Edgar Allan Poe's San Francisco: Terror Tales of the City

Name: Edgar Allan Poe's San Francisco: Terror Tales of the City
Price: 19.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780943283128

✍️ Joseph, Jr Covino

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$19.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A modern thriller blending Poe's gothic style with San Francisco horror.

This volume examines the intersection of hypnosis and literary influence in a urban setting. It focuses on the psychological conditioning of Nicolino by Dr. Valdemar. The plot relies heavily on the legacy of the Scarabus Killer. The narrative structure uses Poe’s themes as a framework for the suspense. It does not offer historical analysis but rather a fictionalized exploration of these ideas. The text remains faithful to the original author's stylistic choices while updating the setting.

Key Themes

hypnosis Scarabus Killer Poe themes

Literary Context

Published in 2005 by Epic Press, this work sits within the tradition of psychological gothic horror. It updates Edgar Allan Poe’s aesthetic for a contemporary audience. The story is set in San Francisco, using the city's fog and spectral atmosphere as central elements. It appeals to readers interested in supernatural fiction that references classic literary figures.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Edgar Allan Poe · H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson · Daphne du Maurier

🏚️

Gothic

🏛 Epic Press 📅 2005 📖 300 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780943283128

📝 Description: Edgar Allan Poe's San Francisco: Terror Tales of the City

Joseph Covino Jr presents a psychological gothic horror suspense thriller set in contemporary San Francisco. The narrative follows Dr. Vincent Valdemar, a hypnotist who attempts to condition a writer named Nicolino. His goal is to make Nicolino copycat the murderous modus operandi of the Scarabus Killer, a notorious figure from the city's past. Fate unites these two characters through their shared admiration for Edgar Allan Poe. Themes and images from Poe’s works are liberally interspersed throughout the text. The story blurs the line between what is real and unreal. A shadowy and murky fog envelops the surreal cityscape, which is populated by spectral characters. This ethereal brew weaves through the urban environment, creating a perversely tantalizing terror tale. The book functions as an ultimate Poe-pourri, combining elements of hypnosis with the gothic atmosphere of San Francisco. Readers seeking a modern homage to Poe’s style will find this work faithful to his tradition. Those preferring straightforward contemporary thrillers without literary allusions may find the dense intertextuality challenging.

💎 Our verdict on Edgar Allan Poe's San Francisco: Terror Tales of the City

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

This volume successfully merges hypnosis with gothic atmosphere to create a surreal urban terror tale. Covino excels at weaving Poe’s imagery into a contemporary San Francisco setting, creating an ethereal brew of spectral characters and murky fog. The narrative structure effectively uses Poe’s themes as a framework for suspense, blurring the line between real and unreal. While the dense intertextuality may challenge readers seeking straightforward plots, it rewards those who enjoy literary allusions. The book functions as an ultimate Poe-pourri, offering a faithful exploration of psychological horror. It is best suited for readers who appreciate the intersection of hypnosis and traditional gothic literature within a modern context.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a dense, atmospheric experience will find value in this unique fusion of psychological conditioning and gothic suspense. The book appeals to those who appreciate the intricate intertextuality of Poe’s themes adapted into a modern thriller format. It is ideal for enthusiasts of literary horror who enjoy exploring the blurred lines between reality and surrealism. By examining the legacy of the Scarabus Killer through the lens of hypnosis, the narrative offers a perversely tantalizing exploration of fear. Those who prefer straightforward contemporary thrillers may find the dense allusions difficult, but admirers of Poe’s stylistic choices will recognize a faithful yet updated tradition that elevates the standard horror genre.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

This volume successfully merges hypnosis with gothic atmosphere to create a surreal urban terror tale. Covino excels at weaving Poe’s imagery into a contemporary San Francisco setting, creating an ethereal brew of spectral characters and murky fog. The narrative structure effectively uses Poe’s themes as a framework for suspense, blurring the line between real and unreal. While the dense intertextuality may challenge readers seeking straightforward plots, it rewards those who enjoy literary allusions. The book functions as an ultimate Poe-pourri, offering a faithful exploration of psychological horror. It is best suited for readers who appreciate the intersection of hypnosis and traditional gothic literature within a modern context.