A significantly lower number of copies of the final volume were printed, subsequently making it the most sought after and valuable, although only relevantly speaking. Popularity for a brief period, before once again, tailing off and ending on volume 30 in 1989. This, however, had a negative impact on the Pan series, and the standards of the books started to decline. The trend for new authors really took a hold from volume 9 onwards, and these volumes are often cited as the ‘best’ ones… As the series hit the 80’s, horror literature was growing more popular, thanks to Stephen King et al. But really the beauty of these books, is all the unknown authors, wisely being given a chance to reach a larger audience.Th ey do a great job most of the time, and some of the work is truly disturbing! The first few volumes include some big hitters in the field, Bram Stoker, Agatha Christie, Peter Fleming, and, in later volumes, young guns like Ray Bradbury contributed too. Started in 1959, and edited and compiled by Herbert Van Thal, the quality of writing of the authors, and the truly dark stories, created a sizeable cult folowing, and, in it’s day, sold in high numbers. We must confess that horror literature has never been a favourite of ours, but The Pan Book of Horror series of books, has always fascinated us….
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