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Occult Science

A guide to the occult, mysticism, and literature

What is the Occult?

Something which is hidden, secret or esoteric and which may be beyond the range of the physical senses. It is therefore in the realms of the magical, mysterious or supernatural. From it arise various doctrines and disciplines, including theosophy. 

Source: Witches: An Encyclopedia of Paganism and Magic by Michael Jordan

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Classic Occult Books

Magick in Theory and Practice

"My former work has been misunderstood, and its scope limited, by my use of technical terms. It has attracted only too many dilettanti and eccentrics, weaklings seeking in "Magic" an escape from reality. I myself was first consciously drawn to the subject in this way. And it has repelled only too many scientific and practical minds, such as I most designed to influence."

The Golden Dawn

First published in 1937, Israel Regardie's The Golden Dawn has become the most influential modern handbook of magical theory and practice. In this new, definitive edition, noted scholar John Michael Greer has taken this essential resource back to its original, authentic form. With added illustrations, a twenty-page color insert, additional original material, and refreshed design and typography, this powerful work returns to its true stature as a modern masterpiece. An essential textbook for students of the occult, The Golden Dawn includes occult symbolism and Qabalistic philosophy, training methods for developing magical and clairvoyant powers, rituals that summon and banish spiritual potencies, secrets of making and consecrating magical tools, and much more.

Witches of America

Witches of America is a memoir of Alex Mar's immersive five-year trip into the occult, as both a journalist and someone searching for her own faith. She explores modern Paganism--from its roots in 1950s England to its present-day American mecca in the San Francisco Bay Area; from a gathering of more than a thousand witches in the Illinois woods to the New Orleans branch of one of the world's most influential magical societies--and decides to train in a coven herself. With keen intelligence and wit, Mar illuminates the world of witchcraft while grappling in fresh and unexpected ways with the question underlying every faith: Why do we choose to believe in anything at all? Whether evangelical Christian, Pagan priestess, or atheist, each of us craves a system of meaning to give structure to our lives. Sometimes we just find it in unexpected places.

Three Books of Occult Philosophy

The Three Books of Occult Philosophy (De Occulta Philosophia libri III) was written during the 16th century by Henry Cornelius Agrippa. It involves the study of Elemental, Celestial and Intellectual magic. A study of the Four Elements, Astrology, kabbalah, Numbers, Angels, and Divine Names. Along with the virtues and relationships that go with them, as well as methods for utilizing those relationships; such as scrying, alchemy and ceremonial.

The Secret History

A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK * INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER * A contemporary literary classic and "an accomplished psychological thriller ... absolutely chilling" (Village Voice), from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Goldfinch. Under the influence of a charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at a New England college discover a way of thought and life a world away from their banal contemporaries. But their search for the transcendent leads them down a dangerous path, beyond human constructs of morality. "A remarkably powerful novel [and] a ferociously well-paced entertainment.... Forceful, cerebral, and impeccably controlled." --The New York Times

Winged Pharaoh

A Far Memory novel by Joan Grant, Winged Pharoah is "a book of fine idealism, deep compassion and a spiritual quality pure and bright as flame" (New York Times).   As a child, the astonishing Joan Grant became aware of her uncanny "Far Memory," the ability to recall past incarnations who had lived in long-ago times and far-flung places. Her seven historical novels stand out for their vividness and rich detail. For Joan, these books were not works of the imagination but personal recollections of her previous lives.   In Winged Pharaoh, Joan Grant tells the story of Sekeeta, the Pharaoh's daughter. The ancient Egyptians reserved the title of "Winged Pharaoh" for ruler-priests who possessed extra-sensory powers. When Sekeeta demonstrates psychic abilities, she is sent to the temple and trained to recall past lives. Upon the death of her father, she becomes a "Winged Pharaoh"--both priestess and Pharaoh--and leads her country with enlightenment.   The most famous of Joan Grant's Far Memory novels, this book brings the grandeur, beauty, and mystery of ancient Egypt to life.   Far Memory series: Winged Pharaoh Scarlet Feather  

The Magus

The Magus, first published in 1801, is a concise compendium on the Western magical tradition, and one of the primary sources for the study of ceremonial magic. The book contains a fascinating array of information drawn together by author Francis Barrett from several sources, such as Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. Areas explored include Natural Magic, Alchemy, Talismanic Magic, Cabalistic and Ceremonial Magic, as well as biographies of important figures such as Albertus Magnus, Roger Bacon and John Dee. Notable are the author's illustrations, derived from ancient and magical texts. This book remains much sought after by modern readers for the important source material it provides, and it continues to be drawn on heavily for information on many areas of occult philosophy.

