William F. Nolan's Dark Universe: Stories 1951-2001--The Very Best from a Master of Suspense [Hardcover]

William F. Nolan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

Fifty years of top-notch writing -- mystery, science fiction, horror, suspense --admired by the likes of Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Ray Bradbury. Now, for the first time, Stealth Press is proud to present DARK UNIVERSE, a breathtaking collection spanning five decades of stunning achievement -- the very best from a Master of Suspense.

A distillation of 50 years of short fiction; more than 40 stories each with a newly written introductory note by the author as well as an introduction by Christopher Conlon. For anyone with an appreciation of modern fantastic fiction, a perspective on the evolution of science fiction, suspense, and horror, or an interest in the craft of the short story itself -- DARK UNIVERSE ranks with "must have" books like group tribute CALIFORNIA SORCERY (edited by Nolan and William Schafer), THE ESSENTIAL ELLISON, THE STORIES OF RAY BRADBURY, THE COLLECTED STORIES OF RICHARD MATHESON: COLLECTED STORIES, George Clayton Johnson's ALL OF US ARE DYING AND OTHER STORIES, and THE HOWLING MAN by Charles Beaumont.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The 41 stories in William F. Nolan's Dark Universe: A Grandmaster of Suspense Collects His Best Stories, prefaced by the author, represent the best of his 175 total horror, SF and mystery short stories (that's not to mention his dozen novels) completed during the past 50 years. In a story from 1956, the last man on Earth fights the little creatures that have been left to rule; in one from 2001, Nolan takes on school shootings and creepy smalltown cults... with an otherworldly twist.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

William F. Nolan is best known as the co-author (with George Clayton Johnson) of Logan's Run -- a science fiction novel that went on to become a movie, a television series and is about to become a movie again -- and as single author of its sequels. His short stories have been selected for scores of anthologies and textbooks and he is twice winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Special Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

Nolan was born in 1928 in Kansas City Missouri. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute and worked as an artist for Hallmark Cards. He moved to California in the late 1940s and studied at San Diego State College. He began concentrating on writing rather than art and, in 1952, was introduced by fellow Missouri native (and established writer) Ray Bradbury to another young up-and-coming author, Charles Beaumont. Moving to the Los Angeles area in 1953, Nolan became along with Bradbury, Beaumont, and Richard Matheson part of the "inner core" of the soon-to-be highly influential "Southern California Group" of writers. By 1956 Nolan was a full-time writer. Since 1951 he has sold more than 1500 stories, articles, books, and other works.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 470 pages
• Publisher: Stealth Pr (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588810356
• ISBN-13: 978-1588810359
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,268,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all!, January 17, 2002

By 

Henry W. Wagner (Rockaway, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William F. Nolan's Dark Universe: Stories 1951-2001--The Very Best from a Master of Suspense (Hardcover)

There's a reason William F. Nolan's short stories are included in so many "Best of" horror anthologies published over the past five decades: Nolan has written some of the most vivid and memorable horror of the last half century, stories respected by fan and pro alike. Ample proof of this can be found in Dark Universe, a collection of forty-one of Nolan's personal favorites selected from among his own work--notably, some of the stronger stories are those he's written in the last decade, showing that, like fine wine, this writer has improved with age. The book's a virtual primer on good storytelling--Nolan's consistent style is noteworthy for its clear, uncluttered prose, and each story demonstrates his instinctive knowledge of what scares us. This fine work, coupled with Nolan's illuminating personal notes
on each story and Christopher Conlon's admiring but clear eyed introduction, make this a volume that belongs on any horror aficionado's shelf.

5.0 out of 5 stars Forty-one of Nolan's finest and most disturbing stories, February 11, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: William F. Nolan's Dark Universe: Stories 1951-2001--The Very Best from a Master of Suspense (Hardcover)

William F. Nolan's Dark Universe is a masterfully written and memorable anthology of the dark fiction Nolan has written spanning more than fifty years. Forty-one of Nolan's finest and most disturbing stories guarantee cold, evil feelings and fleeting episodes of paranoia while reading. William F. Nolan's Dark Universe is a first-rate giftbook for fans of horror and suspense, and will well serve to introduce a whole new generation of readers to the work and literary artistry of this master storyteller.