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First Book of Unknown Tales of Horror
“Isolated from all others, a man is seated. Are those cords that bind his limbs? Any why those wide, dim eyes and that pallid hue? It is passing strange…”
With this eerie description, Bram Stoker, the creator of “Dracula”, introduces another mysterious denizen of the dark. But this character appears in a story he wrote a quarter of a century before his world-famous novel. A short story that has been forgotten until now.
In this FIRST BOOK OF UNKNOWN TALES OF HORROR Bram Stoker’s remarkable short story is just one of twelve unique items which have been rescued from oblivion by leading anthologist, Peter Haining.
With this eerie description, Bram Stoker, the creator of “Dracula”, introduces another mysterious denizen of the dark. But this character appears in a story he wrote a quarter of a century before his world-famous novel. A short story that has been forgotten until now.
In this FIRST BOOK OF UNKNOWN TALES OF HORROR Bram Stoker’s remarkable short story is just one of twelve unique items which have been rescued from oblivion by leading anthologist, Peter Haining.
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
Paperback
Published October 1, 1976
17 people want to read
About the author
Peter Haining
331 books99 followersPeter Alexander Haining was an English journalist, author and anthologist who lived and worked in Suffolk. Born in Enfield, Middlesex, he began his career as a reporter in Essex and then moved to London where he worked on a trade magazine before joining the publishing house of New English Library.
Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wrote three novels, including The Hero (1973), which was optioned for filming.
In two controversial books, Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a real historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800, was tried in December 1801, and was hanged in January 1802. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims. A check of the website Old Bailey at for "Associated Records 1674-1834" for an alleged trial in December 1801 and hanging of Sweeney Todd for January 1802 show no reference; in fact the only murder trial for this period is that of a Governor/Lt Col. Joseph Wall who was hanged 28 January 1802 for killing a Benjamin Armstrong 10 July 1782 in "Goree" Africa and the discharge of a Humphrey White in January 1802. Strong reservations have also been expressed regarding the reliability of another of Haining's influential non-fiction works, The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
He wrote several reference books on Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special Doctor Who: A Celebration Two Decades Through Time and Space (1983), and also wrote the definitive study of Sherlock Holmes on the screen, The Television Sherlock Holmes (1991) and several other television tie-ins featuring famous literary characters, including Maigret, Poirot and James Bond. Peter Haining's most recent project was a series of World War Two stories based on extensive research and personal interviews: The Jail That Went To Sea (2003), The Mystery of Rommel's Gold (2004), Where The Eagle Landed (2004), The Chianti Raiders (2005) and The Banzai Hunters (2007).
He won the British Fantasy Awards Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001.
Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wrote three novels, including The Hero (1973), which was optioned for filming.
In two controversial books, Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a real historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800, was tried in December 1801, and was hanged in January 1802. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims. A check of the website Old Bailey at for "Associated Records 1674-1834" for an alleged trial in December 1801 and hanging of Sweeney Todd for January 1802 show no reference; in fact the only murder trial for this period is that of a Governor/Lt Col. Joseph Wall who was hanged 28 January 1802 for killing a Benjamin Armstrong 10 July 1782 in "Goree" Africa and the discharge of a Humphrey White in January 1802. Strong reservations have also been expressed regarding the reliability of another of Haining's influential non-fiction works, The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
He wrote several reference books on Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special Doctor Who: A Celebration Two Decades Through Time and Space (1983), and also wrote the definitive study of Sherlock Holmes on the screen, The Television Sherlock Holmes (1991) and several other television tie-ins featuring famous literary characters, including Maigret, Poirot and James Bond. Peter Haining's most recent project was a series of World War Two stories based on extensive research and personal interviews: The Jail That Went To Sea (2003), The Mystery of Rommel's Gold (2004), Where The Eagle Landed (2004), The Chianti Raiders (2005) and The Banzai Hunters (2007).
He won the British Fantasy Awards Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001.
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October 25, 2023PLACEHOLDER REVIEW
Arthur Machen's story here, "The Cosy Room," is a bit different than his usual. A young man commits a murder and flees to another neighborhood, hoping to hide away until the thing has blown over. But "murder will out" and all that... It's an okay psychological yarn (you couldn't really call it "horror," nor is is supernatural) all about the slow accrual of mental instability that comes from fear of retribution - all worrying about being out in daylight, or darkness, muttering repetitiously to oneself, etc. So "The Tell-Tale Heart" but not as gruesome, nor dramatic - veddy British.
