Peter Straub is a modern Master of Horror, and perhaps only his sometime collaborator, Stephen King, can carry that mantle. INTERIOR DARKNESS gathers for the first time short stories of Straub's that span several decades. These tales were taken from the previous collections HOUSES WITHOUT DOORS, MAGIC TERROR and 5 STORIES, along with a few previously uncollected tales.

INTERIOR DARKNESS kicks off with the short story "Blue Rose," which plays directly into his terrific trio of novels in the Blue Rose saga. This tale of violence and memory is taken from the point of view of two young brothers. Ironically --- and I'm sure a bit whimsically --- Straub dedicates it to the late crooner Rosemary Clooney.

There are too many stories here to discuss each one individually, so I will focus on a few of the highlights. One of the most powerfully written tales is "Going Home," which amazingly consists of just one page. This really shows off Straub's writing chops as he is able to capture the pain and anguish of a couple returning to the hometown they had left.

"Some stories contain horrific elements while others are explorations into characters and situations, drawn out in the unique literary style of writing that can only be captured in the short story model."

My personal favorite is "The Buffalo Hunter." At nearly 100 pages in length, it could possibly qualify as a novella. The subject is Bob Bunting, a 35-year-old man living and working in New York City far from his parents, who still reside in Battle Creek, Michigan. It is obvious from the start that Bob has serious guilt over leaving them and tries to justify this by throwing himself into his career and ignoring their deteriorating health. He also finds another outlet, a complete fantasy life with a non-existent girlfriend named Veronica. He uses time spent with Veronica as a way of distancing himself from co-workers, family and any human interaction.

"The Buffalo Hunter" is top-notch psychological suspense as the reader is pulled head-long into Bob's fantasy world, which appears to have no end and begins to seriously blur the lines between fantasy and reality. The most remarkable thing is his ability to be transported physically by any book he reads. A fave of his is the novel THE BUFFALO HUNTER, where Bob becomes a participating character riding his own personal steed. As his need for fantasy becomes stronger and stronger, his mind snaps and poses the question as to what reality Bob belongs in. This story in particular begs for a film treatment. I would love to see Michel Gondry, who directed and wrote Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, have a go at this one.

Other stand-out selections include "A Short Guide to the City," in which an in-depth description of a major Midwest U.S. city is smattered with gruesome details about a serial killer named The Viaduct Killer and the locations where his victims were found. Meanwhile, "Mr. Clubb and Mr. Cuff" is a different take on the crime noir genre when an estate lawyer hires a pair of Private Detectives Extraordinaire to assist with the case of an allegedly unfaithful wife.

What makes INTERIOR DARKNESS different from your typical collection of horror tales is the distinction made in the book's categorization. It is labeled “Literary Horror,” and this work stands up to that. Some stories contain horrific elements while others are explorations into characters and situations, drawn out in the unique literary style of writing that can only be captured in the short story model. There is something for everyone here and plenty to think about long after you've finished the final story.