Carmilla is an 1872 Gothic novella by Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and one of the early works of vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897) by 26 years.

First published as a serial in The Dark Blue (1871-72), the story is narrated by a young woman preyed upon by a female vampire named Carmilla, later revealed to be Mircalla, Countess Karnstein (Carmilla is an anagram of Mircalla). The character is a prototypical example of the lesbian vampire, expressing romantic desires toward the protagonist.

The novella notably never acknowledges homosexuality as an antagonistic trait, leaving it subtle and relatively unmentioned. The story is often anthologized and has been adapted many times in film and other media.

FROZEN HELL is an alternate version of John W. Campbell's classic novella, Who Goes There? (filmed as The Thing). Recently discovered among Campbell's papers, this version adds an astounding 45 pages to the story. Includes a Preface by Alec Nevala-Lee, an Introduction by Robert Silverberg, and artwork by Bob Eggleton.

The fourth dimension, humor, satire, and logic combine into a science-fiction classic that has entertained generations: Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, by A. Square (better known among his math colleagues as Edwin Abbott).

Through a mishap in Professor Bulfinch's laboratory, Danny accidentally creates an anti-gravity paint. The natural use, of course, is for a spaceship -- the paint can replace rockets to get the ship into space. Unfortunately, the spaceship is launched prematurely after Danny and Joe follow Professor Bulfinch and Dr. Grimes on a tour of the ship. A mechanical failure dooms the four to a one-way trip out of the Solar System -- unless they can repair the spaceship in time

Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell is a gripping science fiction novella set in the icy isolation of Antarctica. A group of scientists discovers a mysterious alien creature buried in the ice, only to find that it can imitate any living being perfectly. Paranoia and fear grip the team as they realize the alien could be any one of them. With trust crumbling and the stakes rising, the survivors must find a way to stop the shape-shifting entity before it escapes and threatens humanity itself. This classic tale of suspense and psychological horror inspired the famous film The Thing and remains a cornerstone of the sci-fi horror genre.

Winner of the World Fantasy Award, here is Brian McNaughton's masterpiece-The Throne of Bones.

You hold in your hands a book of stories that forced Brian McNaughton to write. Make no mistake: I don't exaggerate. There's a reason this book won the World Fantasy Award. The stories inside it are rich, fascinating stuff--creepy and unsettling and phantasmic. Imagine what Tolkien's Lord of the Rings would have been like if Tolkien had tried to tell that story sympathetically from the point of view of the human denizens of Mordor and you'll have the slightest sense of what you're about to wade into--but only just a sense. These stories will make the same demands on you that they made on Brian: they will command and compel you, and fill you full of terrible wonder. And when you've finished them you'll find yourself wanting more. --Alan Rodgers

Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly is a groundbreaking work of investigative journalism that offers a harrowing look inside the conditions of 19th-century mental asylums. Disguising herself as a patient, Bly gains admittance to the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island, where she witnesses firsthand the mistreatment and abuse of the women confined there.

Through her courageous and daring undercover work, Bly exposes the inhumane practices and neglectful treatment that were rampant in these institutions. Her compelling account not only led to significant reforms in the care of the mentally ill but also showcased the power of journalism to effect change.

This riveting narrative is a testament to Nellie Bly's bravery and determination to shed light on the dark corners of society, making Ten Days in a Madhouse a timeless classic of investigative reporting.

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a British philosopher, political economist, civil servant, and Member of Parliament. An influential liberal thinker of the 19th century, he taught utilitarianism, an ethical theory developed by his godfather, Jeremy Bentham.

This selection of Walter de la Mare's finest dark poems -- many with fantasy and supernatural themes -- draws from such sources as The Saturday Review, The Thrush, The Pall Mall Magazine, The Odd Volume, The Lady's Realm, The English Review, The Westminster Gazette, The Commonwealth, and The Nation. Included are The Dark Chateau, The Witch, The Ghost, and more.

The weather went from being beautiful to tempestuous: torrential thunderstorms plagued the Shelleys, Byron and Polidori. The weather -- along with the company and the eerie ambiance of the locale -- contributed to the genesis of Frankenstein, Polidori's The Vampyre and in all likelihood, modern weird fiction. On the night of June 16th, the group read aloud a collection of German ghost stories, The Fantasmagoriana. This inspired Byron to challenge the group to write a ghost story. Shelley wrote an forgettable story; Byron wrote a story fragment; and Polidori began the The Vampyre, the first modern vampire tale.

This powerful novella explores the complexities of racial identity and societal norms in 1920s Harlem. It follows the intertwined lives of two light-skinned African American women, Irene and Clare, who pass for white in different contexts. As Clare becomes increasingly drawn back to her Black heritage, the story delves into themes of race, identity, privilege, and the tensions of living between two worlds, culminating in a dramatic and tragic conclusion.

