I hold small, independent publishers to high esteem, I
find more often than not that they are bolder than the bigger presses when it
comes to publishing books that break the confines of certain limits and their sustained
efforts of bringing challenging titles to the readers are nothing short of
praiseworthy. One such small publisher, of which I’ve become quite fond ever
since its foundation in 2011, is Spectral Press. An independent
publisher dedicated mostly to limited signed editions of single story chapbooks
and occasional novellas Spectral Press released over time some very interesting
titles from some of my favorite writers, such as Gary McMahon’s “What They
Hear in the Dark”, Cate Gardner’s
“Nowhere Hall”, Alison Littlewood’s “The
Eyes of Water”, Tim Lebbon’s “Still Life”, Mark West’s “What Gets Left
Behind” or Stephen Volk’s “Whitstable”, with more coming in the
future from Angela Slatter, Lisa Hannett, Simon Bestwick, Robert
Shearman and Ray Cluley.
Recently Spectral Press started to publish single-author short story
collections, such as Paul Kane’s “Ghosts”, and multi-author anthologies,
such as “The 13 Ghosts of Christmas”
edited by Simon Marshall-Jones, as
well, and in this case, the next on the line is a very interesting brand new
anthology, inspired by the popular 1960’s and 1970’s Pan and Fontana books of
horror and ghost stories, “The Spectral
Book of Horror Stories”. The good things do not stop with this little piece
of news, in the style of the Pan and Fontana books of horror stories Spectral Press
intends for “The Spectral Book of Horror Stories” to be an annual anthology,
bringing each year new, original stories from the very best writers of the
genre. The first collection of this series is edited by Mark Morris and gathers a stellar line up of authors, including Angela Slatter, Alison Littlewood, Helen Marshal,
Alison Moore, Gary McMahon, Conrad
Williams, Stephen Volk, Robert Shearman, Michael Marshall Smith, Ramsey
Campbell and Reggie Oliver.
Equally outstanding is the artist and his cover artwork, the impressive Vincent Chong put his talent to
excellent use and has created a perfect cover for “The Spectral Book of Horror
Stories”, a creepy, disturbing artwork, but with plenty of alluring power to
tempt the readers into stepping over the threshold of this anthology. (If you
wish to see more, there is a little post on Vincent
Chong’s blog describing the process of creation and some of the sketches of
this cover.) “The Spectral Book of Horror Stories” will be launched at the 2014
British Fantasy Convention, taking place in York during 5th and 7th
September, with a mass signing session. With great regret I have to accept that
as much as I would love to attend this book launch and get a copy signed by
these wonderful writers this time it will not be possible, so the only thing it
remains for me to do is wish all the best to Spectral Press and its new series
of short story collections. And also to delight in the interviews made by Angela Slatter
with the authors featured on the table of contents uncovering a bit of their
writing process and the story behind the stories from “The Spectral Book of
Horror Stories”.
19 BRAND NEW TALES TO CHILL YOUR BLOOD AND HAUNT YOUR DREAMS!
“The figure crouched over his mother was… taking something from her,
sliding some spidery thing that struggled and screamed soundlessly out of her
side and into his leathery dark bag…”
THE NIGHT DOCTOR by Steve Rasnic Tem
“I saw her skin turn black and erupt in blisters and pustules as in one
last mute appeal she stretched her hand towards me over the flames…”
THE BOOK AND THE RING by Reggie Oliver
“There wasn’t much of a struggle even when Tomas lashed him, limb by
limb, to the stakes, although he had plenty to say to Tomas’s back as he walked
away.
It was when Tomas reappeared, leading the shaggy, horned thing from the
barn, that Mr Sunshine really started to squeal…”
CURES FOR A SICKENED WORLD by Brian Hodge
“On the Tour” by Ramsey Campbell
“The Dog’s Home” by
Alison Littlewood
“Funeral Rites” by
Helen Marshall
“Slape” by Tom
Flecther
“The Night Doctor” by
Steve Rasnic Tem
“Dull Fire” by Gary
McMahon
“The Book and the
Ring” by Reggie Oliver
“Eastmouth” by Alsion
Moore
“Carry Within Some
Small Sliver of Me” by Robert Shearman
“The Devil’s Interval”
by Conrad Williams
“Stolen Kisses” by
Michael Marshall Smith
“Cures for a Sickened
World” by Brian Hodge
“The October Widow”
by Angela Slatter
“The Slista” by
Stephen Laws
“Outside Heavenly” by
Rio Youers
“The Life Inspector”
by John Llewellyn Probert
“Something Sinister
in Sunlight” by Lisa Tuttle
“The Video Does Not
Exist” by Nicholas Royle
“Newspaper
Heart” by Stephen Volk
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