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The Moons At Your Door
An anthology of strange fiction and hallucinatory tales, The Moons At Your Door collects chilling stories by many innovators of the weird whilst drawing attention to little-known and shamefully under-represented or forgotten scribes of the macabre.
The Moons At Your Door collects over 30 tales, both familiar and unknown from: Robert Aickman, Algernon Blackwood, DK Broster, AM Burrage, RW Chambers, Aleister Crowley, Sheridan Le Fanu, Elizabeth Gaskell, WW Jacobs, MR James, Vernon Lee, LA Lewis, Thomas Ligotti, Arthur Machen, Guy de Maupassant, Perrault, Thomas De Quincey, Saki, Count Stenbock, Montague Summers, HR Wakefield and Edith Wharton. The volume also includes extracts and translations by the author from Babylonian, Coptic and Biblical texts alongside poems and fairy tales.
The book’s cover features artwork by David and design by Ania Goszczyńska; the frontispiece also reproduces a painting by David.
The Moons At Your Door collects over 30 tales, both familiar and unknown from: Robert Aickman, Algernon Blackwood, DK Broster, AM Burrage, RW Chambers, Aleister Crowley, Sheridan Le Fanu, Elizabeth Gaskell, WW Jacobs, MR James, Vernon Lee, LA Lewis, Thomas Ligotti, Arthur Machen, Guy de Maupassant, Perrault, Thomas De Quincey, Saki, Count Stenbock, Montague Summers, HR Wakefield and Edith Wharton. The volume also includes extracts and translations by the author from Babylonian, Coptic and Biblical texts alongside poems and fairy tales.
The book’s cover features artwork by David and design by Ania Goszczyńska; the frontispiece also reproduces a painting by David.
452 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 18, 2018
A truly fine collection of bizarre, weird, supernatural and above all strange stories:
https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/201...
It's one thing reading an anthology of strange, supernatural tales and it's quite another to read a book that serves as part of a roadmap of stories that have not only made a huge influence on someone's life, in this case that of the editor, David Tibet, but continue to "enthral, and terrify" that person. These stories, he says,
"...spell how close is the darkness, how subtly and slyly it may seep into our lives and change them utterly."
"Enthral, and terrify" they did in my case, and seep into my life is an understatement in the case of some of these stories. For example, Count Eric Stanislaus Stenbock's "Faust" I had to put down in the middle and continue the next day because it was so utterly terrifying; "The Tower of Moab" by L.A. Lewis and "The Testament of Magdalen Blair" by Aleister Crowley took me out the comfort of my reading chair, out of my living room, and into another place entirely. Those last two are probably imprinted on my brain forever now, and along with the two stories and two poems by Stenbock in this book, have raised the bar for what I'll be expecting from my strange/dark fiction reading from this point on. Some of these twenty-eight stories I've read before, but I didn't care -- I got a sense that they belonged here for some reason so I reread them with absolute pleasure.
Oh, how sad I am how that this book is over, but fortunately all is not lost. I have Tibet's newest collection, There is a Graveyard That Dwells in Man (preordered) to look forward to. I'm just sorry I didn't save The Moons At Your Door for October reading -- it would have been great to include it in the heading-to-Halloween lineup.
One more thing: yes, you may have many of these stories in various anthologies shelved in your library, but the ones you probably don't are well worth the cost of this book. The Moons At Your Door should be a mainstay in the home libraries of any serious reader of strange/dark/supernatural fiction.
https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/201...
It's one thing reading an anthology of strange, supernatural tales and it's quite another to read a book that serves as part of a roadmap of stories that have not only made a huge influence on someone's life, in this case that of the editor, David Tibet, but continue to "enthral, and terrify" that person. These stories, he says,
"...spell how close is the darkness, how subtly and slyly it may seep into our lives and change them utterly."
