Who's Who in Horror and Fantasy Fiction

Elm Tree Books, London, first edition, 1977. Cloth, 8vo, 23 cm,. 240 pp. From the blurb - "Which author virtually predicted his own death in the story Who Knows? What memorable meeting led to the writing of Frankenstein? Who or what is Conan ? And what is Gormenghast? The answers can be found in this volume, the first popular and authoritative Who’s Who devoted to authors living and dead whose writings form the core of the horror and fantasy genres. Whether you simply enjoy an occasional escape to the magical, mystical worlds of adult fantasy, like reading stories so frightening that it’s difficult to look up, or are a confirmed addict to horror and fantasy fiction, this thorough and informative guide will be a valuable reference work. The 400 entries range from the towering gods of the field, like Poe, Blackwood and M. R. James, to promising newcomers such as Louise Cooper and Brian Lumley; also included are those writers such as Gerald Biss and J. D. Kerruish, who contributed at least one masterpiece and then vanished into oblivion. Each entry provides full biographical details of the author, his major contributions, and a discussion of how he features in the framework of the horror and fantasy fields. The content of the fiction discussed ranges from pure ghost stories through gothic horror and psychological horror to the simple pastoral Oriental fantasies of Bramah, the blood-and-thunder heroics of Howard, and the complex interlinked fantasies of Moorcock. Elegant bookplate on front pastedown endpaper, Very Good in a dustwrapper with a sunned spine-panel.