Arthur Machen's story here, "The Cosy Room," is a bit different than his usual. A young man commits a murder and flees to another neighborhood, hoping to hide away until the thing has blown over. But "murder will out" and all that... It's an okay psychological yarn (you couldn't really call it "horror," nor is is supernatural) all about the slow accrual of mental instability that comes from fear of retribution - all worrying about being out in daylight, or darkness, muttering repetitiously to oneself, etc. So "The Tell-Tale Heart" but not as gruesome, nor dramatic - veddy British.
January 18, 2023
From Casual Debris.
This small collection is part of a series of three books assembled by prolific anthologist Peter Haining, collecting little known works from a combination of popular and lesser known supernatural fiction authors. Haining writes in his introduction that there has been an inundation of horror anthologies in recent years (1976), and that the same stories are being reprinted repeatedly, and that "the endlessly patient readership has accepted this in the hope, too often vain, that amongst the familiar there might occasionally appear the unfamiliar."
The idea is a good one, and yet there is usually a reason most neglected stories have not been often reprinted, and that is mainly because they are not very good. Had they been of better quality, they would not have been neglected, or published/re-printed only long after the author's death (as is the case with the Bram Stoker and Robert E. Howard stories). The anthology is, however, far better than I expected it to be. While it is not brilliant, it does include some stories I am happy to have read. It is of interest primarily to those who generally enjoy supernatural tales, but a casual reader would likely not care for most of what Haining has put together. The stories are not bad by any means, though there are a couple of weak ones included. My favourite is the first, H. Russell Wakefield's "The Sepulchre of Jasper Sarasen," while I also enjoyed the Arthur Machen story, "The Cosy Room," and the next-to-last story, which has no supernatural element but some good writing and fine suspense, Francis Clifford's "Ten Minutes on a June Morning."
The Sepulchre of Jasper Sarasen by H. Russell Wakefield 7/10
Fantastic Universe, August/September 1953
Ornithologist Sir Reginald Ramley comes across a sepulchre containing six coffins. The burial grounds are decrepit, likely the result of a bomb from the recent war. Speaking with the cemetery warden, Ramley learns that the coffins belong to a woman and four children, and the husband/father who is believed to have murdered them, and who died mysteriously shortly afterwards. For some odd reason, Ramley is drawn to the coffins, dreaming of the sepulchre and when awake, feeling drawn to return.
Very much a Victorian ghost story in style and tone, the story is quite engaging and creepy,
The Crystal Cup by Bram Stoker 6/10
London Society, September 1872
An artist captured and imprisoned so that he creates a thing of beauty for the upcoming Feast of Beauty, suffers and pines for his lost love. He builds a splendid crystal cup, and dies. The Feast of Beauty is held, and revenge, as expected, is meted out. Split into three sections with three points of view, the story is interesting enough, but for the melodramatic over-writing of the first and third sections. In the introduction Haining mentions the story has not yet been collected, and it is likely because it is not very good. Not Stoker's best work by a long shot, but there is evidence of talent in this early story.
The Cosy Room by Arthur Machen 6/10
Shudders, Cynthia Asquith, ed., 1929
A young man rents a cosy room in a small English town, having fled Ledham after committing murder. He plans to wait for things to cool off then take the train to South London where he would find work and disappear in the crowd. But as he waits, his mind plays tricks on him. An interesting psychological suspense story, well written, but lacking a strong finale.
The Little People by Robert E. Howard 4/10
Coven, 13 January 1970
An American brother and sister are visiting the English moors, and the older brother explains to his sister that the "little people" stories of Arthur Machen are based on tribes that existed a long time ago. To prove that the idea of little people is "rot," sister Joan decides to spend the night out on the moors. Then the expected happens. Really not very good, and not surprising that it remaining unpublished during Howard's lifetime (1906 - 1936). Like the Stoker story included in this anthology, it was resurrected in order to give hungry readers something new.
Scar Tissue by Henry S. Whitehead 6/10
West India Lights, Arkham House, 1946
Our narrator Gerald Canevin takes in a young man named Joe Smith, who has "ancestral memories," memories of former lives. Smith proceeds to tell of his memories fighting in an arena, and provides proof via a scar left from what should have been a fatal wound.
