This new collection of 25 stories, including two appearing here for the first time, collects the best of Steve Rasnic Tem's dark fiction published since his landmark Centipede tome Out of the Dark: A Storybook of Horrors. A number have appeared in various Year’s Best volumes. All represent the high quality of Tem’s prose and the wide range of his approaches to the horror genre. In The Night Doctor And Other Tales, you will encounter the most haunting figures ever to cross Tem’s imagination: a man obsessed with his own breath and the breathing he hears that is not his own; a husband waiting for his wife as new bodies appear at the bottom of his yard; a weekend fisherman and the unseen man sharing his fishing hut; a loyal husband dealing with the latest changes in his wife’s physical appearance; a strange widower in his house by the sea; a devoted mother trying to protect her son from the nightmares of the past; a son returning to a dreaded summer vacation spot; a grandfather protecting his grandchildren from a legacy of dark transformations; and, in the title story, an elderly man awaits the visit of a mysterious family physician. Stories included in this collection: Breathing Apartment B Red Rabbit The Hanged Man The Fishing Hut A Sudden Event Paula Breaks Lost in the Garden of Earthly Delights Blattidae Wine Half-Light Mister Ainsley The Long Fade into Evening Domestic Magic The Secret Laws of the Universe The Man in the Rose Bushes The Night Doctor The Enemy Within Stick Men Too Many Ghosts When You're Not Looking Between the Pilings The Erased The Wake The Weight Lost The Monster Makers

"The Dead Lake and Other Tales" by Paul Heyse is a group of brief memories that showcases the literary mastery of the German author, Paul Heyse. Published within the 19th century, Heyse's collection weaves collectively a tapestry of tales that span extraordinary genres and themes, providing readers a glimpse into the diverse facets of human revel in. The titular tale, "The Dead Lake," serves as a centerpiece, drawing readers into a mysterious and atmospheric narrative that sets the tone for the complete collection. Heyse's storytelling prowess is clear in his potential to evoke a number feeling, from suspense and depression to moments of unexpected humor. Throughout the gathering, Heyse explores established subject matters inclusive of love, morality, and the human situation, often delving into the complexities of interpersonal relationships. His keen observations and nuanced characterizations breathe existence into every tale, developing a rich and immersive studying experience. As a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1910, Heyse's contributions to German literature are considerable, and "The Dead Lake and Other Tales" stands as a testomony to his potential to craft engaging narratives that resonate with readers, transcending the boundaries of time and cultural context.

The Canterbury Nightmares is a collection of stories from the edge of the abyss. Combining the essence of Chaucer’s pilgrims on their journey to a shrine, with what appeared to be the end of a global pandemic, these tales were born in a time when personal connections were few, breathing the air in a grocery store felt unsafe, and the country was dissolving into seemingly irreparable divisions. Eleven travelers heading out to visit The Grand Canyon. All of them have their reasons. All of them have their losses, and their pain. All of them are dark. From an old man taking a promised journey with his wife, to a congregation that has lost its way, from different backgrounds and cultures, to different ways of dealing with grief, loss, and isolation, this book will take you places you do not expect. Contents: The Old Man's Tale – Steve Rasnic Tem The Liberation of Brother Buffalo – Michael Boatman Think of the Family – Ai Jiang To See Her in Sepia – Scott J. Moses The Preditor's Tale – Terence Taylor The Wife of Wrath's Tale – John B. Rosenman The Secret Place: A Knight’s Tale – Stephen Mark Rainey The Sacred Clarion – S. A. Cosby The Tour Guide's Tale – Anna Tambour Every Form of Person – J. A. W. McCarthy Vending Machine Girl – Eric LaRocca

From Ellen Datlow (“the venerable queen of horror anthologies” (New York Times) comes a new entry in the series that has brought you stories from Stephen King and Neil Gaiman comes thrilling stories, the best horror stories available. For more than three decades, Ellen Datlow has been at the center of horror. Bringing you the most frightening and terrifying stories, Datlow always has her finger on the pulse of what horror readers crave. Now, with the eleventh volume of the series, Datlow is back again to bring you the stories that will keep you up at night. Encompassed in the pages of The Best Horror of the Year have been such illustrious writers as: Neil Gaiman, Kim Newman, Stephen King, Linda Nagata, Laird Barron, Margo Lanagan, and many others. With each passing year, science, technology, and the march of time shine light into the craggy corners of the universe, making the fears of an earlier generation seem quaint. But this light creates its own shadows. The Best Horror of the Year chronicles these shifting shadows. It is a catalog of terror, fear, and unpleasantness as articulated by today’s most challenging and exciting writers.