Told by the Dead is a collection of short stories from one of the masters of horror fiction, Ramsey Campbell. It includes stories written between 1975 and 2002 and covers a wide range of themes. Some of them are briefly described below.

In 'Return Journey' a woman travels on an old steam train that has been decorated to recreate a wartime scene. As the journey progresses she recalls an experiences from her childhood.

'Agatha's Ghost' is a story of an old woman, haunted by a wicked spirit of her nephew, who turns to a radio phone-in show for advice to get rid of her unwelcome guest.

In 'The Last Hand' Martin wants to give up work to write a novel but is torn between the security of an income and the wish to follow his dream. During a train journey he comes across 3 men, playing cards, who invite him to join them. Soon it becomes apparent that something is sending him messages in the cards.

'Becoming Visible' revolves around a Tele-salesman who takes offence when one of his intended "victims" is rude to him on the phone. The faceless nature of the telephone voice gives him the anonymity to gain his revenge. (I have sometimes thought it must be soul destroying to do this kind of job and continually have people being abusive on the phone).

As a fan of Ramsey Campbell's novels I was delighted to receive this latest offering and I was not disappointed. In Told by the Dead Campbell has assembled a collection of short stories written over a period of 27 years. With some authors this would serve to highlight the development of the writing as the skill of later work emphasises the naivety of earlier offerings. With Ramsey Campbell this is not the case. I personally could not have differentiated the earlier stories from the more recent works. All have the elegance and ease of writing that is evident in all Campbell's work.

The stories in this collection are unusual and varied but in all cases the author manages to paint an eerie scene that immediately plunges the reader deep into the darkness of the storytelling. Indeed, in a number of cases I was left feeling quite uncomfortable and most definitely "creeped-out".

Unlike many short stories these tales are, to me, more like a vignette; a scene-setter. Don't expect a big "reveal" at the end, these are not that kind of story. They paint a disturbing background with sufficient detail highlighted to encourage the reader to fill in the gaps. I find the writing style has a very English feeling. To try and explain, I find that many American authors tend to be a tad too obvious for my taste. I don't like every aspect of the story to be laid out in front of me. I like my imagination to have to do some work. To me, some of the very best horror stories/films are where you never see the monster.

Personally I do prefer Ramsey Cambell's novels but this is just me. I like a story with a beginning, middle and that takes its time to reach its end. Despite this I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and it has served to whet my appetite for his next book.

Ramsey Campbell truly is a master of the horror genre.

Synopsis
TOLD BY THE DEAD is Ramsey Campbell's first short story collection for five years.

Spectral terrors abound, and monsters who might live next door or in our own heads. We learn why we should never play cards with strangers, and the perils of attending press shows of films. We glimpse a book that may render all others redundant, and encounter another that is too full of ghosts. A roadside mirror contains more than a reflection, and a bedroom mirror shows what may be in store for us all. Telephone advertising gives rise to a nightmare, and so does a Mediterranean holiday. A nostalgic train journey ends in dread, but leaving a train leads there too. Two street musicians may make the reader anxious to placate such entertainers with at least a coin. The author's wife exerts a calming influence in a collaboration, but his delirium is irrepressible, and readers with recherché preferences will be rewarded by a troupe of rampant midgets.

All this, of course, is in the best possible taste.

The contents range from immediately after the completion of DEMONS BY DAYLIGHT thirty-five years ago to the beginning of this century. Here is a book not just for aficionados of horror but for anyone who relishes wit, language and the imagination Stephen King describes as "so uniquely Campbell that it might as well be trademarked."