Surprisingly interesting. I enjoyed the arena re-telling, whereas high adventure normally bores me, and I feel overall the idea is well presented, with no real resolution. But I suppose that scar tissue points to the truth in that final scene.
The Hero of the Plague by W. C. Morrow 7/10
The Californian, January 1880, as "The Man from Georgia"
A disheveled yet honest-looking man named Baker appears one day at a hotel, asking for work. Though ridiculed by the porter, the sympathetic hotel owner takes him in. A victim of wrongful imprisonment, Baker is distracted and confused, but recovers over time with the comforts of the hotel. One day a guest infected with cholera dies at the hotel, and the doctor, with the help of the owner and Baker, administer to the sick.
This is a well written story with some fine dialogue that borders on the comically ludicrous, a style I quite enjoy. There is predictability and pathos, but Baker is well drawn and I very much enjoyed reading this. I much prefer the more appropriate original title, "The Man from Georgia," as the title used for the anthology covers only a minor portion of the tale, and sucks the pathos marrow.
The Horror Undying by Manly Wade Wellman 7/10
Weird Tales, May 1936
Lost in the woods in the middle of a snowstorm, a man takes shelter in an abandoned cabin, and finds under the floorboards a documents that tell stories of what appear to be cannibalism.
Though predictable through and through, the tales within the pamphlets and clippings are interesting and engaging. We are expected, however, to believe that the narrator, who reads and then destroys the documents, is able to quote their entirety verbatim.
The Machine that Changed History by Robert Bloch 7/10
Science Fiction Stories, July 1943
Hitler's scientists have constructed a time machine, and Hitler has Napoleon brought from 1807 to present day 1942. Hitler hopes that the brilliant strategist can help undo his errors and bring him world domination, promising to share the spoils with Napoleon. But Hitler does not count on this story being written by a young Robert Bloch, so there is a twist on its way.
The Candle by Ray Bradbury 6/10
Weird Tales, November 1942
Unhappily married Jules Marcott spots a decorative candle amid the weapons in an old shop, and instinctively decides to purchase the item. The shop proprietor tells Jules that if he lights the candle and whispers the name of a person, that person will immediately die, and demonstrates this on a frisky cat. The price to rent the candle is three thousand dollars. Desperate and yet without money, Jules steals the candle to seek revenge on the man who stole his wife away.
Predictable, but a fun early Bradbury read.
Unholy Hybrid by William Bankier 6/10
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September 1963
Sutter Clay is an excellent gardener, able to grow the best stock in the region, and able also to create some exceptional hybrids. When he murders the woman who has spent the winter with him, he buries her amid the pumpkins on his land. A good read but the ending could have been so much more effective, as it delivers the expected rather than offering up somtehing different, or a twist on the expected.
Ten Minutes on a June Morning by Francis Clifford 7/10
Argosy (UK), April 1970
Revolutionary Manuel Suredez, sentenced to death, is reprieved while on the scaffold with the noose around his neck. The Colonel tells him that he was saved because of his excellent marksmanship, and because of this skill he will be sent to the town of Villanova to murder a man. If he fails, his parents and sister will be killed. The man he must assassinate is the personal envoy to the President of the United States.
A surprisingly good story, with a great deal of suspense. Clifford is patient with his story, focusing on its details, and delivers a genuinely tragic end. Francis Clifford was born Arthur Leonard Bell Thompson (1917 - 1975).
They're Playing Our Song by Harry Harrison 5/10
Fantastic Stories of Imagination, December 1964
A very short story about a rock quartet, The Spiders, their obsessive fans and an expected twist.
This small collection is part of a series of three books assembled by prolific anthologist Peter Haining, collecting little known works from a combination of popular and lesser known supernatural fiction authors. Haining writes in his introduction that there has been an inundation of horror anthologies in recent years (1976), and that the same stories are being reprinted repeatedly, and that "the endlessly patient readership has accepted this in the hope, too often vain, that amongst the familiar there might occasionally appear the unfamiliar."
The idea is a good one, and yet there is usually a reason most neglected stories have not been often reprinted, and that is mainly because they are not very good. Had they been of better quality, they would not have been neglected, or published/re-printed only long after the author's death (as is the case with the Bram Stoker and Robert E. Howard stories). The anthology is, however, far better than I expected it to be. While it is not brilliant, it does include some stories I am happy to have read. It is of interest primarily to those who generally enjoy supernatural tales, but a casual reader would likely not care for most of what Haining has put together. The stories are not bad by any means, though there are a couple of weak ones included. My favourite is the first, H. Russell Wakefield's "The Sepulchre of Jasper Sarasen," while I also enjoyed the Arthur Machen story, "The Cosy Room," and the next-to-last story, which has no supernatural element but some good writing and fine suspense, Francis Clifford's "Ten Minutes on a June Morning."
The Sepulchre of Jasper Sarasen by H. Russell Wakefield 7/10
Fantastic Universe, August/September 1953
Ornithologist Sir Reginald Ramley comes across a sepulchre containing six coffins. The burial grounds are decrepit, likely the result of a bomb from the recent war. Speaking with the cemetery warden, Ramley learns that the coffins belong to a woman and four children, and the husband/father who is believed to have murdered them, and who died mysteriously shortly afterwards. For some odd reason, Ramley is drawn to the coffins, dreaming of the sepulchre and when awake, feeling drawn to return.
Very much a Victorian ghost story in style and tone, the story is quite engaging and creepy,
The Crystal Cup by Bram Stoker 6/10
London Society, September 1872
An artist captured and imprisoned so that he creates a thing of beauty for the upcoming Feast of Beauty, suffers and pines for his lost love. He builds a splendid crystal cup, and dies. The Feast of Beauty is held, and revenge, as expected, is meted out. Split into three sections with three points of view, the story is interesting enough, but for the melodramatic over-writing of the first and third sections. In the introduction Haining mentions the story has not yet been collected, and it is likely because it is not very good. Not Stoker's best work by a long shot, but there is evidence of talent in this early story.
The Cosy Room by Arthur Machen 6/10
Shudders, Cynthia Asquith, ed., 1929
A young man rents a cosy room in a small English town, having fled Ledham after committing murder. He plans to wait for things to cool off then take the train to South London where he would find work and disappear in the crowd. But as he waits, his mind plays tricks on him. An interesting psychological suspense story, well written, but lacking a strong finale.
The Little People by Robert E. Howard 4/10
Coven, 13 January 1970
An American brother and sister are visiting the English moors, and the older brother explains to his sister that the "little people" stories of Arthur Machen are based on tribes that existed a long time ago. To prove that the idea of little people is "rot," sister Joan decides to spend the night out on the moors. Then the expected happens. Really not very good, and not surprising that it remaining unpublished during Howard's lifetime (1906 - 1936). Like the Stoker story included in this anthology, it was resurrected in order to give hungry readers something new.
Scar Tissue by Henry S. Whitehead 6/10
West India Lights, Arkham House, 1946
Our narrator Gerald Canevin takes in a young man named Joe Smith, who has "ancestral memories," memories of former lives. Smith proceeds to tell of his memories fighting in an arena, and provides proof via a scar left from what should have been a fatal wound.
Surprisingly interesting. I enjoyed the arena re-telling, whereas high adventure normally bores me, and I feel overall the idea is well presented, with no real resolution. But I suppose that scar tissue points to the truth in that final scene.
The Hero of the Plague by W. C. Morrow 7/10
The Californian, January 1880, as "The Man from Georgia"
A disheveled yet honest-looking man named Baker appears one day at a hotel, asking for work. Though ridiculed by the porter, the sympathetic hotel owner takes him in. A victim of wrongful imprisonment, Baker is distracted and confused, but recovers over time with the comforts of the hotel. One day a guest infected with cholera dies at the hotel, and the doctor, with the help of the owner and Baker, administer to the sick.
This is a well written story with some fine dialogue that borders on the comically ludicrous, a style I quite enjoy. There is predictability and pathos, but Baker is well drawn and I very much enjoyed reading this. I much prefer the more appropriate original title, "The Man from Georgia," as the title used for the anthology covers only a minor portion of the tale, and sucks the pathos marrow.
The Horror Undying by Manly Wade Wellman 7/10
Weird Tales, May 1936
Lost in the woods in the middle of a snowstorm, a man takes shelter in an abandoned cabin, and finds under the floorboards a documents that tell stories of what appear to be cannibalism.
