Waking Nightmares

Rating:
Summary: intruiging, scary, exhillarating, wonderfully moody
Review: Campbell again shows himself to be a master of mood and atmosphere with a collection of tales of a wide variety of setting and tone. Studied and effective, understated horror. In fact, he accomplishes better than horror (revulsion at something that has happened) and instead achieves terror (fear of something that *may* happen), which is Stephen King's stated highest goal. Thouroughly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: This book once again proves that Campbell is the master
Review: Ramsey Campbell is the scariest writer of fiction there is. This collection of short stories once again proves that well known fact. A student from the H.P. Lovecraft school of horror, campbell takes the reader on a phsycological journey through the most sacred and untouched realms of our minds, the realm of fear. If you read one book of horror short stories this should be it, because once you've had a taste of campbell you're hooked.

Rating:
Summary: No one chills more with less than Campbell does.
Review: When it comes to chilling examinations of the decaying mind, no one does it better than Ramsey Campbell. Whether the decay is literal (i.e. his mad killer stories) or symbolic (the supernatural stuff), no other writer can summon of the level of dread, isolation, and despair that Campbell can. Waking Nightmares gathers together stories from Campbell's early years (i.e. Jack In The Box) as well as his more recent work. Although some of the stories are a tad predictable (especially if you have read a great deal of Campbell's work), each is powerful in its own quiet way. I can't think of a better way to give yourself the heebie-jeebies than by reading anything by Ramsey Campbell. Highest recommendation.