🩸 Horror Fiction

Lights Out: Collected Stories

✍️ Douglas Clegg
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$27.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A massive collection of horror stories by Douglas Clegg featuring thirty-three tales and a novelette.

Douglas Clegg’s short fiction is gathered here in a large volume. The book contains three previous collections plus the new story Funerary Rites. It covers many horror styles, from supernatural ghosts to psychological fear. Stories like The Rendering Man and The Five highlight his versatility. The arrangement follows the order of writing rather than thematic groupings. Readers encounter a blend of traditional horror elements and contemporary fears in tales such as Subway Turnstile and The Hurting Season. The book provides an extensive look at Clegg’s unique style of dread, moving beyond short, isolated scares.

Key Themes
supernatural horror psychological suspense gothic fiction
Literary Context

Published by Alkemara Press in 2019, this work sits within the contemporary American horror tradition. It follows the lineage of short story collections popularized by authors like Stephen King and Bentley Little. The format reflects a market demand for substantial, value-driven editions of established genre writers.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Bentley Little · Cosmic horror anthologies · Gothic ghost story collections
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Alkemara Press 📅 2019 📖 736 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781944668273

📝 Description: Lights Out: Collected Stories

Douglas Clegg delivers a massive collection of horror in Lights Out: Collected Stories. This large box set merges three earlier books with a new novelette called Funerary Rites. Inside, you will find thirty-three unique tales, from the unsettling domesticity of Why My Doll is Evil to the vast cosmic fear in I Am infinite, I Contain Multitudes. The volume features stories like White Chapel and The Skin of the World, showcasing Clegg’s varied approach to fear through his writing. Clegg uses gothic and supernatural elements to build narratives that shift between mental suspense and raw terror. Pieces such as The Little Mermaid and Underworld show how he twists well-known myths into horror. The book also contains darker works like The Wicked and Damned If You Do. Critics often compare his atmospheric style to Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew and Bentley Little’s The Collection. This title is ideal for readers who want a large, varied horror anthology. It fits those who enjoy tense, eerie storytelling. People looking for brief, one-off scares might find the size overwhelming. Fans of non-fiction or light romance will likely not enjoy this content. Dedicated horror enthusiasts will get over seven hundred pages of chilling tales.

💎 Our verdict on Lights Out: Collected Stories

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Lights Out: Collected Stories serves as a formidable testament to Douglas Clegg’s mastery of the macabre. The volume successfully merges earlier works with new content, offering thirty-three tales that range from domestic unease to vast cosmic fear. Clegg’s strength lies in his atmospheric writing, which shifts seamlessly between mental suspense and raw terror. The collection highlights his versatility, particularly in how he reimagines familiar myths like The Little Mermaid into terrifying scenarios. While the sheer size may overwhelm those seeking quick thrills, it rewards patient readers with a rich tapestry of gothic and psychological horror. It is an essential addition for collectors and fans who value deep, lingering dread over fleeting jumpscares.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking an extensive exploration of Douglas Clegg’s unique brand of terror will find this volume indispensable. It offers a comprehensive look at his ability to blend traditional supernatural elements with contemporary anxieties, moving beyond isolated scares to build sustained dread. Those who appreciate the atmospheric tension found in works like Skeleton Crew or The Collection will gain significant value from this massive assemblage. It is particularly suitable for dedicated horror enthusiasts who enjoy examining how well-known myths are twisted into frightening narratives. The inclusion of both previously published collections and new material provides a deep dive into his varied approach to fear, making it ideal for fans of psychological and cosmic horror who want more than just brief, one-off shocks.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Lights Out: Collected Stories serves as a formidable testament to Douglas Clegg’s mastery of the macabre. The volume successfully merges earlier works with new content, offering thirty-three tales that range from domestic unease to vast cosmic fear. Clegg’s strength lies in his atmospheric writing, which shifts seamlessly between mental suspense and raw terror. The collection highlights his versatility, particularly in how he reimagines familiar myths like The Little Mermaid into terrifying scenarios. While the sheer size may overwhelm those seeking quick thrills, it rewards patient readers with a rich tapestry of gothic and psychological horror. It is an essential addition for collectors and fans who value deep, lingering dread over fleeting jumpscares.

📖 From the series “Douglas Clegg Short Story Collections”

The Nightmare Chronicles: Thirteen Tales of Horror and Suspense
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Night Asylum: Tales of Mystery & Horror
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Wild Things: Four Tales
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✍️ More books by this author Douglas Clegg

Mischief: A Novel of Ghosts and Haunting
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Wild Things: Four Tales
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Afterlife: A Psychic Thriller
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The Faces
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The Attraction
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Funerary Rites
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🏛 Books from this publisher Alkemara Press

Mischief: A Novel of Ghosts and Haunting
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Wild Things: Four Tales
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The Words
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The Stain: A Short Story
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The Attraction
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Purity
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