You are now holdingSeries XII,nineteen stories representing the cream of the cropof 1983’s harvest of horrors. This collection is the result of a year’s work,of reading through hundreds of stories published in books and magazines of alldescriptions from the United States and Europe in order to select the best ofthe best. Many of the top authors in the horror genre are represented here, butalongside them you will find exceptional work from new and unfamiliar writers11 • Introduction: Of Fads and Frights • essay by Karl Edward Wagner17 •Uncle Otto's Truck• [Castle Rock] • (1983) • Stephen King36 •3.47 AM• (1983) • David Langford46 •Mistral• (1983) • Jon Wynne-Tyson60 •Out of Africa• (1983) • David Drake68 •The Wall-Painting• (1983) • Roger Johnson84 •Keepsake• (1983) • Vincent McHardy93 •Echoes• (1983) • Lawrence C. Connolly97 •After-Images• (1983) • Malcolm Edwards111 •The Ventriloquist's Daughter• (1983) • Juleen Brantingham119 •Come to the Party• (1983) • Frances Garfield128 •The Chair• (1983) • Dennis Etchison149 •Names• (1983) • Jane Yolen155 •The Attic• (1983) • Billy Wolfenbarger163 •Just Waiting• (1983) • Ramsey Campbell175 •One for the Horrors• (1983) • David J. Schow187 •Elle Est Trois, (La Mort)• (1983) • Tanith Lee210 •Spring-Fingered Jack• (1983) • Susan Casper214 •The Flash! Kid• (1983) • Scott Bradfield227 •The Man with Legs• (1983) • Al Sarrantonio