What is the best book of short horror stories?

One great one is 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson. It has a collection of really spooky short stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

They are often filled with suspense. The authors build up tension to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

One of the best books of horror stories is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. It's a classic that introduced the world to the iconic vampire, Count Dracula. The story builds a great sense of dread with its descriptions of Dracula's castle and his powers. It also has a great cast of characters like Jonathan Harker who are plunged into a world of horror.

One of the best is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a short but powerful story about a young couple who sacrifice their most precious possessions for each other. The twist at the end is both unexpected and heartwarming.

One great option is 'The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway'. Hemingway's short stories are known for their concise yet powerful prose. His tales often deal with themes like love, war, and the human condition in a very engaging way.

One of the best books of short stories is 'The Dubliners' by James Joyce. It offers a vivid and complex portrait of Irish middle - class life at the turn of the 20th century. Each story is a gem, exploring themes like paralysis, both physical and spiritual, and the sense of alienation.

One characteristic is the creation of a sense of unease. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's erratic behavior and the description of the old man's eye immediately put the reader on edge. Another is the use of the unknown. In 'The Call of Cthulhu', the unfathomable nature of the Cthulhu entity scares readers. And often, there are elements of death and the macabre, like in 'The Masque of the Red Death' where the Red Death itself is a symbol of mortality.

One of the great ones could be 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a classic that builds intense psychological horror as the narrator's guilt over his deed drives him mad. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw' which shows the terrifying consequences of interfering with fate through a simple yet cursed object. And 'The Yellow Wallpaper' which uses the setting and the protagonist's deteriorating mental state to create a sense of horror.

I'd say 'The Lottery and Other Stories' by Shirley Jackson could be a good choice for beginners. The stories in it are quite accessible. For example, 'The Lottery' has a very unexpected and creepy ending that gives a taste of what horror short stories can be like without being too extreme.

They often have a sense of the unknown. For example, in 'The Call of Cthulhu', the idea of these unknowable cosmic beings is really scary. Another characteristic is a build - up of suspense. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the reader is kept on edge waiting to see how the wishes will turn out horribly. Also, they can play with psychological elements like in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' where the main character's mental state deteriorates in a very disturbing way.