"Enthral, and terrify" they did in my case, and seep into my life is an understatement in the case of some of these stories. For example, Count Eric Stanislaus Stenbock's "Faust" I had to put down in the middle and continue the next day because it was so utterly terrifying; "The Tower of Moab" by L.A. Lewis and "The Testament of Magdalen Blair" by Aleister Crowley took me out the comfort of my reading chair, out of my living room, and into another place entirely. Those last two are probably imprinted on my brain forever now, and along with the two stories and two poems by Stenbock in this book, have raised the bar for what I'll be expecting from my strange/dark fiction reading from this point on. Some of these twenty-eight stories I've read before, but I didn't care -- I got a sense that they belonged here for some reason so I reread them with absolute pleasure.
Oh, how sad I am how that this book is over, but fortunately all is not lost. I have Tibet's newest collection, There is a Graveyard That Dwells in Man (preordered) to look forward to. I'm just sorry I didn't save The Moons At Your Door for October reading -- it would have been great to include it in the heading-to-Halloween lineup.
One more thing: yes, you may have many of these stories in various anthologies shelved in your library, but the ones you probably don't are well worth the cost of this book. The Moons At Your Door should be a mainstay in the home libraries of any serious reader of strange/dark/supernatural fiction.
Want to read
May 13, 2016This hardcover copy of "The Moons At Your Door" is signed by David Tibet and is limited to 500 copies. The book arrived with a chapbook titled "The Grimoire Montague Summers" with all artwork by David Tibet.
January 15, 2023
I love this collection of dark and fantastic stories, mostly from the 1890s-1930s (a few are newer, some are much older). The stories themselves were mostly unknown to me but reading through them - well they so resonated with me that I wondered if some of the long deceased authors of the stories inside had such similar souls and thoughts to my own.
The book opens with a couple of stories by Count Eric Stanislaus Stenbock - they are beautifully written and conjured vivid images and feelings for me. Other highlights (though everything collected in this book is great, and also well ordered in their placement - like a good mixtape!) for me include: "The White People" by Arthur Machen - a rolling dreamlike narrative is read from the found journal of a girl who entered a fairy-like world beyond ours. "The Testament of Magdalen Blair" by Aleister Crowley - which contains the most interesting (and realistic...?) description of a descent to the wrong-side of afterlife. "Ravissante" by Robert Aickman, which struck a chord with me as I feel similar to the embedded protagonist (afflicted with obsession to forgotten and obscure art/artists). "Sredni Vashtar" by Saki is also a perfect short story, a delightful dark triumph that made me laugh out loud :)
I really do recommend this book, it has inspired me to look for more work by the authors I mentioned above (the stories inside have also inspired me in other ways, drawing pictures, etc).
The book opens with a couple of stories by Count Eric Stanislaus Stenbock - they are beautifully written and conjured vivid images and feelings for me. Other highlights (though everything collected in this book is great, and also well ordered in their placement - like a good mixtape!) for me include: "The White People" by Arthur Machen - a rolling dreamlike narrative is read from the found journal of a girl who entered a fairy-like world beyond ours. "The Testament of Magdalen Blair" by Aleister Crowley - which contains the most interesting (and realistic...?) description of a descent to the wrong-side of afterlife. "Ravissante" by Robert Aickman, which struck a chord with me as I feel similar to the embedded protagonist (afflicted with obsession to forgotten and obscure art/artists). "Sredni Vashtar" by Saki is also a perfect short story, a delightful dark triumph that made me laugh out loud :)
I really do recommend this book, it has inspired me to look for more work by the authors I mentioned above (the stories inside have also inspired me in other ways, drawing pictures, etc).
