The author of this book is one of the leading lights among the proponents of the kind of darkness (rather oxymoronic statement, I am afraid) that is envisioned by the followers of M.R. James. The stories are of a very high quality, and they are so polished that you would feel rather disheartened if you try to detect the tell-tale signs of craftwork in these stories (for that, you may go back to his first collection: "Under The Crust"). The contents are: -
(*) Introduction by Ramsey Campbell
1) Walking the Dog
2) Blade and Bone
3) The Break
4) Someone to Dump On
5) Running in the Family
6) Screens
7) The Toddler
8) The Outer Darkness
9) Inheritance
10) The Extension
Among all these stories, the most 'Jamesian' kind would be "Blade and Bone", while all others are of the most superior quality. BUT, I was rather stunned to find that in all these stories the protagonists, without doing anything wrong, kept coming to most unsavoury ends at the hands of the nasties, without any chance of retribution in sight. Some of these stories also veered towards Lucius Shepard territory, where you know that something horrifying is going to take place, but neither you nor the author nor even the protagonist shows the inclination to save himself/herself. Pretty frustrating in the end, and hence one star knocked off! Otherwise, a very good collection of horrifying stories, with emphasis upon the inflicting of pain & sorrow, and NOT on the supernatural.
