Best Horror Short Stories 1850-1899: A 6a66le Horror Anthology Edited by Andrew Barger is Published!

I'm happy to announce on New Year's Eve that my latest anthology:  Best Horror Short Stories 1850-1899: A 6a66le Horror Anthology is published!  http://www.andrewbarger.com/besthorrorshortstories1850.html It contains the scariest horror stories from the last half of the 19th century, including shocking tales from popular American and Victorian authors.

Andrew Barger (that would be me), award-winning author and editor of Phantasmal: Best Ghost Short Stories 1800-1849 http://amzn.to/2g3hyLm and 6a66le: Best Horror Short Stories 1800-1850 http://amzn.to/2gwTdf8 has researched the finest horror stories for the last half of the nineteenth century and combined them in one haunting collection. I have added my familiar scholarly touch by annotating the stories, providing story background information, author photos and a list of horror stories considered to settle on the most frightening and well-written tales.

• 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! 

Buy today at Amazon: Best Horror Short Stories 1850-1899

#BestHorrorShortStories #BestHorrorStoriesBook

Andrew's Thoughts on the horror short story: The Lonely Man of the Ocean

 

This scary horror short story of pestilence on the high seas titled The Lonely Man of the Ocean,  was first published anonymously in Whitaker’s Monthly Magazine for February 1831 and soon thereafter in The Antheneum, or Spirit of the English Magazines, Volume I, April to October, 1831, on page 40. The only hint given as to the authorship of “The Lonely Man of the Ocean” comes from The Antheneum, which states that it was “by the author of ‘The Demon-Ship.’"

In the January, 1831 issue of The Antheneum, we find on page 374, The Demon Ship, the Pirate of the Mediterranean. It appeared two months later in Louis Godey’s Lady’s Book. The infuriating practice of publishing horror stories, and many others, anonymously during the first half of the 19^th century leaves us without proper attribution for “The Lonely Man of the Ocean.” As late as 1871 it was still being republished in literary magazines and was reprinted at least five times during the half century in question. The writing of this scary story is at a very high level and haunting to its core.

Loëffler made several attempts to descend into those close and corrupted regions ere he could summon strength of heart or nerve to enter them. A profound stillness reigned there. He passed through long rows of hammocks, either the receptacle of decaying humanity, or—as was more often the case—dispossessed of their former occupiers, who had chosen rather to breathe their last above deck. But a veil shall be drawn over this fearful scene. It is enough to say that not one living being was found amid the corrupted wrecks of mortality which tenanted the silent, heated, and pestiferous wards of the inner decks. Loëffler was Alone in the ship! His task was then decided. He could only consign his former companions to their wide and common grave. He essayed to lift a corpse ; but—sick, gasping, and completely overcome—sank upon his very burden! It was evident he must wait until his strength was further restored ; but to wait amid those heaps of decaying bodies seemed impossible.

In reference to  the abject horror and descriptive writing that exists at a very high level in the scary short story, one is able to forgive the rushed ending and stilted dialogue. One is even able to forgive the unorthodox way the author switches between the protagonist’s first name “Christian” and surname “Loëffle” throughout. With the horror short story "The Lonely Man of the Ocean" we have the best anonymous horror tale published from 1800-1849.

 

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