October 6, 2019
As a long-time fan of Current 93, this book was a road-map of founder of the band, David Tibet's literary influences... It was revelatory. Now, of course, being a long-time fan myself, I had spent over two decades seeking out the various authors and stories that appear in this book for myself. I followed the trail of crumbs that Mr. Tibet left in his song lyrics and liner notes of his albums. The fact that Mr. Tibet is so well-read and cultured in the outré and decadent artists was one of the things I liked most about his art. And through Mr. Tibet I was introduced to so much fine art; literary, musically, visually, or otherwise. This book collects most of the literary influences of Mr.Tibet in one volume. I am almost envious of those who will be reading all of the stories contained within for the first time! You are in for a very special treat. That being said, be warned that the majority of the stories are of the spectral and macabre kind. It also seems to favour English ghost stories by a wide margin. These are not complaints mind you. At least not from me. I was fascinated to see the different authors from different time periods collected in one tome, and being able to recognize a line of lyric here and a song theme there. The hardcover edition of the book itself is a sumptuous experience to hold in your hands. Strange Attractor Press has put a lot of effort into the design and presentation of the book. The book even includes David Tibet's own translations of "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and "The Thunder, Perfect Mind" alongside their original Akkadian and Coptic respectively. These ancient texts, along with the likes of MR James, Guy De Maupassant, Saki, Thomas Ligotti, to name a few, might seem like an eclectic mix. But to long-time followers of Mr. Tibet's work, it makes perfect sense. Oddly enough though, it is a strong enough volume of strange stories that I believe anyone into Weird Fiction would be rewarded by adding this book to their reading lists. There is a lot to discover within the thick and creamy pages, even for those already flowing on the 93 Current. To borrow an expression from Mr. Tibet... I am OverMoon to know that a sister volume to this collection is in the works, and I look forward to getting my grubby hands on that one too!
July 10, 2017
I'm actually reading this beautiful book. Everything about this book I love! There are stories in it I already read but will read again, and there are the ones I have not had the privileged yet. The Book is made beautifully and the paper; the cover, I have the soft cover and its easy to hold and comfortable while riding around the city in transit. I will rate the stories individually but as a whole it's a wonderful book for people who love weird supernatural stories.
February 22, 2019
I don't often read horror or ghost stories - but I quite enjoyed this collection. Much better than the tribute to david tibet book. But considering Tibet selected these stories that shouldn't be too surprising. I'll have to read volume II at some point.
September 18, 2020
The Moons at Your Door is a fantastic compilation of weird fiction, edited by David Tibet, the talent behind Current 93. While Tibet's voice may be an acquired taste, though quite in keeping with the weird, his talent as an editor is sharp as a razor. It is a literary banquet of scares and uncanny happenings by masters of such. There were many tales I had read before, some of which I reread to refresh myself. Authors include Algernon Blackwood, Arthur Machen, Aleister Crowley, and Thomas De Quincy. The latter's essay Levana and Our Lady of Sorrows is a must read for any fans of Dario Argento's 'Three Mothers' films (Suspiria, Inferno, and The Mother of Tears) since he runs down the lore on Mater Suspiriorum, Mater Tenebrarum, and Mater Lachrymarum. His essay was delightful and creepy. Stories are culled from three centuries of strange tales with a connoisseur's touch. The book has a stark and intriguing cover art from Tibet. Sadly, as I carefully read this tome, the laminate began to peel from the cover and the spine cracked, although I never opened the book wider than 90 degrees. It seems that the book did well enough for its weird sister, There is a Graveyard That Dwells in Man, which seems much better crafted. I'm not a great fan of Crowley, but 'The Testament of Magdelen Blair' is taut and ghastly in a unique way. Algernon Blackwood's 'The Touch of Pan,' while not horrific, is a pagan revel of a story that steals the reader into the unrelenting, sensual world of the Great God Pan- a whirlwind of a story that whet my appetite for more from him. Only a few stories seem mild, though they have their frisson. I'll admit that this is my favorite weird anthology, refreshingly lacking hoary old, ubiquitous racist H.P. Lovecraft. Do yourself a treat and enjoy this treasure.
July 6, 2019
An absolutely fantastic collection of gothic horror and ghost stories from the masters of the early 20th and 19th century, and even some before that.
Absolute pleasure and greatly inspiring to read!
Favorites include: all stories by MR James; The Tower of Moab by LA Lewis; The White People by Arthur Machen and Smee by AM Burrage. But honestly (save for surprisingly Aleister Crowley's contribution) there isn't a weak story here.
