999 - by Al Sarrantonio (Paperback)

About the Book

Headlined by a short novel from William Peter Blatty, this acclaimed anthology features 29 horror and suspense stories by Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Joyce Carol Oates, and others.

Book Synopsis

Winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best Anthology

"One of the best anthologies of horror and suspense of all time."--Rocky Mountain News

From award-winning author and "master anthologist"* Al Sarrantonio, 999: Twenty-Nine Original Tales of Horror and Suspense is a specially curated collection of evocative fiction that probes the depth of human fears and frailties. From otherworldly entities stalking prey to psychological terrors borne of trauma, these stories exemplify the limitless possibilities inherent in the genre, revealing that darkness can be found anywhere the imagination dares to look for it.

Young siblings uncover a disturbing history of their scandalized family--and encounter a creature of twisted malevolence--when they find themselves in "The Ruins of Contracocur" by Joyce Carol Oates.A man regrets his impulse purchase of a yard sale painting when the image continually shapeshifts into more and more violent depictions of its subject in pursuit of its new owner in Stephen King's "The Road Virus Heads North."In Neil Gaiman's "Keepsakes and Treasures: A Love Story", an ancient people's legend haunts a wealthy and powerful man who pays the ultimate price to possess a happiness never meant to endure.Thomas Ligotti unleashes "The Shadow, The Darkness" on an unsuspecting commune of struggling artists who come to accept a damning realization of their misperceived identities and their true existence in the cosmos.And twenty-five more excursions over the course of 666 pages into horror's unrelenting shadows by:

William Peter Blatty * Edward Bryant * P. D. Cacek * Ramsey Campbell * Nancy A. Collins * Thomas M. Disch * Ed Gorman * Rick Hautala * T. E. D. Klein * Joe R. Lansdale * Edward Lee * Bentley Little * Eric Van Lustbader * Dennis L. McKiernan * Thomas F. Monteleone * David Morrell * Kim Newman * Tim Powers * Al Sarrantonio * Peter Schneider * Michael Marshall Smith * Steven Spruill * Chet Williamson * F. Paul Wilson * Gene Wolfe

*Booklist

From the Back Cover

A ward-winning writer and editor Al Sarrantonio gathers together twenty-nine original stories from masters of the macabre. From dark fantasy and pure suspense to classic horror tales of vampires and zombies, 999 showcases the extraordinary scope of fantastical fright fiction. The stories in this anthology are a relentless tour de force of fear, which will haunt you, terrify you, and keep the adrenaline rushing all through the night.

Review Quotes

"Chock full of excellent fiction showcasing the breadth of writing that exists in the horror field." --"Cinescape"Spine-tingling."--"People"Here comes horror utopia...a surefire fan pleaser."--"Booklist"It will certainly be around for decades."--Kirkus Reviews"One of the best anthologies of horror and suspense of all time."--"Rocky Mountain News"For horror fans, 999 is a romp in paradise."--Associated Press"A new benchmark of excellence."--"Publishers Weekly (starred review)"An extraordinary anthology."--"Interzone"The hottest horror anthology of the past decade."--"Maine Sunday Telegram"Stylistic and modern and spooky...shockingly good fun."--"Lancaster (MA) Times"Chock full of excellent fiction...sure to please fans immensely."--"Wicked Magazine"Truly astonishing...the horror bible for the new millennium."---"Rue Morgue"Dazzling...a devilishly good deal."--"Boston Herald"Easily in the running for all-time best."--"San Antonio Express-News"A sure-fire, no-holds-barred, rock 'em-sock 'em shock to the system guaranteed to give the reader more than one sleepless night."--"Charleston Post & Courier"Great nighttime reading."--"Mesa (AZ) Tribune"A magnificent cross-section of horror today and glimpse of the direction the genre will follow in the future."--"Abilene (TX) Reporter-News"Your kind of fear is here."--Springfield (MA) Republican"Proof positive that the horror genre is alive and well."--"Denver Post"Anyone unable to find something to raise the hair on the nape of their neck in 999 is likely in need of resuscitation paddles."--SF Site"This truly is one of the best collections of new fiction I've seen in about ten years."--Zealot.com