I'd read Francis Stevens' UNSEEN-UNFEARED previously so didn't revisit, but I remember it being a good read.
Next up are two versions of the same tale, PENDULUM, by Ray Bradbury. It's an early sci-fi story about a time machine going wrong, leading to an odd solution. Both versions, one expanded by Henry Hasse, are equally good, Bradbury's shorter and to the point, Hasse's taking time to build the fantastic elements. Edwin L. Sabin's THE DEVIL OF THE PICURIS sees a Spanish settler tackling with an ancient god of legend and trying to prevent a human sacrifice; there's a little too much telling early on, but it does build to a fine climax. The last story is THE POOL OF THE STONE GOD, presumed to be by A. Merritt under a pseudonym. It reads like a Robert E. Howard tale, but much briefer, in fact too brief; you're left wanting much, much more.
Edison Marshall's THE FLYING LION is one of those old-fashioned adventure yarns in which the protagonist hunts down a mythical creature living out in the wilderness. It's straightforward enough, but pales when put next to Frank Norris' GRETTIR AT THORSTALL-STEAD, a quite wonderful slice of Icelandic horror in which a merciless zombie stalks a remote farmhouse. It's packed with brooding atmosphere and genuine fear and builds to a fine climax; an unexpected gem, this one. C.L. Moore's WEREWOMAN is a forgotten tale featuring her popular hero Northwest Smith, who entangles with the titular creature on an alien salt marsh. It's fun, but perhaps goes on a little bit too long.
Fitz-James O'Brien contributes the lengthy FROM HAND TO MOUTH, a truly weird Victorian fantasy about a man staying in the oddest hotel on the planet. The only fault is that the author had no idea how to end it, leading to a hideous cop-out. Meanwhile, BODY AND SOUL sees Seabury Quinn on familiar ground with Jules de Grandin and Dr Trowbridge battling a reanimated mummy with a penchant for snapping human necks, a great pulp effort. I'd read Francis Stevens' UNSEEN-UNFEARED previously so didn't revisit, but I remember it being a good read.
Next up are two versions of the same tale, PENDULUM, by Ray Bradbury. It's an early sci-fi story about a time machine going wrong, leading to an odd solution. Both versions, one expanded by Henry Hasse, are equally good, Bradbury's shorter and to the point, Hasse's taking time to build the fantastic elements. Edwin L. Sabin's THE DEVIL OF THE PICURIS sees a Spanish settler tackling with an ancient god of legend and trying to prevent a human sacrifice; there's a little too much telling early on, but it does build to a fine climax. The last story is THE POOL OF THE STONE GOD, presumed to be by A. Merritt under a pseudonym. It reads like a Robert E. Howard tale, but much briefer, in fact too brief; you're left wanting much, much more.
Want to read
November 21, 2022PLACEHOLDER REVIEWS
"Body And Soul" by Seabury Quinn - our redoubtable Watson, Dr. Trowbridge, has a desperate, late night caller and he and de Grandin spy a devilish face at the window! A local professor has been found with his neck snapped like a twig! A suspect who had been already sent too the electric chair! What could be the answer?!? Well, it's another pulpy adventure of the occult detective/monster-hunter Jules de Grandin, that peppery little Frenchman (who really should haven been played by a younger Martin Short, back in the day). This one, interestingly, is not so bad - it certainly has a "grabber" of an opening, and the rest proceeds as usual, but I kind of like that there are no definitive answers to this adventure involving transmigration of souls and a "non-mummified" mummy. Unoffensive and kinda fun, as long as you ignore the broad Oirish stereotype Detective Sergeant Costello, and the occasional racist slang & expressions.
"Body And Soul" by Seabury Quinn - our redoubtable Watson, Dr. Trowbridge, has a desperate, late night caller and he and de Grandin spy a devilish face at the window! A local professor has been found with his neck snapped like a twig! A suspect who had been already sent too the electric chair! What could be the answer?!? Well, it's another pulpy adventure of the occult detective/monster-hunter Jules de Grandin, that peppery little Frenchman (who really should haven been played by a younger Martin Short, back in the day). This one, interestingly, is not so bad - it certainly has a "grabber" of an opening, and the rest proceeds as usual, but I kind of like that there are no definitive answers to this adventure involving transmigration of souls and a "non-mummified" mummy. Unoffensive and kinda fun, as long as you ignore the broad Oirish stereotype Detective Sergeant Costello, and the occasional racist slang & expressions.
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October 21, 2024Unseen - Unfeared is also printed in the Big Book of the Masters of Horror
November 22, 2024
This is an anthology of horror stories originally published in the early 1970s. The first story, "The Challenge from Beyond", was a round-robin effort, started by C.L. Moore, with succeeding chapters added by A. Merritt, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and concluded by Frank Belknap Long, Jr. The other stories are all products of the mid-19th century and early 20th century, by Edison Marshall, Frank Norris, C.L. Moore, Fitz-James O'Brien, Seabury Quinn, Francis Stevens, Ray Bradbury, Henry Hasse and W. Fenimore. The editor, Sam Moskowitz, wrote a preface to each story, telling about the author(s), the publishing history of the story, etc. My favorite was the Seabury Quinn story, "Body and Soul", which combines a murder mystery with supernatural elements. The Ray Bradbury story, "The Pendulum" appears in two versions - the first is the story Bradbury first wrote, and the second an expanded version on which Henry Hasse collaborated, were also excellent. The Frank Norris (noted for his novels "The Octopus" and "The Pit") story was set in Iceland and is a sort of vampire story. All of these stories have their share of weirdness and so I recommend them to anyone who likes that kind of horror.
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November 1, 2018Very informative prefatory remarks to each story regarding original publication, the authors and similar topics.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews