horror short stories read in 2004

[joysilence]

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY dfordoom)

These are the horror short stories I read in 2004. Not very many this year, but a couple of exciting discoveries among them.

W. W. Jacobs, THE MONKEY'S PAW, a classic

Thomas Ligotti, THE LOST ART OF TWILIGHT, not one of his best, but an interesting vampire story

Oscar Wilde, THE CANTERVILLE GHOST, has to be the best humorous ghost story ever

Robert Bloch, YOURS TRULY, JACK THE RIPPER, one of his most admired stories, with a clever twist

Bram Stoker, THE JUDGE'S HOUSE, excellent ghost story

Shirley Jackson, THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGER, a story of subtle horror by a writer who did subtle horror supremely well

Karl Edward Wagner, CEDAR LANE, clever and unsettling

Robert E. Howard , SKULLS IN THE STARS, a Solomon Kane story, very good

C. L. Moore, HELLSGARDE, great story by a very under-rated writer

Simon Clark, THE GRAVE IN STEPHEN'S BACK GARDEN, quirky is the word we're looking for

Lisa Tuttle, MEETING THE MUSE, subtle horror, a very fine story

Patrick McGrath, THE ANGEL, very creepy

Patrick McGrath, THE ARNOLD CROMBECK STORY, I hate serial killer stuff, but I liked this story a lot

Kelly Link, CARNATION, LILY, LILY, ROSE, brilliantly unsettling, Kelly Link is my discovery of the year

Kelly Link, SURVIVOR'S BALL, OR THE DONNER PARTY, disturbing rather than horrific, excellent story

Things, Doorsteps, etc.

[joysilence]

Righty-ho, well I think we should read The Thing On The Doorstep by H P Lovecraft, and maybe keep the other two lined up for after that? I think this particular story should go first because the other choices are either hard to find or are my suggestion, and I've suggested one already. Plus I've already ignored a suggestion of hellbound_heart's already in a previous straw poll and really oughtn't to make a habit of it :)

That alright with everyone?
Update: a month to read it should be ok, yes?