Can't wait for the batch of classics that David Tibet has collected for his next anthology.
Absolute pleasure and greatly inspiring to read!
Favorites include: all stories by MR James; The Tower of Moab by LA Lewis; The White People by Arthur Machen and Smee by AM Burrage. But honestly (save for surprisingly Aleister Crowley's contribution) there isn't a weak story here.
Can't wait for the batch of classics that David Tibet has collected for his next anthology.
December 21, 2024
A scrumptious selection box of unspeakable confections chosen for our delectation by Mr. Tibet and decorated with some of his visions.
There are old favourites by Arthur Machen, WW Jacobs and MR James, some poetry, song and ancient dabblings, but also unexpected, unexplored scribes like Count Eric Stanislaus Stenbock (you might as well be a writer with a name like that) and a gloriously camp offering called “Couching at the Door “ by DK Broster about a rather volatile feather boa.
All in all a rewarding, esoteric experience.
There are old favourites by Arthur Machen, WW Jacobs and MR James, some poetry, song and ancient dabblings, but also unexpected, unexplored scribes like Count Eric Stanislaus Stenbock (you might as well be a writer with a name like that) and a gloriously camp offering called “Couching at the Door “ by DK Broster about a rather volatile feather boa.
All in all a rewarding, esoteric experience.
November 28, 2018
A great collection of hypnotic, haunting, hallucinatory horror. Some stories read better than others but there is always a subtle transformative element in each one which somehow captivate and puts you under its spell. I really look forward to delving back in to some of these dream like tales again in the future.
May 1, 2024
A totally excellent collection of wyrd stories. Plenty here that I've got elsewhere (MR James, Blackwood, Chambers, etc), but still plenty I've not (Stenbock for one). Hopefully this goes into another edition and it becomes more widely available. A shame, really, that this isn't crapped-out into a pocket paperback edition for 6 bucks!
September 3, 2024
A fantastic collection of short stories in one book! Some are classics that I have read before and got to enjoy rereading, some are classics that I enjoyed reading for the first time, and other stories, while not in a sense "classic", don't feel out of place amongst the other stories. A wonder tome through and through.
July 10, 2023
One of the best anthologies of classic supernatural fiction ever produced. Twice as cool if you’re a Current 93 fan as you will notice how these works influenced certain songs or lyrical preoccupations. Also fun to imagine David Tibet’s voice as the narrator of the stories.
April 17, 2019
Despite having read a good amount of these stories before, this is an excellently curated collection of supernatural fiction. A must for any fan of horror fiction.
April 15, 2020
A well curated anthology with more hits than misses, but not all of the picks feel of a spirit. The Tower of Moab was my favorite discovery of the bunch, an excellent read.
August 13, 2020
Love it to pieces, wanting to buy it again.
October 28, 2020
Excellent introduction and selection by David Tibet. Great stories and paced appropriately to make the hours fly by. Some classics I already knew and some new-to-me classics as well.
October 3, 2022
Erudite and highly personal collection of horror stories, including some excellent rarities. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
September 5, 2025
A treasury of supernatural literature from the absolute greats of the genre.
September 17, 2016
A great collection of tales - though, because of the anthological status and the relative availability of these stories in the wild, you're most likely going to purchase this based on the stature and credibility of one David Tibet. All of these works hold merit, and all have astounding riches to bestow upon the reader; however, their organization here seem a little more haphazard than perhaps I would have liked.
The limited edition includes a svelte little copy of The Grimoire, and considering the more fatalistic outcomes of this collection, it's easy to see why this work was ultimately not included as part of the fabric of The Moons at Your Door.
The limited edition includes a svelte little copy of The Grimoire, and considering the more fatalistic outcomes of this collection, it's easy to see why this work was ultimately not included as part of the fabric of The Moons at Your Door.
September 19, 2016
[Will write a review shortly...]
October 25, 2016
Solid collection of weird fiction, and a great introduction to some of the authors included.
October 9, 2023
Grade: A- “Fabulous”
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews