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Published by Idea Men Productions In the late ‘40's, Boris Karloff compiled a collection of horror that included classic ghost stories as well as writings from his contemporaries such as William Faulkner. This 2007 edition makes available Karloff's vision of an ideal compilation of ghoulish tales. And the book does not disappoint. With the exception of the omission of William Faulkner's “The Hound,” the book has been reprinted with all the stories and illustrations of the original volume. Tales breathes new life into gothic era horror. Edgar Allan Poe's “The Tell Tale Heart” and Bram Stoker's “The Judge's House” fit nicely among some of the more modern tales in the book. These stories might seem like old hat, but reading the book from start to finish gives these gothic classics new context among classic tales from Karloff contemporaries such as Joseph Conrad and Oliver Onions. It jogs the imagination to think about Karloff putting the whole thing together. What do you imagine would turn on Karloff? The book at times feels like a reference guide for what scared a true master of horror. Karloff's interests in horror as a genre appeared to lean towards the psychological. The stories generally turn due to the weaknesses of the various protagonists. These tales are chosen for different degrees of exemplifying why man is not able to govern himself due to greed or revenge. The book begins with Karloff's seminal essay on the psychology and philosophy of horror. Tales is not only a must for fans of the genre, but is a library of literary twists as well. To the avid reader of short fiction, some of the turns will be obvious, but reading Tales evokes the warm feeling of seeing a document of the birth of the ironic twist. Karloff proves in his essay that he was more than a man in a mask. He was clever in his recognition of people falling due to their own failings. His story selection is unbeatable.
by
Billups Allen
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Tales of Terror: The world
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