Shadows 6

by Charles L. Grant (Editor)

It can happen to anyone... a terrified schoolteacher, a lonely housewife or a small, frightened child.

It can happen anywhere... on a desolate highway, in an empty house or a dark, secluded graveyard.

It can happen any time... in the dead of night, in the light of day or while reading a book.

It can happen to you... but one way or another, it's going to happen—and screaming won't stop it...

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies

180 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1986

About the author

Charles Lewis Grant was a novelist and short story writer specializing in what he called "dark fantasy" and "quiet horror." He also wrote under the pseudonyms of Geoffrey Marsh, Lionel Fenn, Simon Lake, Felicia Andrews, and Deborah Lewis.

Grant won a World Fantasy Award for his novella collection Nightmare Seasons, a Nebula Award in 1976 for his short story "A Crowd of Shadows", and another Nebula Award in 1978 for his novella "A Glow of Candles, a Unicorn's Eye," the latter telling of an actor's dilemma in a post-literate future. Grant also edited the award winning Shadows anthology, running eleven volumes from 1978-1991. Contributors include Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, R.A. Lafferty, Avram Davidson, and Steve Rasnic and Melanie Tem. Grant was a former Executive Secretary and Eastern Regional Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and president of the Horror Writers Association.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really two and a half stars.

[Kevin Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection, as always. Especially Dave Morrell's last one in this collection...

[Jendi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short horror fiction collection from 1983 opts for the uncanny over the gross-out, with excellent atmospheric writing in most of the stories. The authors understand that unexplained menaces are scarier. However, I was a little disappointed by the prevalence of ambiguous endings. The most successful, in my opinion, were Steve Rasnic Tem's "Crutches", Leslie A. Horvitz's "The Appearances of Georgio", Pat Cadigan's "Eenie, Meenie, Ipsateenie", and Al Sarrantonio's "The Man With Legs". Except for "Legs", an effective piece of body horror, these others had that Ramsey Campbell vibe where you aren't sure if something supernatural is happening or if the protagonist is paranoid, and it doesn't matter because both options are terrifying. David Morrell's "But At My Back I Always Hear", a stalker story, would have been satisfying except for the somewhat sexist and ableist depiction of the female student obsessed with her male professor.

[Alex Budris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second edition Berkley paperback edition from 1986. Fine condition. It is signed by editor Charles Grant. The plan is to acquire nice hardcover editions of all ten Shadows volumes, a complete set. I have volumes 1-7 of S.T. Joshi's Black Wings series (sans vol 2) in a neat, hardcover row. Signed TPBs of all the Shivers from Cemetery Dance. These things materialize, given time. The trick is once you have them not to sell them.

[Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories I liked, and some I didn't. The last story was the best. The very best. Creepy. Good ending.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, not bad. Some real stinkers in here, of course. But also a few gems that I think made up for the others a little. The writing was quite good for an old pulp horror collection. I might have to check out the rest of this series!

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best in the series.