The Essential Horror of Joe R. Lansdale

On Halloween Night, Jim and his two friends believed they were just having a little fun when they mooned a car of nuns. The high-speed chase that ensues and the appearance of “The Folding Man” who delivers murderous vengeance in retaliation and proves there is a limit to fun. In “Tight Little Stitches in a Dead Man’s Back”, Paul Marder’s normal world ended as a result of a nuclear holocaust he played a role in, and his post-apocalyptic future is bleak except for the pain he feels from the tattoo his wife creates on his back. “The Essential Horror” conjures up tales of unspeakable evil (“Bizarre Hands”) coupled with yarns of surrealist absurdism where death wouldn’t be the worst thing to befall the protagonist (“Mister Weed Eater”).

Joe R. Lansdale has shown himself to be an adept writer in mystery, suspense, and western genres, but he has tackled the horror genre with proficiency and to critical acclaim (“The Drive In”). “The Essential Horror” is a brilliant anthology of the chilling, bizarre, ghastly, and memorable stories. Joe R. Lansdale is a versatile author whose works will continue to enthrall audiences for years to come.