Drawing down the Moon

Explores the current Neopagan movement in the United States through discussions with various groups whose rituals are inspired by ancient deities, visions from science fiction, or witchcraft.

Foucault's Pendulum

"As brilliant and quirky as THE NAME OF THE ROSE, as mischievous and wide-raning....A virtuoso performance." THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Three clever book editors, inspired by an extraordinary fable they heard years befoe, decide to have a little fun. Randomly feeding esoteric bits of knowledge into an incredible computer capable of inventing connections between all their entires, they think they are creating a long lazy game--until the game starts taking over.... Here is an incredible journey of thought and history, memory and fantasy, a tour de force as enthralling as anything Umberto Eco--or indeed anyone--has ever devised.

The Secret Doctrine

The origin and evolution of the universe explained, in terms derived from the Hindu concept of cyclical development. The world and everything in it is supposed to alternate between periods of activity (manvanataras) and periods of passivity (pralayas). Each manvantara lasts many millions of years and consists of a number of Yugas, in accordance with Hindu cosmology.

The Castle of Crossed Destinies

A series of short, fantastic narratives inspired by fifteenth-century tarot cards and their archetypical images. Full-color and black-and-white reproductions of tarot cards. Translated by William Weaver.A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book

Ceremony

Tayo, a young Native American, has been a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II, and the horrors of captivity have almost eroded his will to survive. His return to the Laguna Pueblo reservation only increases his feeling of estrangement and alienation. While other returning soldiers find easy refuge in alcohol and senseless violence, Tayo searches for another kind of comfort and resolution. Tayo's quest leads him back to the Indian past and its traditions, to beliefs about witchcraft and evil, and to the ancient stories of his people. The search itself becomes a ritual, a curative ceremny that defeats the most virulent of afflictions—despair.

Psychic Self-Defense

After finding herself the subject of a powerful psychic attack, famed British occultist Dion Fortune wrote this detailed instruction manual on protecting oneself from paranormal attack. This classic psychic self-defense guide explains how to understand the signs of a psychic attack, vampirism, hauntings, and methods of defense. Everything you need to know about the methods, motives, and physical aspects of a psychic attack and how to overcome it is here, along with a look at the role psychic elements play in mental illness and how to recognize them. This is one of the best guides to detection and defense against psychic attack from one of the leading occult writers of the 20th century.

The Devil Rides Out

When his good friend Simon Aron's naive curiosity is tested, the Duke, along with his ever-patient friends Rex Van Ryn and Richard Eaton, must intricately plot a means of both physical and spiritual rescue. But with Van Ryn's affection for a beautiful woman caught in the web of Satanists, and Eaton's ongoing skepticism, they all risk being brought to the verge of madness by dabbling with the powers of evil. From London to the West Country, the slums of Paris toa Christian monastery, the action of this powerful occult thriller moves with fantastic, compelling force.

The Secret Teachings of All Ages

Acclaimed by Publishers Weekly as "a classic reference, dizzying in its breadth," this volume explores the themes underlying ancient mythology, philosophy, and religion. Hundreds of entries range from esoteric elements of Islamic and Christian history to arcane rituals practiced by Druids, Freemasons, alchemists, and other secret societies. 16 pages of color plates, 100 black-and-white illustrations.

