Masques II

Masques II is an anthology of horror fiction edited by J. N. Williamson, with Ramsey Campbell also credited on the title. It gathers twenty-six stories by a long list of writers working in the genre, so each tale starts from a new situation and a new voice.

The opening run of stories includes Stephen King's Popsy, Ramsey Campbell's Second sight, William F. Nolan's The yard and Robert Bloch's The new season. Richard Matheson contributes The near departed and, later in the book, Buried talents. His son Richard Christian Matheson adds Deathbed.

Other titles in the first half include Ice sculptures by David B. Silva, The litter by James Kisner, Splatter by Douglas E. Winter, American Gothic by Ray Russell, Moist dreams by Stanley Wiater and Dog, cat, and baby by Joe R. Lansdale. Wiping the slate clean is by G. Wayne Miller.

The second half brings James Herbert's Maurice and Mog, Steve Rasnic Tem's Hidey hole, Thomas F. Monteleone's The night is freezing fast and Alan Rodgers's The boy who came back from the dead. Mort Castle, Ardath Mayhar, Charles R. Saunders, Katherine Ramsland, Dennis Hamilton, John Robert Bensink and Thomas Sullivan also appear, and Williamson himself contributes Wordsong.

The book suits readers who like to sample many horror writers in one volume and to dip in and out of short fiction.