Alrightreads: Tartarus R Us

Arthur Machen, A Fragment of Life

1904 (collected 2000) / Audiobook / 137 pages / UK

****

The same story he always writes, this time via Edwardian soap opera.

Sarban, The Sacrifice and Other Stories

2002 / Ebook / 256 pages / UK

***

Terrifying tales of freaks and foreigners!

Faves: 'Number Fourteen,' 'The Sacrifice'

Elizabeth Jane Howard, Three Miles Up and Other Strange Stories

1951-75 (collected 2003) / Ebook/audiobook / 216 pages / UK

***

Haunting journeys via various modes of transport.

Faves: 'Left Luggage,' 'Mr Wrong'

Mark Valentine, Herald of the Hidden and Other Stories

1983-2013 (collected 2013) / Ebook / 230 pages / UK

***

Enthusiastic, largely indistinguishable tributes to old-school occult detecting and other supernatural miscellany free from postmodern cynicism, save my own.

Faves: 'Herald of the Hidden,' 'Go to the West'

Various, Strange Tales V

2015 / Ebook / 267 pages / Various

***

Nicely varied interpretations of the broad brief, from creaky horror to sci-fi and even a wholesome fairy tale.

Faves: Elise Forier Edie's 'You-Go-Back,' David Rix's 'Henge,' Yarrow Paisley's 'Mary Alice in the Mirror'