Though predictable through and through, the tales within the pamphlets and clippings are interesting and engaging. We are expected, however, to believe that the narrator, who reads and then destroys the documents, is able to quote their entirety verbatim.
The Machine that Changed History by Robert Bloch 7/10
Science Fiction Stories, July 1943
Hitler's scientists have constructed a time machine, and Hitler has Napoleon brought from 1807 to present day 1942. Hitler hopes that the brilliant strategist can help undo his errors and bring him world domination, promising to share the spoils with Napoleon. But Hitler does not count on this story being written by a young Robert Bloch, so there is a twist on its way.
The Candle by Ray Bradbury 6/10
Weird Tales, November 1942
Unhappily married Jules Marcott spots a decorative candle amid the weapons in an old shop, and instinctively decides to purchase the item. The shop proprietor tells Jules that if he lights the candle and whispers the name of a person, that person will immediately die, and demonstrates this on a frisky cat. The price to rent the candle is three thousand dollars. Desperate and yet without money, Jules steals the candle to seek revenge on the man who stole his wife away.
Predictable, but a fun early Bradbury read.
Unholy Hybrid by William Bankier 6/10
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September 1963
Sutter Clay is an excellent gardener, able to grow the best stock in the region, and able also to create some exceptional hybrids. When he murders the woman who has spent the winter with him, he buries her amid the pumpkins on his land. A good read but the ending could have been so much more effective, as it delivers the expected rather than offering up somtehing different, or a twist on the expected.
Ten Minutes on a June Morning by Francis Clifford 7/10
Argosy (UK), April 1970
Revolutionary Manuel Suredez, sentenced to death, is reprieved while on the scaffold with the noose around his neck. The Colonel tells him that he was saved because of his excellent marksmanship, and because of this skill he will be sent to the town of Villanova to murder a man. If he fails, his parents and sister will be killed. The man he must assassinate is the personal envoy to the President of the United States.
A surprisingly good story, with a great deal of suspense. Clifford is patient with his story, focusing on its details, and delivers a genuinely tragic end. Francis Clifford was born Arthur Leonard Bell Thompson (1917 - 1975).
They're Playing Our Song by Harry Harrison 5/10
Fantastic Stories of Imagination, December 1964
A very short story about a rock quartet, The Spiders, their obsessive fans and an expected twist.
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September 15, 2019
Average horror anthology, with the advantage of having no stories that I had previously read. Most interesting are The Sepulchre Of Jasper, a neat ghost story with a memorable haunting; The Cozy Room, an odd piece of psychological horror, atypical of the author's usual work; The Horror Undying; The Machine That Changed History, which works because of my total lack of sympathy for the main character; and The Candle, an effective cursed object story. The rest were mostly readable but not particularly noteworthy.
October 11, 2025
Most of the stories were unmemorable and not even horror. The Bram Stoker short story was more fantasy and mild, barely horror - but it was enjoyable. There was also a time travel story about Hitler who uses it to bring Napoleon.
It was just really average.
It was just really average.
October 8, 2023
FIRST BOOK OF UNKNOWN TALES OF HORROR is another '70s horror anthology paperback from prolific editor Peter Haining, one that's easy to miss amid dozens of other very similar offerings. However, this book is worth checking out insofar as Haining goes out of his way to collect stories that have been seldom anthologised elsewhere, making this a journey of discovery for the average horror fan.
Things open with a bit of H. Russell Wakefield and THE SEPULCHRE OF JASPER SARASEN, about a man obsessed with a local tomb. It's a straightforward spook-fest with plenty of unease and a rare treat for readers. Wakefield was a master of the format and this story is a fine opener. Bram Stoker is up next with THE CRYSTAL CUP, all about an obsessed artist. It's fantasy rather than horror, split into three separate narratives, and with a brooding atmosphere that foreshadows his most famous creations. Arthur Machen's THE COSY ROOM is even better, short but exquisitely sweet, detailing the psychological state of a murderer. Machen's detailed prose perfectly captures the conscience of his protagonist.