Transcendental Magic

2011 Reprint of 1958 London Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This is Levi's first treatise on magic and was translated into English by Arthur Edward Waite as "Transcendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual". Its famous opening lines present the single essential theme of Occultism and gives some of the flavor of its atmosphere: "Behind the veil of all the hieratic and mystical allegories of ancient doctrines, behind the darkness and strange ordeals of all initiations, under the seal of all sacred writings, in the ruins of Nineveh or Thebes, on the crumbling stones of old temples and on the blackened visage of the Assyrian or Egyptian sphinx, in the monstrous or marvelous paintings which interpret to the faithful of India the inspired pages of the Vedas, in the cryptic emblems of our old books on alchemy, in the ceremonies practised at reception by all secret societies, there are found indications of a doctrine which is everywhere the same and everywhere carefully concealed. ( From the Introduction)". L vi's version of magic became a great success, especially after his death. That Spiritualism was popular on both sides of the Atlantic from the 1850s contributed to this success. His magical teachings were free from obvious fanaticisms; he had nothing to sell, and did not pretend to be the initiate of some ancient or fictitious secret society. He incorporated the Tarot cards into his magical system, and as a result the Tarot has been an important part of the paraphernalia of Western magicians. He had a deep impact on the magic of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and later on the ex-Golden Dawn member Aleister Crowley. He was also the first to declare that a pentagram or five-pointed star with one point down and two points up represents evil, while a pentagram with one point up and two points down represents good. It was largely through the occultists inspired by him that L vi is remembered as one of the key founders of the twentieth century revival of magic.

Initiation into Hermetics

Hermetics is a term given to the ancient Egyptian path of magic, self development and self enlightenment. In this volume the author focuses his attention on the practical training necessary for all true magical attainment. Using the four elements of fire, water, air and earth, he teaches the student how to master these forces in the three worlds of the body, soul and spirit and provides detailed training in the entire arcanum of magic. Teachings cover virtually all magical techniques from basic techniques in thought control, meditation and imagination to advanced teachings in astral travel, spiritual healing ,clairvoyance, seeing the aura and creation of talismans.A complete spiritual path of attainment in one book Learn to transform and eliminate the negative characteristics of the personality Master the hidden spiritual forces in nature Virtually every magical technique covered in one volume

The White Goddess

The definitive edition of one of the more extraordinary and influential books of our time This labyrinthine and extraordinary book, first published more than sixty years ago, was the outcome of Robert Graves's vast reading and curious research into strange territories of folklore, mythology, religion, and magic. Erudite and impassioned, it is a scholar-poet's quest for the meaning of European myths, a polemic about the relations between man and woman, and also an intensely personal document in which Graves explores the sources of his own inspiration and, as he believed, all true poetry. Incorporating all of Graves's final revisions, his replies to two of the original reviewers, and an essay describing the months of illumination in which The White Goddess was written, this is the definitive edition of one of the most influential books of our time.

Literature and Occult Traditions

Professor Saurat's book gives us a common background of tradition for the works of such diverse poets as Milton, Blake, Shelley, Emerson & Whitman; Goethe, Heine, Wagner, & Nietzsche; Hugo, Vigny, Lamartine & Leconte de Lisle. A final chapter is devoted to a study of the philosophical ideas of Spenser's poetry.

Clairvoyance and Occult Powers

Curious about pasttime clairvoyance and clairvoyance of distant scenes? Interested in developing your astral senses and gaining personal psychic influence over others? Then join Swami Panchadasi for twenty lessons in developing the outstanding powers of mentalism! Prepare for your own adventure into worlds beyond our everyday perceptions with Swami Panchadasi's Clairvoyance and Occult Powers. First published in 1916, this metaphysical classic by occultism pioneer William Walker Atkinson's guru Swami Panchadasi (who, it turns out, was actually Atkinson writing under a pseudonym) offers training for anyone to master a range of telepathic talents. From crystal gazing to clairvoyant reverie, psychic healing to astral travel, transference, and psychometry, the lessons are sure to delight student and adept alike. The introduction by Clint Marsh, author of The Mentalist's Handbook, takes us into the strange and multifaceted life of William Walker Atkinson, a turnofthecentury writer, occultist, and a real Guru's guru! A powerful book of knowledge, Clairvoyance and Occult Powers will manage to confound and enchant readers today as it did nearly 100 years ago.

Classic Horror Books

Frankenstein

Perhaps best recognized for the horror films it has spawned, ""Frankenstein"", written by 19-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, was first published in 1818. ""Frankenstein: Or The Modern Prometheus"" warns against the ""advancements"" of modern man and the industrial revolution. Whether for research or general interest, ""Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations"" furnishes students with a collection of the most insightful critical essays available on this Gothic thriller, selected from a variety of literary sources. Completely updated and incorporating at least 50 percent new material from the prior edition, this convenient study guide - with chronology, contributor biographical information, and bibliography - is ideal for those working on thematic papers.

