Books in Essential Gothic, SF series

With a new introduction by Professor John Sutherland, this edition takes a fresh look at one of the great works of the twentieth century. Animal Farm is a moral animal fable written to highlight the weakness of humankind, and satirize the rule of Stalin, whose rise through revolution ended in totalitarianism. Peppered with slogans such as 'All Animals Are Equal', Orwell undermines the dark treachery of the pigs with a simple economy of style as, open-eyed and naive, the other animals allow themselves to be outmanoeuvred. By the end of the book the pigs are as corrupt and arrogant as the humans they replace.For many, the book was a wider allegory of human behaviour, a lament; but for others it was a call to action that foreshadowed the Cold War, where differing world views would attempt to adopt Orwell's great work for their own purpose. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

A thrilling tale of mystery and crime from a master storyteller. A pacy tale from the original master of detective fiction Wilkie Collins. Transported from the temples of India to atmospheric Victorian England, the scene is set for a tale which twists between death, drugs, mystery and, most of all, misdirection. Rachel inherits the moonstone from her uncle on her 18th birthday, a cursed diamond of sacred importance stolen from India. When the stone goes missing, Sergeant Cuff is faced with a myriad of possible culprits, from mysterious Indian jugglers who may not be all they seem, to a very oddly acting maidservant. Told from the viewpoints of various vivid characters, Collins spins a tale of intrigue with many a wrong-turn as the moonstone leaves a path of destruction in its wake. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

A powerful gothic tale of passion, romance and unrequited love. The title of this gothic thriller is taken from the barren, wild moors of Yorkshire where the doomed love of Catherine and Heathcliff is played out in a capricious landscape. In Brontë’s bold narrative, the unfortunate, headstrong Heathcliff is brought into the household as a young boy by the owner Mr Earnshaw, to live as brother to his two children, Catherine and Hindley. This sets in motion a train of events that has captivated readers and film-makers alike, with its bold emotions, strident language, agonising deaths and the psychological self-torture of the main characters, a fate that that consigns them ultimately to an eternity of pain. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

As a new expedition to Antarctica is planned a dark tale emerges of a previous, life-threatening adventure. Revealing hidden secrets, lost civilisations and alien origins, master storyteller H.P. Lovecraft indulges his talent for the macabre and horrific. In a gripping tale of fast-paced discovery an entire alien ecosystem is uncovered, and an ancient and bloody battle into which the adventurers have been drawn. It is only through sheer luck that two of them manage to escape, leaving the gnarled bodies of their companions, and live to tell the tale as a warning for all those who come after. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

A brilliant, early dystopian tale of classic science fiction. The Last Man is a powerful, post-apocalyptic tale and precursor to the much later science fiction novels of H.G. Wells, George Orwell, Philip K. Dick and Harlan Ellison amongst others. Overshadowed by the titanic success of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley’s neglected masterpiece tells of a future laid waste by plague. Lionel Varney, an indolent nobleman, is immune to the savage effects of the disease having been bitten by an early victim. Varney is forced to watch the long decline of civilisation as humanity sinks slowly into extinction. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

Cited by H.P. Lovecraft as ‘perhaps the greatest of all Mr. Hodgson's works’, this tale of a deserted house in Ireland hints at a terrifying evil. When two men on an innocent fishing trip encounter the enigmatic ruins of a house, they slowly uncover its secrets through the diary of its previous tenant. At each turn of the page, horrors begin to unfold, monsters are revealed and new dimensions exposed. A gripping story right to the very end, Hodgson’s masterful writing leads the reader into a nightmarish world from which there may be no escape. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

As a new expedition to Antarctica is planned a dark tale emerges of a previous, life-threatening adventure. Revealing hidden secrets, lost civilisations and alien origins, master storyteller H.P. Lovecraft indulges his talent for the macabre and horrific. In a gripping tale of fast-paced discovery an entire alien ecosystem is uncovered, and an ancient and bloody battle into which the adventurers have been drawn. It is only through sheer luck that two of them manage to escape, leaving the gnarled bodies of their companions, and live to tell the tale as a warning for all those who come after. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

In Stevenson’s suspense-filled masterpiece of horror, a shameless, repulsive creature stalks the streets and he’s becoming harder to control… The charming Dr Jekyll could not be more different to the violent and depraved Mr Hyde – until, that is, he takes a potion of his own concoction which allows him to embrace his darker side. As Hyde’s savagery escalates, Dr Jekyll finds himself trapped in a truly nightmarish tale of duality, leaving him forced to take desperate measures, as he discovers that leaving the monster behind is not as easy as he needs it to be. Four of Stevenson’s other dark tales (including ‘The Body Snatcher’) complete this investigation into demonic influences of the most personal kind.FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

Another thrilling tale from the master of science fiction. Mysterious events are occurring throughout America but they all have one thing in common: they seem to involve impossibly fast vehicles. When detective John Strock goes to investigate, he uncovers the secret of Robur, a brilliant but arrogant man who has invented an astonishing vehicle. Unbelievably, it can transform to journey on land, sea or air allowing him to travel so fast he is rendered invisible. Fearing the godly powers Robur might wield with the machine he has named The Terror, Strock sets out to stop him at any cost. But Robur is not so easily defeated, and Strock faces a fierce battle for both his life and the fate of the world.FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.

A beautifully crafted tale of crime, mystery and suspense. The grimy fog rolls over London as three young adults step into their new lives. They encounter a gamut of remarkable characters, from the irritating leech Mr Skimpole to the gallant soldier Mr George, whilst at the heart of the tale lies a lengthy labyrinthine court case which embroils many in its bitter grasp. Meanwhile the insidious lawyer Mr Tulkinghorn is prying into the mysterious letters of a man who styled himself ‘Nemo’and his connection to the imperious Lady Dedlock. And what part does the ward Esther have to play in all this? When Tulkinghorn turns up murdered, and Lady Dedlock disappears, Inspector Bucket realises he’ll have to unearth a few dreaded secrets if he wants to solve the case. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and fantasy to science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. Each book features a brand new biography and glossary of Literary, Gothic and Victorian terms.