Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural (1985) was one of my free gifts when I joined the Science Fiction Book Club in the early ’90s. It’s pretty par for Kaye’s course in terms of selection: some fantastic stories (“The Professor’s Teddy Bear,” “Carmilla,” “Sardonicus,”), some curiosities (Tennessee Williams’ “Vengeance of Nitocris”) and some stuff I question the decision to include (primarily the excerpts from Dracula and The Hobbit).

Edward Gorey’s cover is probably my favorite in the series; can’t go wrong with flying skeletons, bats and lonely towers. A couple swooning ladies ups the gothic vibes nicely.