The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

The perfect gift for the Edgar Allan Poe fan, The Complete Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe is an elegant edition boasting the entire Poe catalog.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a short story by Washington Irving contained in his collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., written while he was living in Birmingham, England, and first published in 1820. With Irving's companion piece "Rip Van Winkle", "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is among the earliest examples of American fiction still read today.The story is set circa 1790 in the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town, in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow. It tells the story of Ichabod Crane, a sycophantic, lean, lanky, and extremely superstitious schoolmaster from Connecticut, who competes with Abraham "Brom Bones" Van Brunt, the town rowdy, for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer, Baltus Van Tassel. As Crane leaves a party he attended at the Van Tassel home on an autumn night, he is pursued by the Headless Horseman, who is supposedly the ghost of a Hessian trooper who had his head shot off by a stray cannonball during "some nameless battle" of the American Revolutionary War, and who "rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head"

Hallowe'en Party

At a Hallowe'en party, Joyce - a hostile thirteen-year-old - boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub.

That night, Hercule Poirot is called in to find the "evil presence". But first he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double murderer.

The Witches of Eastwick

Toward the end of the Vietnam era, in a snug little Rhode Island seacoast town, wonderful powers have descended upon Alexandra, Jane, and Sukie, bewitching divorcées with sudden access to all that is female, fecund, and mysterious. Alexandra, a sculptor, summons thunderstorms; Jane, a cellist, floats on the air; and Sukie, the local gossip columnist, turns milk into cream. Their happy little coven takes on new, malignant life when a dark and moneyed stranger, Darryl Van Horne, refurbishes the long-derelict Lenox mansion and invites them in to play. Thenceforth scandal flits through the darkening, crooked streets of Eastwick--and through the even darker fantasies of the town's collective psyche. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby

The genre-defining classic that ushered in the era of modern horror One of the best-selling books of all time, Rosemary's Baby is a foundational work of suspense and psychological horror which remains as powerful and chilling as the day it was written. Hailed by Truman Capote as a "darkly brilliant tale" and adapted with near-total fidelity into the monumental film starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes, Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby ushered in the era of contemporary horror as we know it, opening the floodgates to later works such as The Exorcist and The Omen. Levin ingeniously fused gothic literary tradition with modern-day New York, creating an enduring classic which the New York Times placed on its recent list of "The 25 Most Significant New York City Novels From the Last 100 Years." Rosemary Woodhouse and her struggling-actor husband Guy are thrilled to move into the Bramford, a sought-after Manhattan apartment building prized for its Victorian details and gargoyled facade. Yet as they learn of a darker side to the building's history--and become acquainted with their overly attentive neighbors, the Castevets--unspoken tensions enter into the young couples' relationship. Matters improve when Guy lands a major role, and Rosemary at last becomes pregnant. But as her pregnancy takes frightening turns, Rosemary begins to question if her neighbors' heightened interest is strictly innocent, or if their motivations--and those of Guy himself--portend terrifying consequences for her, and her unborn child. Is Rosemary "...going mad, or going sane"? Foreword by Chuck Palahniuk.

Carmilla

In an isolated castle deep in the Austrian forest, Laura leads a solitary life with only her ailing father for company. Until one moonlit night, a horse-drawn carriage crashes into view, carrying an unexpected guest – the beautiful Carmilla. So begins a feverish friendship between Laura and her mysterious, entrancing companion. But as Carmilla becomes increasingly strange and volatile, prone to eerie nocturnal wanderings, Laura finds herself tormented by nightmares and growing weaker by the day… Pre-dating Dracula by twenty-six years, Carmilla is the original vampire story, steeped in sexual tension and gothic romance.

This edition includes a student-oriented introduction, tracing the major critical responses to Carmilla, and four interdisciplinary essays by leading scholars who analyze the story from various theoretical perspectives ranging from politics to gender, Gothicism to feminism, and nineteenth-century aestheticism to contemporary film studies.

The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and other tales of terror

In this chilling classic tale of mystery and horror, Robert Louis Stevenson explores the dark depths of human nature and the duality of man. The story revolves around the respectable Dr. Jekyll, whose sudden and inexplicable transformation into the cruel and remorseless Mr. Hyde shocks the society of Victorian London.

As the mystery deepens, the reader is drawn into a world of intrigue, suspense, and psychological terror. With its gripping plot, vivid descriptions, and unforgettable characters, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde remains one of the most iconic works of Gothic literature.

