Rating: 
Summary: A fine anthology of psychological thrillers
Review: This anthology of horror stories are favorites of noted writers. That Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Robert Bloch are selected is no surprise. That the hoary, high school, standard, "Young Goodman Brown" is also here is unexpected. To give Mr. Hawthorne his due, the story does belong in this anthology. It is more enjoyable the second time around.
Each favorite story is prefaced by an author's introduction. The writer briefly explains how this story inspired and influenced their careers.
My favorite selections were:
1. Paul Wilson's choice, "The Distributor" by Richard Matheson. This story seems reminiscent of "The Auctioneer" and Stephen King's "Needful Things". The new stranger in town who seems to good to be true.
2. Joe R. Lansdale's choice, "The Animal Fair" by Robert Bloch. This story has not one ghost or ghoulie and nary a supernatural event. It was a horrifying, depressing, and pathetic(I don't mean this as a put down) story. The description of the Fair is a bleakly realistic portrayal. I really can empathize with the hot dog episode.
3. Harlan Ellison's choice, "The Human Chair" by Edigawa Rampo. It was a perversely humorous piece. Warning: after reading this you may say, "Nevermore!" to a La-Z-Boy.;-)
Other authors choices such as Peter Straub, Stephen King, and Joyce Carol Oates are present. They are fine choices. What are they? Find out and read the book!
Rating: 
Summary: A mix of the familiar and the little-known
Review: This book has several stories that anyone who's the least into anthologies has seen many times before: 'The Father-Thing,' 'The Colour Out of Space,' 'Young Goodman Brown,' 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.' But these are all solid, enjoyable tales, and worth rereading (of all of them, 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' loses its flavour fastest), and more recent, less familiar works are also included. (It's also nice to see relatively less-anthologised works by a couple of authors: 'A Warning to the Curious' instead of James's far more famous 'Lost Hearts,' for example.)The chronological mix is carried off well; a look at the 'Acknowledgements' page shows that, of the copyrighted stories, three date from the 20s, two each from the 50s and 70s, and one each from the 40s, 60s, and 90s; an additional five are out of copyright. The introduction states that this is 'by no means a complete retrospective of the horror genre, but can be considered a collection of the evolution of horror.' A chronological arrangement might have brought out the concept of evolution better, but the selection itself is essentially solid, with only a couple of weak spots. Even if you're familiar with all the stories, this collection is worth getting for the introductions to each story, penned by the modern author who selected the story as his favorite. They vary in length, from Stephen King's quarter-page blurb for 'Sweets to the Sweet' to Richard Laymon's anecdotal (I am tempted to say 'colorful') four pages and three lines regarding 'The Colour Out of Space.' They're good reading on their own merits and for the most part succeed in exciting the reader about the stories they accompany. Take note: Most of the stories are fairly subtle and psychological, as much fantasy as horror, and sometimes not even particularly chilling. Suggestive cover art notwithstanding, there's certainly too little gore for coarser tastes. These stories are considered classics for good reason: The emphasis is on strong, original plots and evocative prose, not threadbare ideas prettied up with gratuitous mayhem, like a garish cover on a rotting sofa. End of caveat. Enjoy the book.
Rating:
Summary: A mix of the familiar and the little-known
Review: This book has several stories that anyone who's the least into anthologies has seen many times before: 'The Father-Thing,' 'The Colour Out of Space,' 'Young Goodman Brown,' 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.' But these are all solid, enjoyable tales, and worth rereading (of all of them, 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' loses its flavour fastest), and more recent, less familiar works are also included. (It's also nice to see relatively less-anthologised works by a couple of authors: 'A Warning to the Curious' instead of James's far more famous 'Lost Hearts,' for example.) The chronological mix is carried off well; a look at the 'Acknowledgements' page shows that, of the copyrighted stories, three date from the 20s, two each from the 50s and 70s, and one each from the 40s, 60s, and 90s; an additional five are out of copyright. The introduction states that this is 'by no means a complete retrospective of the horror genre, but can be considered a collection of the evolution of horror.' A chronological arrangement might have brought out the concept of evolution better, but the selection itself is essentially solid, with only a couple of weak spots. Even if you're familiar with all the stories, this collection is worth getting for the introductions to each story, penned by the modern author who selected the story as his favorite. They vary in length, from Stephen King's quarter-page blurb for 'Sweets to the Sweet' to Richard Laymon's anecdotal (I am tempted to say 'colorful') four pages and three lines regarding 'The Colour Out of Space.' They're good reading on their own merits and for the most part succeed in exciting the reader about the stories they accompany. Take note: Most of the stories are fairly subtle and psychological, as much fantasy as horror, and sometimes not even particularly chilling. Suggestive cover art notwithstanding, there's certainly too little gore for coarser tastes. These stories are considered classics for good reason: The emphasis is on strong, original plots and evocative prose, not threadbare ideas prettied up with gratuitous mayhem, like a garish cover on a rotting sofa. End of caveat. Enjoy the book.
Rating: 
Summary: It's okay.
Review: This is a GREAT anthology. The best writers in Horror select their favorite horror stories. The best thing about that is they tell you why. It helps understand what to look for in a horror story, what makes one great, and why so much in horror is just dross. We see just how important Robert Bloch has been and, sadly, much of his work is out-of-print. Richard Matheson is here too, of course, and the story selected is one I wasn't familiar with. The classics are here too: The Tell-Tale Heart, Young Goodman Brown, and two from Lovecraft. The most interesting selection is The Human Chair by Edogawa Rampo, selected by Harlan Ellison.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST-HAVE!
Review: This is a GREAT anthology. The best writers in Horror select their favorite horror stories. The best thing about that is they tell you why. It helps understand what to look for in a horror story, what makes one great, and why so much in horror is just dross. We see just how important Robert Bloch has been and, sadly, much of his work is out-of-print. Richard Matheson is here too, of course, and the story selected is one I wasn't familiar with. The classics are here too: The Tell-Tale Heart, Young Goodman Brown, and two from Lovecraft. The most interesting selection is The Human Chair by Edogawa Rampo, selected by Harlan Ellison.
Rating:
Summary: Fun Reading For Halloween
Review: What a great idea for a book! Wish the introductions were a little more detailed in some cases (Mr. King...), and as in any anthology not every story will be to your taste, but I enjoyed the added bonus of knowing which author chose which story. Now I've got to run out and find some more M.R. James. If you want to read the stories that inspired your favorite masters of the macabre, this is a great place to start.
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