In The Dark Descent, hailed as one of the most important anthologies ever to examine horror fiction, editor David G. Hartwell traces the complex history of horror in literature back to the earliest short stories. The Dark Descent, which won the World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology, showcases the finest of these ever written--from the time-honored classics of Edgar Allan Poe, D.H. Lawrence, and Edith Wharton to the contemporary writing of Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Ray Bradbury.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Amazon
If you could have only one anthology of dark stories, this would be the one to have. Having observed that "fans of horror fiction most often restrict their reading to books and stories given a horror category label, thus missing some of the finest pleasures in that fictional mode," David G. Hartwell assembles here 56 important tales within an insightful critical framework; his purpose is to "clear the air and broaden future considerations of horror." Several well-known classics are included, but there are also dozens of lesser-known horror tales, including many by science fiction and literary writers. Get one copy for yourself. Get another for that friend or relative who doesn't understand why you like to read horror.
Review
"A gigantic, superlatively edited historical overview of horror fiction."--Chicago Sun-Times
"For a sample of the current excellence and variety of horror, one could do no better."--New York Newsday
"An important work which belongs in every library."--The West Coast Review of Books
"For a sample of the current excellence and variety of horror, one could do no better."--New York Newsday
"An important work which belongs in every library."--The West Coast Review of Books
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Paperback
The best one-volume collection of horror stories I've ever read, and I've read a few.
By JR Pinto
Format:Paperback
This HUGE book is an excellent comprehensive survey of some of the landmark horror stories of the past couple hundred years. Most of the important authors are here. Poe, Lovecraft, Matheson, Jackson, Bloch, Ellison, King, Barker, etc. It'll be tough to read the whole thing cover-to-cover, but it's very good to have.
Format:Paperback
One is Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural, edited by Cerf and Wagner. The other is The Dark Descent. From Poe and J. Sheridan LeFanu to Stephen King and Shirley Jackson, this anthology covers the horror tradition like few others. The selections in The Dark Descent are a bit more in-your-face than the ones in Cerf and Wagner's elegant anthology--an attribute fans of late twentieth century horror will surely appreciate. At the same time, though, Hartwell has certainly not avoided the classic chillers. Even better, Hartwell has chosen to include some lesser-known tales by some heavy hitters within the genre--so while you won't see Jackson's "The Lottery," you will find two tales by her that you likely haven't read a dozen times before: tales that will hit you with the same force "The Lottery" did the first time you read it. Also not to be missed is Hartwell's introduction, which does a nice job of laying down a critical framework within which to read horror. It doesn't take the place of Danse Macabre or Dreadful Pleasures, but it's a nicely written piece that seems aimed toward readers who wouldn't otherwise read literary criticism.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 26 reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Certainly the finest horror anthology available
This sprawling collection will keep the fan of weird fiction (and just plain good fiction) happy and spooked for a long time. Read more
Published on Oct 14 2000 by Erik K
5.0 out of 5 stars
This one has it all! A great resource...
The Dark Descent is an anthology of short horror fiction, that spans the full range of the genre from the extremely overt to the quietly subtle. Read more
Published on Oct 5 2000 by TaraJacobs
5.0 out of 5 stars
this book made me a horror fan
The stories included in the collection are excellent, and there are enough of them to keep you reading for a long time
Published on Jun 7 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
An essential collection and analysis of horror fiction.
As collections go, and horror collections in particular, this might be the best. The editor, David G. Read more
Published on Aug 20 1997
5.0 out of 5 stars
The horror collection that can create converts to the genre.
Indispensable reading for fans and scholars of horror, and for anyone who wants to understand what all the fuss is about. Read more
Published on July 28 1997
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Anthologies
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Anthologies
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > British
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > United States
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories
- Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
- Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Short Stories
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
