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*Cover art by Eric J. Guignard
The Five Senses of Horror (2018)
Hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste: Our impressions of the world are formed by our five senses, and so too are our fears, our imaginations, and our captivation in reading fiction stories that embrace these senses.
Whether hearing the song of infernal caverns, tasting the erotic kiss of treachery, or smelling the lush fragrance of a fiend, enclosed within this anthology are fifteen horror and dark fantasy tales that will quicken the beat of fear, sweeten the flavor of wonder, sharpen the spike of thrills, and otherwise brighten the marvel of storytelling that is found resonant!
Award-winning editor Eric J. Guignard and psychologist Jessica Bayliss, PhD also include companion discourse throughout, offering academic and literary insight as well as psychological commentary examining the physiology of our senses, why each of our senses are engaged by dark fiction stories, and how it all inspires writers to continually churn out ideas in uncommon and invigorating ways.
Featuring stunning interior illustrations by Nils Bross, and including fiction short stories by authors such as Ramsey Campbell, Richard Christian Matheson, and John Farris, THE FIVE SENSES OF HORROR is intended for readers, writers, and students alike!
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• Preface: The Five Senses of Horror by Eric J. Guignard
• Introduction: Why Do Horror Stories Work? The Psychobiology of Horror by Jessica Bayliss, PhD
TOUCH
• Thoughts About the Sense of Touch by Jessica Bayliss, PhD
• "Heading Home" by Ramsey Campbell
• "Soft" by Darrell Schweitzer
• "Feel the Noise" by Lisa Morton
HEARING
• Thoughts About the Sense of Hearing by Jessica Bayliss, PhD
• "In the Cave of the Delicate Singers" by Lucy Taylor
• "Sounds" by Kathryn Ptacek
• "Malleus, Incus, Stapes" by Sarah Totton
TASTE
• Thoughts About the Sense of Taste by Jessica Bayliss, PhD
• "His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood" by Poppy Z. Brite
• "Cassilago’s Wife" by Sarah Singleton
• "Sweet Subtleties" by Lisa L. Hannett
SIGHT
• Thoughts About the Sense of Sight by Jessica Bayliss, PhD
• "The Beholder" by Richard Christian Matheson
• "In the Porches of My Ears" by Norman Prentiss
• "The Impression of Craig Shee" by David McGroarty
SMELL
• Thoughts About the Sense of Smell by Jessica Bayliss, PhD
• "Shem-el-Nessim: An Inspiration in Perfume" by Chris Bell
• "The Scent" by John F.D. Taff
• "The Odor of Violets" by John Farris
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
• Understanding and Incorporating the Five Human Senses into Modern Horror Short Fiction Writing by Eric J. Guignard
• Afterword: Sensation and Perception by K. H. Vaughan, PhD
• Suggested Academic Reading for Further Study by Eric J. Guignard
• A Brief Reading List of Modern Fiction Short Stories with Relation to the Senses (1940–2015) by Eric J. Guignard
• Illustrations by Nils Bross
