Cold Print Collecting together most of Campbell's
Cthulhu mythos fiction this is an excellent wide ranging collection, which was
expanded further a few years ago. It shows off the breadth of Campbell's short
fiction and coming as it does from an almost completely different angle from
Lovecraft's fiction (Campbell usually centres on inner rather than outer
demons), it puts an excellent new spin on it all. [out of print]
The Height of the Scream An early example of Campbell's unique brand of urban horror, collecting 18 stories which enter into an oblique world of paranoia and fear, from the almost amusing bleakness of "Litter" to the casual brutality of "The Whining". There are many outstanding stories and few collections are quite as unnerving. [out of print]
Fireworks A dazzling collection covering much of Carter's ouvre, from sublime image filled literary fiction to her allegory laced dark fairy tales. Includes the brilliant tales The Loves of Lady Purple (about an amourous marionette) and Master (a cruelty laced tale of role reversal). [in print - UK / US]
The Bloody Chamber This is an incredible collection of short fiction which unleashes Carter's wit on some old fairy tales, including her retakes on Puss in Boots and Little Red Riding Hood, filling them all up with erotism and dark sexual tension, pushing back towards the vein in which these stories were originally intended. One of my favourite's is the opening tale, The Bloody Chamber, based on the fairy tale of a woman forbidden to enter a single room that her husband always keeps locked. I can remember the original story, but I can't remember the title. There is not a weak moment in this whole collection and it is definately highly recommended. [in print - UK / US]
The King in Yellow A collection of eerie short stories set in France, a inspiration to Lovecraft this book includes the excellent story The Repairer of Reputations as well as several other stories linked by the appearance of a book called the King in Yellow. [in print - US]