The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Writings

Wilde delivers a novel that is both a mishmash of fantasy and horror, following the life of the wealthy, vain and incredibly handsome Dorian Gray. The novel begins when the famous painter, Basil Hallward reveals his portrait of Dorian. Upon seeing his portrait, Dorian murmurs a prayer that he may always look as the painting does. However, Dorian soon discovers that whatever sins or evil acts he does, gets reflect in his portrait. Wilde creates an air of palpable surrealism, making his readers waiting in such mounting eeriness for Dorian’s next evil act.

The Great God Pan and Other Classic Horror Stories

"Of creators of cosmic fear raised to its most artistic pitch, few can hope to equal Arthur Machen." -- H. P. Lovecraft Arthur Machen (1863-1947), Welsh novelist and essayist, is considered one of the most important and influential writers of his time. While displaying a preoccupation with pagan themes and matters of the occult -- an interest he shared with his close friend, the distinguished scholar A. E. Waite -- his writing transcends the genre of supernatural horror. Oscar Wilde, W. B. Yeats, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as Paul Bowles and Jorge Luis Borges are just a few of the literary notables who are counted among his admirers. Machen is also a key figure in the development of pulp magazine fiction (e.g., Weird Tales), a line of ancestry that leads directly to today's popular graphic novels. Further, Machen's name often crops up in the writings of theorists and practitioners of psychogeography, a school of thought and literature which explores the hidden links between the landscape and the mind. In "The Great God Pan," Arthur Machen delivers a tense atmospheric story about a string of mysterious suicides. With its suggestive visions of decadent sexuality, the work scandalized Victorian London. This edition also includes "The White People," "The Inmost Light," and "The Shining Pyramid." Taken together, these short stories are considered some of the first works of horror and have inspired generations of subsequent writers and creators.

The Shining

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Before Doctor Sleep, there was The Shining, a classic of modern American horror from the undisputed master, Stephen King. Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he'll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.

The Island of Dr. Moreau

The crying sounded even louder out of doors. It was as if all the pain in the world had found a voice. Book #10 of 20 in the SDE Classics Science Fiction Collection Shipwrecked in the south Pacific Ocean, Englishman Edward Prendick awakens aboard a ship where a man named Montgomery and his beastly looking servant were transporting animal cargo. Soon, they arrive on an island and more and more of these bizarre humanlike creatures appear. Prendick senses a sinister secret to the island after he meets with the owner, a one Dr. Moreau...

Dracula

This 1897 classic horror story is the root of almost all vampire books. When young English lawyer, Jonathon Harker travels to Transylvania to help a rich nobleman purchase an estate in England, he quickly learns that his client is actually a vampire. The story shifts over to England, where Harker’s finacée, Mina Murray witnesses the deteriorating health of her friend, Lucy Westenra after discovering two tiny red marks on Lucy’s neck. Stoker’s writing is a sultry end of a century tale, steeped in suspense and jeopardy. More so, Stroker’s characterization of Dracula is deeply original, drawing his inspiration from early vampire literature.

The Turn of the Screw

When a nameless Governess is hired to care for two young children, Miles and Flora on their uncle’s remote English estate, she is determined to adore and care for them. Initially charmed by her charges, the Governess becomes wary of the two children when she suspects that Miles and Flora are in communication with two ghosts – Peter Quint and Miss Jessel – who previously worked on the estate before their deaths. This classic ghost story questions the Governess’s reliability as a narrator. Are the ghosts actually real? Do they seek to possess the children? The terror of the tales resides in its utter ambiguity.

