Weirder Shadows Over Innsmouth

“The hag stone and the fort were two complementary elements that provided one of those pleasing convergences that sometimes happen for a writer from time to time. Much of what happens in the narrative is true: the outpost mentioned in the story exists, as did the poor hare, reduced to desiccated fibres on the causeway. The unfortunate incident at the beach that takes place while Adrian Stafford is trying to eat his lunch also happened (up to a point).

“It would have been a crime not to use the location in a short story, especially for an anthology such as this. The epic, rugged scenery and claustrophobic nature of the fort call to much of Lovecraft’s work that I admire—an awesomeness in the wide, open skies and the unfathomable depths; the unimaginable stretches of time over which hag stones and horrors from the ocean are formed (while the old protagonist in my story appears as a mere breath in the lungs of time); and the threat of being engulfed, of beginning to understand something vast but which is nevertheless only just observable.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to Dorothy Lumley, Randy and Sara Broecker, Bob Garcia, Philip Harbottle (Cosmos Literary Agency), Danielle Hackett (Arkham House Publishers, Inc.) and, especially, Dennis E. Weiler, Steve Saffel and Natalie Laverick, along with all the contributors.

ABOUT THE EDITOR

STEPHEN JONES was born in London, England, just across the River Thames from where his hapless namesake met a grisly fate in Hazel Heald’s story ‘The Horror in the Museum’. A Hugo Award nominee, he is the winner of three World Fantasy Awards, three International Horror Guild Awards, four Bram Stoker Awards, twenty-one British Fantasy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Horror Association. One of Britain’s most acclaimed horror and dark fantasy writers and editors, he has more than 130 books to his credit, including Shadows Over Innsmouth, Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth and Weirder Shadows Over Innsmouth, H. P. Lovecraft’s Book of Horror (with Dave Carson), H. P. Lovecraft’s Book of the Supernatural, Hallowe’en in a Suburb & Others: The Complete Poems from Weird Tales, Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales of H. P. Lovecraft and Eldritch Tales: A Miscellany of the Macabre, along with such author collections as The Complete Chronicles of Conan and Conan’s Brethren by Robert E. Howard and Curious Warnings: The Great Ghost Stories of M. R. James. His many anthologies include Fearie Tales: Stories of the Grimm and Gruesome, A Book of Horrors, The Mammoth Book of Vampires, the Zombie Apocalypse! series, and twenty-five volumes of The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror. You can visit his website at: www.stephenjoneseditor.com

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TITAN BOOKS

SHADOWS OVER INNSMOUTH

Edited by Stephen Jones

Under the unblinking eye of World Fantasy Award-winning editor Stephen Jones, sixteen of the finest modern authors, including Neil Gaiman, Kim Newman, Ramsey Campbell and Brian Lumley contribute stories to the canon of Cthulhu. Also featuring the story that started it all, by the master of horror, H. P. Lovecraft.

“A fine assembly of talented writers… A superb anthology for Lovecraft fans.” Science Fiction Chronicle

“Horror abounds in Shadows Over Innsmouth.” Publishers Weekly

“Good, slimy fun… There are a number of genuinely frightening pieces here.” San Francisco Chronicle

TITANBOOKS.COM

WEIRD SHADOWS OVER INNSMOUTH

Edited by Stephen Jones

Respected horror anthologist Stephen Jones edits this collection of twelve stories by some of the world’s most prominent Lovecraftian authors, including H. P Lovecraft himself, Ramsey Campbell, Kim Newman, Michael Marshall Smith, John Glasby, Paul McAuley, Steve Rasnic Tem, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Brian Lumley, Basil Copper, Hugh B. Cave, and Richard Lupoff.

“H. P. Lovecraft fans will revel in this fine follow-up to Jones’ Shadows Over Innsmouth, a World Fantasy finalist.” Publishers Weekly

“Fascinating and recommended.” All Hallows

TITANBOOKS.COM

BLACK WINGS OF CTHULHU

VOLUME ONE

Edited by S. T. Joshi