Pan Book of Horror
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The Pan Book of Horror Stories was a paperback series of short horror story anthologies published by Pan Books Ltd. The series ran to thirty volumes, the first published in 1959.
The series was initially collected and edited by Herbert Van Thal. Van Thal gave way to Clarence Paget who edited the series from volume twenty-six until its demise in 1989.
The early editions of the Pan Book of Horror Stories were notable for their lurid cover art[1] and Van Thal's introduction of stories by new authors alongside classics of the genre. The first edition included works by Peter Fleming, Muriel Spark, Bram Stoker and C. S. Forester. Later volumes feature Ray Bradbury and Lord Dunsany among others. After volume nine, Van Thal placed a heavier reliance on new authors. The series grew in popularity and was the stepping stone for much new talent. However in the early eighties a slow decline in standards was observed. Popularity rose again in the late eighties and stories by prominent authors Stephen King, Peter Straub and Ramsey Campbell ensured a wide readership. The last book is now a rare collectors item, due to the small print run it received.
U.S Editions of the first five books were released by Gold Medal, an imprint of Fawcett Publications and also Berkley Medallion. While the first book was complete in its contents - the other four books gave only a small selection of its UK counterparts.
Screaming Terror published under the Arthur Baker imprint is a collection from the first three Pan Book of Horror stories and is also edited by Herbert Van Thal.
The Pan Book of Horror Stories maintains a cult following.Tribute sites abound.
