Best Horror Short Stories 1850-1899

Book excerpt: The best horror short stories from the last half of the 19th century are combined for the first time by Andrew Barger, award-winning author and editor of 6a66le: Best Horror Short Stories 1800-1849. Andrew has meticulously researched the finest Victorian horror short stories and combined them into one undeniable collection. He has added his familiar scholarly touch by annotating the stories, providing story background information, author photos and a list of horror stories considered. Historic Horror. The best horror short stories from the last half of the 19th century include nightmare tales by Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle, Joseph Le Fanu, W. C. Morrow, H. G. Wells, Arthur Machen, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and other early founders of the horror tale. A Terror Tour Guide (2016) by Andrew Barger (A leading voice in the gothic literature space, Andrew sets the stage for this anthology of nightmares.)The Pioneers of Pike’s Peak (1897) by Basil Tozer (Hoards of giant spiders on a Colorado mountain. What could go wrong?)Lot No. 249 (1892) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Perhaps the premier mummy horror story ever recorded from the master that is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is measured out to its climatic ending.)The Yellow Wallpaper (1892) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Explore the depths of insanity.)Green Tea (1871) by Joseph Le Fanu (One of the most haunting horror stories by the Irish master.)What Was It? (1859) by Fitz James O’Brien (Sometimes the worst horror is one you can't see.)Pollock and the Porroh Man (1897) by H. G. Wells (Wells takes us deep into the jungle and its wrought supernatural horror.)The Spider of Guyana (1857) by Erckmann-Chatrian (The first giant spider horror story is one of its best.)The Squaw (1893) by Bram Stoker (The author of Dracula never disappoints.)The Great God Pan (1894) by Arthur Machen (Mythic horror that gained much praise from H. P. Lovecraft.)His Unconquerable Enemy (1889) by W. C. Morrow (A fiendish tale of torture sees Morrow at his best.)Horror Short Stories Considered (Andrew concludes the horror anthology by listing every horror short story he read to pick the very best.) Read the premier horror anthology for the last half of the nineteenth century tonight! “But it now struck me for the first time that there must be one great and ruling embodiment of fear, a King of Terrors to which all others must succumb.” 1859 “What Was It?” Fitz James O’Brien