First published in 1876, Robert's Rules of Order is the definitive guide to parliamentary procedure, providing a structured framework for conducting meetings and making group decisions efficiently. Covering motions, debates, voting procedures, and organizational governance, this essential manual is widely used by businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations. With its clear, practical approach, this enduring classic remains the standard reference for fair and orderly deliberation.

Fred Allen (born John Florence Sullivan, 1894-1956) was an American comedian whose absurdist, pointed radio show (1934-1949) made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the so-called classic era of American radio.

In her first published mystery, Agatha Christie introduced readers to her Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. When the wealthy mistress of Styles Court is murdered, Poirot is on hand to wade through the confusing clues and long list of suspects A classic whodunit.

I challenge you to a duel of desert islands Dr. Grimes cries, when Professor Bulfinch accuses him of not being practical. Grimes plans to go ashore on an uninhabited desert island, and the Professor on another. After a month they will see who has survived the best

Danny and his best friend Joe soon get permission to join them, and the four take off in the scientists' plane. But when they crash-land in the ocean and are really marooned on an island off the coast of Peru-the four must survive and come up with a plan to be rescued, using only their scientific ingenuity

What if Snow White were the real villain and the wicked queen just a sadly maligned innocent? What if awakening Sleeping Beauty would be the mistake of a lifetime -- of several lifetimes? What if the famous folk tales were retold with an eye to more horrific possibilities? Only Tanith Lee -- Goddess-Empress of the Hot Read (Village Voice) could retell the world-famous tales of the Brothers Grimm (and others) as they might have been told by the Sisters Grimmer This special edition, put together for the 30th anniversary of the original edition, adds a new Grimmer fairy tale written especially for this volume

When John W. Campbell's short novel Who Goes There? first appeared in 1938, it became an instant classic. It has been filmed numerous times, most famously by John Carpenter as The Thing.

John Betancourt's sequel -- authorized by the Campbell estate -- is a dramatic reimagining of the universe Campbell created. Here, the events of Campbell's original story actually happened more or less as described, Campbell found out about them, and published his classic tale based on a top-secret army report. When a second alien spaceship is discovered in Antarctical, the U.S. military decides to dig it out...potentially putting all humanity as risk!

This original novel builds on what Campbell started and in the kickoff to a trilogy featuring one of the iconic monsters of science fiction...the Things!

What do the world's most imaginative minds feast upon? Spiderfish Stew . . . Shrimp Anarchy . . . Surrealistic Fudge . . . Pa's Peasant Soup . . . and Marvelous Morphed Meat. How do the world's great science fiction and fantasy authors feed themselves when they're not whipping up tales of wonder? What did they eat before they were famous-and what do they serve to their friends? Compiled and annotated by bestselling author Anne McCaffrey, SERVE IT FORTH is an unparalleled collection of recipes submitted by the writers themselves, so you can eat like Patricia Anthony (The I've-Been-to-Brazil-I-Know-What-Black-Beans-Are Dip), David Gerrold (Death to the Enemies of the Revolution Chili), and Poul Anderson (The Great Pumpkin). Each wonderful, dunce-proof recipe is accompanied by personal notes from the author-chefs, as they guide you into the preparation of such repasts as: - Sherried Walnut Cake by Lois McMaster Bujold - Pig by David Drake - Comforting Clam Chowder by Peter S. Beagle - Night of the Living Meatloaf by Allen Steele - How (and Why) to Dress and Prepare Texas Armadillo by Ardath Mayhar - Catfish and Red Meat Flavoring by Larry Niven And over 100 more With additional dinner, dessert, and bread recipes by Joe Haldeman, Katherine Kurtz, Mercedes Lackey, John Brunner, Joan Vinge, M. K. Wren, and many more.

The legend of the Cyhyraeth is sometimes conflated with tales of a monstrous Welsh spirit in the shape of a hideously ugly woman with a harpy-like appearance: unkempt hair and wizened, withered arms with leathery wings, long black teeth and pale corpse-like features. She approaches the window of the person about to die by night and calls their name or travels invisibly beside them and utters her cry when they approach a stream or crossroads.

Wirt Sikes's 1881 tome defines and records Welsh fairy legends as they existed -- still vital, alive, not just a mordant mythology but living folklore in that year. Like many texts of the time, it treats the subject mechanically, detailing fairy legends with such care and precision as to leach away a measure of the magic. But all the same, there's plenty of magic here: this is the myth that modern fantasy grows from; and the truth is that it's not to be found elsewhere still alive. (Jacketless library hardcover.)