Dark Fantasy Short Stories

Who would suspect that the same mind that created the most famous literary detective of all time also took on the eternally popular genre of vampires? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a contemporary of Bram Stoker, gave us some fascinating works of vampire fiction. From the bloodsucking plant in "The American's Tale" to the bloodsucking wife in "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire," he reveled in the horror created by creatures who survived on the blood of men and women.

These are stories that explore the scarred outposts of desperation and desire, sickness and death, sex and decay. Within this audiobook, you will also find the acclaimed novella Nearly People (nominated for awards by the International Horror Guild and the British Fantasy Society), in which a woman's search for food in a nightmarish city brings her attention from an enigmatic man known as The Dancer, and a host of terrible epiphanies.

Ann and John Hayward's honeymoon at Collinwood slowly turns into a series of nightmares. Soon after their arrival, John, who is recovering from a war injury, falls victim to strange, violent spells. In a fit of irrational jealousy, he accuses his wife of falling in love with Barnabas Collins. Meanwhile, a series of attacks on her life frighten Ann into believing John is trying to kill her.

Fortune hunter Billy Newman is not a man of great strength or physical courage. Like a young Johnny Depp, he gets by on his wit, wiles and good looks. And he’s had quite a good run—striking gold in the Philippines and buying his very own island in the South Seas. . . . But there’s trouble in paradise, and Billy’s in the thick of it. The island’s crops are failing. The island’s people are dying. And the island’s owner—Billy—is taking the heat. Why? Because he’s angered the 75-foot-tall big-boss god of the island.

After the loss of her mother, a woman returns to the San Fernando Valley only to uncover a haunting secret about her childhood friend. A visiting professor at a charming but strange California liberal arts college must face her past in order to protect her son. A sister, lost in the woods, confronts the dangerous truth about her brother, her stepmother, and herself. Rose's dog Wolfie has died, and three seductive women offer to help return him to her. But only if she will pay the price.

See Critical Role’s Mighty Nein through the eyes of nine of their friends and foes in this new anthology, with a foreword by Taliesin Jaffe. In these nine stories, the legend of the mighty adventuring party grows with tales from some of the most memorable characters who fought with – and...

Long lost to the public in out-of-print pulp magazines, dusty Victorian anthologies, and the pages of now defunct newspapers, these vintage vampire stories have truly proved immortal. Resurrected now for the year 2011, this is a stunning collection of nineteenth-century vampire stories by heavyweights such as Sabine Baring-Gould and Bram Stoker. These rare stories are arranged in chronological order from 1846 to 1913 and are compiled by two of the world's leading vampire anthologists and experts.

It was a dark and stormy knight, and nine dark defenders embarked upon a most perilous quest. They're the ultimate defenders of humanity, modern day knights who do dark deeds for all the right reasons. In this all-star collection, nine of today's hottest paranormal authors bring us thrilling, all-new stories of supernatural knights that are brimming with magic mystery and mayhem.

From award-winning author Cadwell Turnbull comes a brilliant collection of short stories, including old favorites and brand-new adventures Fourteen stories. Unseen places that lie just within, beneath, beyond our reality. A father and daughter traverse postapocalyptic America seeking safe haven...

These stories present electric messiahs, identity constructs, the Beatles, and even a nuclear Armageddon, which serve as comic foils for Lain's everyman characters. Here is an America where packets of Sea Monkeys arrive in the mail containing secret messages, and the girl next door can breathe underwater. With Last Week's Apocalypse, Douglas Lain arrives with a punch line and a warning.

Despite warnings from the townspeople, Victoria Winters accepts the offer to come to the strange Collinwood as Governess. From the moment she arrives, Victoria becomes the target of someone in the house determined to destroy her. As the wind moans and the rain lashes around the isolated Collinwood, Victoria, without friends in the manor, feels death close in on her, a choking, frightening death.

Maggie Evans visits the Collins family graveyard and is transported back in time to the year 1880. There she awakes, an amnesia victim, at a Collinwood she barely recognizes. She has fallen into the hands of Dr. Giles Collins, whose mysterious experiments with human blood have already taken several lives. Though Maggie is warned by the others that he is a vampire, she turns to Barnabas for help.

Here is another never-before-told story of the handsome, mysterious 175-year-old vampire. While searching for the woman who will replace his long-lost Josette, and thus end the terrible curse upon him, Barnabas meets lovely Clare Duncan. The story, set in 1870, of their romance—and of the terror it brings to the beautiful young noblewoman—is a tale of gothic suspense which will chill and delight the legions of Barnabas Collins fans.

Heiress Betty Ward is worried about her twin sister, who has eloped with Jeremy Frene. Her twin is dead, victim of a mysterious illness. Her body has been sealed in a crystal coffin and kept in a darkened room. Betty is convinced her sister's death was not a natural one. Betty turns to Barnabas Collins for help, despite the rumors that he is a vampire.

Barnabas Collins, the 175-year-old vampire, is introduced in this story of gothic suspense. Your blood will grow cold as you read the never-before-told story of the foggy night in 1899 when Barnabas Collins first arrived in Collinwood. You'll chill to the full horror of the real truth about Barnabas—a secret so terrible that it could not be revealed until now.

Collinwood is plagued with a series of menacing events when a ballet troupe arrives there to perform for the summer tourists. One girl in particular, the beautiful Diana Samson, whom Barnabas has come to love, is repeatedly attacked by a mysterious, invisible presence. When the star of the ballet is murdered, everyone is suspect—including Diana and Barnabas.

This story marks a sudden shift in the characterization of Quentin Collins, who up to this point in the range had been portrayed as an enemy of Barnabas. Barnabas predicts trouble for Collinwood when Nicholas Freeze discovers a centuries-old potion that promises eternal youth. Soon after, Mr. Freeze's daughter, Hazel, tricked into taking a serum, dies. Carolyn is grief-stricken over her friend's death.

When Professor Anthony Collins decides to catalog his Egyptian relics at Collinwood, he brings with him the mummy of King Rehotip, who "died" over two thousand years ago. Only the professor knows that Rehotip is really in a state of suspended animation. One night, the professor brings the mummy to life. Suddenly a young girl is killed.

"You see, Paula, how well it will work out. Lily will drink the blood of the village maidens—and Barnabas will be blamed." "Whatever happens to Barnabas, you'll still have Quentin to reckon with!" "The werewolf? If Quentin tries to interfere with me, I'll find a way to deal with him." "I'd rather die," Paula said firmly. "An interesting suggestion," Bentley remarked pleasantly. "Dying could be your first step in joining my company of friends—zombies, if you will.

Bought to you by Penguin. Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after – but this is no fairytale. The first volume of Suji Kim's hit webnovel, now available in English print for the first time. Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rarely...