The Classic Horror Stories

H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) was a reclusive scribbler of horror stories for the American pulp magazines that specialized in Gothic and science fiction in the interwar years. He often published in Weird Tales and has since become the key figure in the slippery genre of "weird fiction." Lovecraft developed an extraordinary vision of feeble men driven to the edge of sanity by glimpses of malign beings that have survived from human prehistory or by malevolent extra-terrestrial visitations. The ornate language of his stories builds towards grotesque moments of revelation, quite unlike any other writer. This new selection brings together nine of his classic tales, focusing on the "Cthulhu Mythos," a cycle of stories that develops the mythology of the Old Ones, the monstrous creatures who predate human life on earth. The stories collected here include some of Lovecraft's finest, including "The Call of Cthulhu," "At the Mountains of Madness," "The Dunwich Horror," "The Colour Out of Space," "The Shadow over Innsmouth," and "The Shadow out of Time." The volume also includes vital extracts from Lovecraft's critical essay, "Supernatural Horror in Literature," in which he gave his own important definition of "weird fiction." In a fascinating introduction, Roger Luckhurst gives Lovecraft the attention he deserves as a writer who used pulp fiction to explore a remarkable philosophy that shockingly dethrones the mastery of man. Featuring a chronology, bibliography, and informative notes, this is a must-have critical edition for Lovecraft aficionados, and the best introduction to his work for first-time visitors to his strange fictional world.

Hell House

"Hell House is the scariest haunted house novel ever written. It looms over the rest the way the mountains loom over the foothills." -- Stephen King From the author of I Am Legend comes Richard Matheson's Hell House, the basis for the supernatural horror film starring Pamela Franklin, Roddy McDowall, Clive Revill. Rolf Rudolph Deutsch is going die. But when Deutsch, a wealthy magazine and newspaper publisher, starts thinking seriously about his impending death, he offers to pay a physicist and two mediums, one physical and one mental, $100,000 each to establish the facts of life after death. Dr. Lionel Barrett, the physicist, accompanied by the mediums, travel to the Belasco House in Maine, which has been abandoned and sealed since 1949 after a decade of drug addiction, alcoholism, and debauchery. For one night, Barrett and his colleagues investigate the Belasco House and learn exactly why the townsfolk refer to it as the Hell House.

Misery

The #1 New York Times bestseller about a famous novelist held hostage in a remote location by his "number one fan." One of "Stephen King's best...genuinely scary" (USA TODAY). Paul Sheldon is a bestselling novelist who has finally met his number one fan. Her name is Annie Wilkes, and she is more than a rabid reader--she is Paul's nurse, tending his shattered body after an automobile accident. But she is also furious that the author has killed off her favorite character in his latest book. Annie becomes his captor, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house. Annie wants Paul to write a book that brings Misery back to life--just for her. She has a lot of ways to spur him on. One is a needle. Another is an axe. And if they don't work, she can get really nasty. "Terrifying" (San Francisco Chronicle), "dazzlingly well-written" (The Indianapolis Star), and "truly gripping" (Publishers Weekly), Misery is "classic Stephen King...full of twists and turns and mounting suspense" (The Boston Globe).

The Amityville Horror

"A fascinating and frightening book" (Los Angeles Times)--the bestselling true story about a house possessed by evil spirits, haunted by psychic phenomena almost too terrible to describe. In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home on suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that, one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his parents, brothers, and sisters in the house, but the property--complete with boathouse and swimming pool--and the price had been too good to pass up. Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror. This is the spellbinding, shocking true story that gripped the nation about an American dream that turned into a nightmare beyond imagining--"this book will scare the hell out of you" (Kansas City Star).

The Exorcist

Originally published in 1971, The Exorcist is now a major television series on FOX. It remains one of the most controversial novels ever written and went on to become a literary phenomenon: It spent fifty-seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, seventeen consecutively at number one. Inspired by a true story of a child’s demonic possession in the 1940s, William Peter Blatty created an iconic novel that focuses on Regan, the eleven-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C. A small group of overwhelmed yet determined individuals must rescue Regan from her unspeakable fate, and the drama that ensues is gripping and unfailingly terrifying.

The Silence of the Lambs

An ingenious, masterfully written novel, Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs is a classic of suspense and storytelling and the basis for the Oscar award-winning horror film starring Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. A serial murderer known only by a grotesquely apt nickname--Buffalo Bill--is stalking particular women. He has a purpose, but no one can fathom it, for the bodies are discovered in different states. Clarice Starling, a young trainee at the F.B.I. Academy, is surprised to be summoned by Jack Crawford, Chief of the Bureau's Behavioral Science section. Her assignment: to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and grisly killer now kept under close watch in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Lecter's insight into the minds of murderers could help track and capture Buffalo Bill. Smart and attractive, Starling is shaken to find herself in a strange, intense relationship with the acutely perceptive Lecter. His cryptic clues--about Buffalo Bill and about her--launch Clarice on a search that every reader will find startling, harrowing, and totally compelling.