THE LITTLE PEOPLE sees Robert E. Howard exploring the Picts once more, as Americans in Wales explore some ancient ruins. It's a rather unbelievable modern story mixing fairy tales, gore, action, and ghostly activity in about three pages. Henry S. Whitehead's SCAR TISSUE is about a guy washed up by the sea with a terrible scar on his abdomen. The setting is the Virgin Islands and it's a thoroughly original piece of writing that even includes arena action in ancient Rome. You won't have read anything quite like it. THE HERO OF THE PLAGUE is by W.C. Morrow is ahead of its time and reminiscent of OF MICE AND MEN. The plague also features predominantly. It's a mix of psychological horror and tragedy, and one of the finest stories collected here.
THE HORROR UNDYING sees one of my favourite authors, Manly Wade Wellman, telling the tale of a werewolf turned vampire. It's creative and exceptionally written, a clever spin on the old legends, and thoroughly gruesome with it. Robert Bloch's THE MACHINE THAT CHANGED HISTORY is a piece of science fiction about a time traveller and unlike anything else I've encountered by the author. It's ingenious and has a fine twist in the tale to boot. Hitler teams up with Napoleon? Genius! THE CANDLE is a work by Ray Bradbury, exploring the subject of voodoo in the form of a magic candle which can make wishes come true. Unfortunately the twist is a little too obvious here.
William Bankier's UNHOLY HYBRID is about a farmer who finds a weird pumpkin growing in his patch. It mixes Ed Gein-style psycho thrills with weird horticulture and weird really is the word here. TEN MINUTES ON A JUNE MORNING sees Francis Clifford telling the tale of a man forced into becoming an assassin, his target the US ambassador. It's a gripping read and spine-chilling with it, very in-your-face with a streak of gritty realism. The final story is Harry Harrison's THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG which is a thinly-disguised story about The Beatles and their legacy. It's obvious and too cheesy, and I have no idea why Haining included it.
Things open with a bit of H. Russell Wakefield and THE SEPULCHRE OF JASPER SARASEN, about a man obsessed with a local tomb. It's a straightforward spook-fest with plenty of unease and a rare treat for readers. Wakefield was a master of the format and this story is a fine opener. Bram Stoker is up next with THE CRYSTAL CUP, all about an obsessed artist. It's fantasy rather than horror, split into three separate narratives, and with a brooding atmosphere that foreshadows his most famous creations. Arthur Machen's THE COSY ROOM is even better, short but exquisitely sweet, detailing the psychological state of a murderer. Machen's detailed prose perfectly captures the conscience of his protagonist.
THE LITTLE PEOPLE sees Robert E. Howard exploring the Picts once more, as Americans in Wales explore some ancient ruins. It's a rather unbelievable modern story mixing fairy tales, gore, action, and ghostly activity in about three pages. Henry S. Whitehead's SCAR TISSUE is about a guy washed up by the sea with a terrible scar on his abdomen. The setting is the Virgin Islands and it's a thoroughly original piece of writing that even includes arena action in ancient Rome. You won't have read anything quite like it. THE HERO OF THE PLAGUE is by W.C. Morrow is ahead of its time and reminiscent of OF MICE AND MEN. The plague also features predominantly. It's a mix of psychological horror and tragedy, and one of the finest stories collected here.
THE HORROR UNDYING sees one of my favourite authors, Manly Wade Wellman, telling the tale of a werewolf turned vampire. It's creative and exceptionally written, a clever spin on the old legends, and thoroughly gruesome with it. Robert Bloch's THE MACHINE THAT CHANGED HISTORY is a piece of science fiction about a time traveller and unlike anything else I've encountered by the author. It's ingenious and has a fine twist in the tale to boot. Hitler teams up with Napoleon? Genius! THE CANDLE is a work by Ray Bradbury, exploring the subject of voodoo in the form of a magic candle which can make wishes come true. Unfortunately the twist is a little too obvious here.
William Bankier's UNHOLY HYBRID is about a farmer who finds a weird pumpkin growing in his patch. It mixes Ed Gein-style psycho thrills with weird horticulture and weird really is the word here. TEN MINUTES ON A JUNE MORNING sees Francis Clifford telling the tale of a man forced into becoming an assassin, his target the US ambassador. It's a gripping read and spine-chilling with it, very in-your-face with a streak of gritty realism. The final story is Harry Harrison's THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG which is a thinly-disguised story about The Beatles and their legacy. It's obvious and too cheesy, and I have no idea why Haining included it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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