The Five Senses of Horror

Hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste: Our impressions of the world are formed by our five senses, and so too are our fears, our imaginations, and our captivation in reading fiction stories that embrace these senses.Whether hearing the song of infernal caverns, tasting the erotic kiss of treachery, or smelling the lush fragrance of a fiend, enclosed within this anthology are fifteen horror and dark fantasy tales that will quicken the beat of fear, sweeten the flavor of wonder, sharpen the spike of thrills, and otherwise brighten the marvel of storytelling that is found resonant!Editor Eric J. Guignard and psychologist Jessica Bayliss, PhD also include companion discourse throughout, offering academic and literary insight as well as psychological commentary examining the physiology of our senses, why each of our senses are engaged by dark fiction stories, and how it all inspires writers to continually churn out ideas in uncommon and invigorating ways.Featuring stunning interior illustrations by Nils Bross, and including fiction short stories by such world-renowned authors as John Farris, Ramsey Campbell, Poppy Z. Brite, Darrell Schweitzer, and Richard Christian Matheson, amongst others.Intended for readers, writers, and students alike, explore THE FIVE SENSES OF HORROR!Table of Contents includes:“Preface: The Five Senses of Horror” by Eric J. Guignard“Introduction: Why Do Horror Stories Work? The Psychobiology of Horror” by Jessica Bayliss, PhD“Thoughts About the Sense of Touch” by Jessica Bayliss, PhD“Heading Home” by Ramsey Campbell“Soft” by Darrell Schweitzer“Feel the Noise” by Lisa Morton“Thoughts About the Sense of Hearing” by Jessica Bayliss, PhD“In the Cave of the Delicate Singers” by Lucy Taylor“Sounds” by Kathryn Ptacek“Malleus, Incus, Stapes” by Sarah Totton“Thoughts About the Sense of Taste” by Jessica Bayliss, PhD“His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood” by Poppy Z. Brite“Cassilago’s Wife” by Sarah Singleton“Sweet Subtleties” by Lisa L. Hannett“Thoughts About the Sense of Sight” by Jessica Bayliss, PhD“The Beholder” by Richard Christian Matheson“In the Porches of My Ears” by Norman Prentiss“The Impression of Craig Shee” by David McGroarty“Thoughts About the Sense of Smell” by Jessica Bayliss, PhD“Shem-el-Nessim: An Inspiration in Perfume” by Chris Bell“The Scent” by John F.D. Taff“The Odor of Violets” by John Farris“Understanding and Incorporating the Five Human Senses into Modern Horror Short Fiction Writing” by Eric J. Guignard“Afterword: Sensation and Perception” by K. H. Vaughan, PhD“Suggested Academic Reading for Further Study”“A Brief Reading List of Modern Fiction Short Stories with Relation to the Senses (1940–2015)”