Nightworlds

by William F. Nolan

Collects the renowned author's award-winning horror stories in one chilling volume that takes readers into a dark realm where nothing is what it seems and terror hides in the shadows.

Contents:
• Preface
• Kelly, Fredric Michael: 1928-1987 (1973)
• On 42nd St. (1989)
• The Halloween Man (1986)
• The Final Stone (1986)
• My Name Is Dolly (1987)
• The Party (1967)
• Something Nasty (1983)
• An Act of Violence (1995)
• Fyodor's Law (1994)
• On Harper's Road (1993)
• The Francis File (1994)
• Freak (2000)
• The Pool (1981)
• One of Those Days
• Him, Her, Them (1991)
• Gobble, Gobble! (1990)
• Fair Trade (1982)
• Babe's Laughter (1991)
• He Kilt It with a Stick (1968)
• Starblood (1972)
• Vympyre (1995)
• A Real Nice Guy (1980)

Genres: Horror, Collections

355 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2004

About the author

William F. Nolan is best known as the co-author (with George Clayton Johnson) of Logan's Run -- a science fiction novel that went on to become a movie, a television series and is about to become a movie again -- and as single author of its sequels. His short stories have been selected for scores of anthologies and textbooks and he is twice winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Special Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

Nolan was born in 1928 in Kansas City Missouri. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute and worked as an artist for Hallmark Cards. He moved to California in the late 1940s and studied at San Diego State College. He began concentrating on writing rather than art and, in 1952, was introduced by fellow Missouri native (and established writer) Ray Bradbury to another young up-and-coming author, Charles Beaumont. Moving to the Los Angeles area in 1953, Nolan became along with Bradbury, Beaumont, and Richard Matheson part of the "inner core" of the soon-to-be highly influential "Southern California Group" of writers. By 1956 Nolan was a full-time writer. Since 1951 he has sold more than 1500 stories, articles, books, and other works.

Although Nolan wrote roughly 2000 pieces, to include biographies, short stories, poetry, and novels, Logan’s Run retains its hold on the public consciousness as a political fable and dystopian warning. As Nolan has stated: “That I am known at all is still astonishing to me... "

He passed away at the age of 93 due to complications from an infection.

Reviews

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a way I've always been a slouch when it comes to reviewing anthologies. I've seen various reviewers over the years who will comment on each individual tale in a collection. Forgive me, Constant Reader, but I just don't have the energy. Instead my approach goes something like this: William F Nolan's Nightworlds is full of some very shuddersome stories-it is a great way to inaugurate October. I found some of these entries to be a little predictable, so I'm going to have to say that on the whole the book is a little uneven. However you know that typically not every yarn can be the zenith. So: four stars and good stuff.

[Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable stories, even if I don’t think Nolan always pulls off the voice he’s going for. Personal favorites from this collection: The Halloween Man, The Party, The Pool, Babe’s Laughter (probably the best of the bunch), and Vampyre.

[John Bruni · Rating 5 out of 5]

From his introduction, it's clear that Nolan considers this book a literary version of a greatest hits album. As a result, it shouldn't be surprising that I've already read a great deal of these stories. The ones I hadn't read before? I knew I'd enjoy them. Nolan's great when it comes to short fiction, and this book is a good example. I think my favorite is the final tale in the collection, "A Real Nice Guy," about a serial killing sniper. It's odd to spend time in the head of a guy like that, especially since (as I write this) snipers are a news story, due in large part to AMERICAN SNIPER being released. More to the point, I wonder what Nolan thinks of the DC shooter from a few years back (since this story was written in 1979). I also loved "The Halloween Man," which is interesting. I don't like child protagonists, but this one did pretty well. It's an effective horror story. "The Pool" is also fascinating. There isn't much to it, but it's just so much fun. I could easily see it as an episode of THE NIGHT GALLERY. If you're into short horror fiction and you don't have this book in your collection, you're doing it wrong.