The Weird: A compendium of strange and dark stories

by Ann VanderMeer

Other authorsJeff VanderMeer
Paperback, 2011

Status

Available

Call number

808.83876

Collection

Publication

New York : Tor Books, 2012, c2011.

Description

An oversized anthology of dark and bizarre tales written throughout the past century includes entries by international best-sellers and award-winners, including Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, and Franz Kafka.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Coach_of_Alva
I became addicted to reach stories of the uncanny by reading great anthologies: "The Haunted Omnibus" and "Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural." I've read "Dark Forces," " The Dark Descent, " and "Black Waters" later. This anthology is as good as them, arguably greater, and will win new
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devotees to dark fiction.
Complaints? The VanderMeers could have trimmed some mediocre authors who reused tropes that better writers had used earlier. On the other hand, by starting in 1908, they left out great writers and great stories. I feel that the weird tradition began in the 1890s, with Vernon Lee, Ambrose Bierce, Robert Chambers, and especially, Arthur Machen. Is their a better weird rite tale than "The White People?"
Show Less
LibraryThing member polkadotshark
This book is a wonderful assortment of horror, fantasy, quirky and downright bizarre tales all neatly wrapped up in a bow of weirdness. It's also the probably the best anthology that I've come across years, nay, ever.

This gigantic, titan of a book has tales dating back from the nineteenth century
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to the present day. There are some classic tales in here such as 'The Willows' by Blackwood, 'The Dunwich Horror' by Lovecraft, the sublime 'Don't Look Now by Du Maurier and 'It's a Good Life' by Bixby which was adapted in the classic series of the Twilight Zone.

The book's real selling points, however, are its collection of lesser known works by well known authors, and more importantly, tales which have been completely forgotten ,or simply never reached enough audiences.

There are far too many individual stories to mention, but the majority of these tales certainly struck a chord with me and I'll certainly be look out for some of the authors at a later date.

Of course, there are a few clangers in here, but given the sheer size of the book they are barely worth mentioning.

Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member polkadotshark
This book is a wonderful assortment of horror, fantasy, quirky and downright bizarre tales all neatly wrapped up in a bow of weirdness. It's also the probably the best anthology that I've come across years, nay, ever.

This gigantic, titan of a book has tales dating back from the nineteenth century
Show More
to the present day. There are some classic tales in here such as 'The Willows' by Blackwood, 'The Dunwich Horror' by Lovecraft, the sublime 'Don't Look Now by Du Maurier and 'It's a Good Life' by Bixby which was adapted in the classic series of the Twilight Zone.

The book's real selling points, however, are its collection of lesser known works by well known authors, and more importantly, tales which have been completely forgotten ,or simply never reached enough audiences.

There are far too many individual stories to mention, but the majority of these tales certainly struck a chord with me and I'll certainly be look out for some of the authors at a later date.

Of course, there are a few clangers in here, but given the sheer size of the book they are barely worth mentioning.

Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member polkadotshark
This book is a wonderful assortment of horror, fantasy, quirky and downright bizarre tales all neatly wrapped up in a bow of weirdness. It's also the probably the best anthology that I've come across years, nay, ever.

This gigantic, titan of a book has tales dating back from the nineteenth century
Show More
to the present day. There are some classic tales in here such as 'The Willows' by Blackwood, 'The Dunwich Horror' by Lovecraft, the sublime 'Don't Look Now by Du Maurier and 'It's a Good Life' by Bixby which was adapted in the classic series of the Twilight Zone.

The book's real selling points, however, are its collection of lesser known works by well known authors, and more importantly, tales which have been completely forgotten ,or simply never reached enough audiences.

There are far too many individual stories to mention, but the majority of these tales certainly struck a chord with me and I'll certainly be look out for some of the authors at a later date.

Of course, there are a few clangers in here, but given the sheer size of the book they are barely worth mentioning.

Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mbvinstrup
This anthological masterpiece should at least be given six stars.
LibraryThing member homeschoolmimzi
Have read just a few of the stories in this very thick anthology. So far I've liked some of the stories, but this is the kind of book to read in bits ... mainly b/c it's a bit cumbersome to hold and carry around! And I'm reading other books now, so I'll get back to this one here and there...
LibraryThing member Coach_of_Alva
I became addicted to reach stories of the uncanny by reading great anthologies: "The Haunted Omnibus" and "Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural." I've read "Dark Forces," " The Dark Descent, " and "Black Waters" later. This anthology is as good as them, arguably greater, and will win new
Show More
devotees to dark fiction.
Complaints? The VanderMeers could have trimmed some mediocre authors who reused tropes that better writers had used earlier. On the other hand, by starting in 1908, they left out great writers and great stories. I feel that the weird tradition began in the 1890s, with Vernon Lee, Ambrose Bierce, Robert Chambers, and especially, Arthur Machen. Is their a better weird rite tale than "The White People?"
Show Less
LibraryThing member elenchus
An impressive compendium of Weird stories, classic and obscure, exhibiting a wide range of style, atmosphere, tone, and genre. Many entries are clearly Weird and serve almost as exemplars of the tradition. Others won't qualify for some readers, while simultaneously thrilling other readers.

Extra
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points for seeking out authors beyond Anglophone or even Continental influences, though I suspect this collection remains rooted in the literary world as defined by Western industrial economies. There are exceptions, but they're just that: exceptions.
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LibraryThing member grahzny
I did not read all of the 100 stories in this volume, but I enjoyed what I did. Not every story is going to be your style--but all will lead you into a creepy, uncanny part of our collective reading and writing heads. You'll find some gems! Worth your time.

Language

Original publication date

2011-10-31

Physical description

xx, 1126 p.; 25 cm

ISBN

9780765333629
Page: 0.6721 seconds