The

CLASSIC HORROR BLOG

Critical Essays on Horror, Ghost Stories, & Weird Fiction

— from Mary Shelley to M. R. James —

by M. Grant Kellermeyer

Robert W. Chambers' In the Court of the Dragon: A Two-Minute Summary and Literary Analysis

The King in Yellow is a savage, jealous potentate who longs to possess his worshippers – mind, body, and soul. In this one way -- his...

"The Harbor-Master" by Robert W. Chambers (A Rare and Forgotten Story Transcription)

NOTE BY M. GRANT KELLERMEYER: While many fans of H. P. Lovecraft assume that Chambers’ influence on him begins and ends with The King in...

"The Key to Grief" by Robert W. Chambers (A Rare and Forgotten Story Transcription)

NOTE BY M. GRANT KELLERMEYER: A “key” in nautical geography is a low, sandy island that juts out of a sunken reef. This makes the more...

Robert W. Chambers' The Maker of Moons: A Two-Minute Summary and a Literary Analysis

Aside from the “King in Yellow” mythos, Chambers most notable contribution to weird fiction is the following story. “The Maker of Moons”...

Robert W. Chambers' The Yellow Sign: A Two-Minute Summary and a Literary Analysis

“The Yellow Sign” is simultaneously Chambers’ horror masterpiece and one of the simplest, least layered entries in The King in Yellow: at...

Robert W. Chambers' The Repairer of Reputations: a Two-Minute Summary and Analysis

The first story in the King in Yellow Mythos (the first five – or possibly six – works in the eponymous 1895 collection) introduces us to...

Robert W. Chambers' Surreally Decadent, Nightmarish Horror Stories

Few writers in the canon of horror fiction are more mystifying or frustrating than the unambitious genius of Robert W. Chambers....

31 Classic Horror Stories Every Fan Should Read in October: A Literary Advent Calender for Halloween

Why should Christmas have all the fun? Oldstyle Tales proudly presents a literary advent calendar for your favorite season. Each day has...