The Corpse Factory and Other Stories: The Weird Tales of Arthur Leo Zagat, Volume 2

Name: The Corpse Factory and Other Stories: The Weird Tales of Arthur Leo Zagat, Volume 2
Price: 20.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781605437200

✍️ John Pelan

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$20.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of ten 1930s weird menace stories by Arthur Leo Zagat with an introduction by John Pelan.

This volume serves as a primary source for understanding the weird menace genre through the lens of Arthur Leo Zagat. John Pelan, who writes about the author and his time, frames the collection with historical context. The book does not offer new adaptations or critical essays on each tale. Instead, it presents the original texts alongside their publication history. Readers will find stories that appeared in Dime Mystery Magazine and Horror Stories between 1934 and 1937. The inclusion of titles like Satan's Bedchamber and The Little Walking Corpses provides a comprehensive view of Zagat's output during this specific decade. This approach allows the horror to stand on its own merits within its historical framework. It is ideal for collectors and historians of pulp fiction who value original texts over modern retellings.

Key Themes

weird menace tales 1930s pulp fiction Arthur Leo Zagat

Literary Context

The book focuses on the 1930s, a period when economic hardship influenced the creation of weird menace tales. Arthur Leo Zagat is identified as the peak figure of this genre. The stories were originally published in magazines like Dime Mystery Magazine and Horror Stories during the mid-1930s.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Robert E. Howard · Clark Ashton Smith

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Ramble House 📅 2014 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781605437200

📝 Description: The Corpse Factory and Other Stories: The Weird Tales of Arthur Leo Zagat, Volume 2

John Pelan introduces Arthur Leo Zagat, a writer whose work defined the weird menace genre during the difficult economic times of the 1930s. This volume collects ten stories that showcase the goriest elements of that era's pulp fiction. The collection includes titles such as The Corpse Factory and Mary 1934, which appeared in Horror Stories. Other tales like A Lodging in Hell and Death Lands a Cargo were published in Dime Mystery Magazine across various years from 1934 to 1937. Additional stories featured are Death's Mistress, Madman's Bride, Satan's Bedchamber, Soft Blows the Breeze from Hell, and The Little Walking Corpses. Pelan provides context for Zagat’s life and the period in his introduction. Readers seeking scholarly analysis of modern horror will find this book unsuitable. It appeals to those interested in the history of pulp magazines and the specific style of 1930s weird menace fiction. The text presents these stories as they were originally published, offering a direct look at the genre's peak period without modern interpretation or commentary beyond the introductory material.

💎 Our verdict on The Corpse Factory and Other Stories: The Weird Tales of Arthur Leo Zagat, Volume 2

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

This book succeeds by allowing the horror to stand on its own merits within a rigorous historical framework. John Pelan’s introduction frames the work effectively, providing context for Zagat and his era without imposing modern critical essays on individual tales. The collection presents original texts alongside their publication history, offering a valuable resource for understanding the weird menace genre. It is particularly well-suited for readers interested in the history of pulp magazines and the specific stylistic conventions of the 1930s. By avoiding modern retellings or extensive commentary, the volume preserves the authentic voice of the period. It serves as an ideal primary source for academics and fans alike who wish to explore the goriest elements of that decade's fiction directly.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This collection is essential for collectors and historians of pulp fiction who value the raw, unadulterated style of 1930s weird menace. Readers interested in the historical framework of horror will appreciate John Pelan’s introduction, which provides necessary context without overshadowing the original narratives. It appeals to those seeking a direct look at the genre's peak period through ten stories that showcase its goriest elements. Those who prefer scholarly analysis of modern horror or new adaptations should look elsewhere, as this volume focuses entirely on presenting the texts as they appeared in magazines like Dime Mystery Magazine and Horror Stories between 1934 and 1937. It offers a comprehensive view of Arthur Leo Zagat’s output for enthusiasts of vintage pulp literature.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

This book succeeds by allowing the horror to stand on its own merits within a rigorous historical framework. John Pelan’s introduction frames the work effectively, providing context for Zagat and his era without imposing modern critical essays on individual tales. The collection presents original texts alongside their publication history, offering a valuable resource for understanding the weird menace genre. It is particularly well-suited for readers interested in the history of pulp magazines and the specific stylistic conventions of the 1930s. By avoiding modern retellings or extensive commentary, the volume preserves the authentic voice of the period. It serves as an ideal primary source for academics and fans alike who wish to explore the goriest elements of that decade's fiction directly.