The Ushers

by Edward Lee

The first digital edition of the cult story collection by the Master of Hardcore Horror. Includes the “Death, She Said” (1993), “The Wrong Guy” (1993), “The Decortication Technician,” (1999), “Secret Service” (1998), “Mr. Torso” (1994), “The Hole in the Wall” (1999) , “The Seeker” (1992), “Almost Never” (1991),“The Man Who Loved Clichés” (1992), “Grub Girl in the Prison of Dead Women” (1997), “Please Let Me Out” (1994), “The Horror of Chambers” (1982), “Shit-House” (1995), “Goddess of the New Dark Age (1992), “The Salt-Diviner” (1999), “Scriptures” (1999), “Xipe” (1993), “Hands” (1999), “The Ushers” (1999) This edition contains a new Foreword by the Author. Cover Art by Les Edwards

Genres: Horror

455 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.

Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.

He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.

Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.

Reviews

[Karl]

This hardcover is numbered 170 of 250 and is signed by Edward Lee & Alan Clark.

the deluxe version contains an additional story--"The Cadaver"--that Lee vows will never be reprinted.

Contents:

Mr. Torso
Miss Torso
The Dritiphilist
Grub Girl In The Prison Of Dead Women
The McCrath Model SS40-C Series S
Makak
The Baby
Mother
The Wrong Guy
Ever Nat
Hands
The Salt-Diviner
About the Author

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read and loved a few of Edward Lee's novels but these short stories were pretty hit or miss.
There were only a couple that I really liked a lot, one of which previously appeared in Cemetery Dance Magazine and had a more main stream horror feel to it.

The thing about Edward Lee is that he likes to write about vomit, urine and feces, and forcing people to swallow waste. He likes to write about rape, sexual deviants, and after a while though the titles of the stories change the subject never seems to.

In "Almost Never" a young girl is being stalked by would be kidnappers who mean to sell her but they don't know she is not as easy a target as they expect her to be.
In "Please Let Me Out" Joyce Lipnick is a woman scorned, who will make sure she gets and keeps her man. These two stories were the best of the bunch.

The rest of the stories? meh.
The have all blended together in my mind. I can't tell you which story had someone vomiting into someone else's mouth, or raping a corpse (oops that may have actually been the same story.) but it seemed to me that only the names of the characters changed and bled into the same acts in the same stories over and over.

3 out of 5 stars only because of the 2 stories that I enjoyed so much.

[Sharon Leung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

I'm not a lover off short stories, mainly as I still have the previous story in my head so when you stop to say, make a coffee. When I get back to the story sometimes you have to re-read as I still am thinking of the previous story as I haven't read enough to get into current one. But..... This was different in many ways. I grasped each story straight away and was taken away from the previous one. They had you hooked and compelled like a spell. I still prefer the longer stories but I like to change now an again and read a collection of shorts if I really enjoy an author. And I have to say that Mr Lee is my favourite. Raw and brutal no messing and beating around the bush. I love the harsh brutality and reality his works bring. And this is no different. True to his form with, I feel a little more insight into Mr Lee. I don't do social media (i have accounts) but don't use them since I got ill. I don't go out. Must be near 4yr now bar from doc appoints. What I'm saying is I don't discuss, read his social media or fan pages. But this book sort of made me feel like I understood him more as a person. Now I've bored you. Go read this book and you will see what I mean. Another great read!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best collection of Edward Lee stories. Available as an ebook.

[Mehmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first time I started reading Edward Lee back in 2013 I always get the same feeling of confusion. I love his writing style, i even enjoy some of his dark humour. But he never fails to disturb me, distress me. Although i aimed to try to read all the Edward Lee books i have in my possession, i cannot continue on to a third book without a break. Must be testament to what a good author that he still creates these mixed feeling in me. This collection of short stories are equally a mix of fun, absurb, disgusting, disturbing and thought provoking. Some of the themes Mr Lee has in his books is the savage side of human nature. I assume he does not believe in the philosophy that we are naturally good inside. Great set of stories. Just be warned like all Edward Lee stories, they are not for the faint hearted. Even i was to disturbed to go straight to sleep after reading at night....

[James Nealon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Yet another brilliant and delightful escape into the macabre with the master of gore. I have read nearly everything this man has written, and I am absolutely in love with every single word.

[Randall Uerkvitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Lee Rocks!

I'm sure that some Edward Lee fans are in it for the graphic splatter-gore, or the bizarre sequel scenarios. As for me; I'm always purely in it for the horror, and Mr. Lee always delivers!

[Rosa]

At least he feels guilty.
He's seen things. I can't bear the things he has actually seen.
He's not just making it up.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glimpse in the mind of Edward Lee

Some story's are old , all previously published they were all a glimpse in the mind of Edward Lee. The writings were Diverse and all were good. I recommend to all fans of modern horror

[John R. Dailey Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A LOT OF EDWARD LEE IT IS...

Hello, this, as usual, is a bunch of far out, sex filled and gory tales. Some I've never read before and a few that I have. Thanks.