A Wolf at the Door: And Other Rare Tales

Tanith Lee, one of the world’s best writers of fantasy and horror, wrote hundreds of stories within her lifetime, spanning many genres. In this collection are thirteen tales, most of which only appeared in magazines or rare anthologies.

‘A wolf at the door’ implies hidden threat – until the door is open, we don’t really know what’s out there. It can also refer to misfortune, seen coming from a distance. And now the beast is upon you, scratching at the wood, its hot breath steaming on the step. Will you survive the encounter? Will the dawn save you – that good fortune you’ve longed for? The wolf might also be a metaphor for madness, another kind of predator that may creep towards a person unseen. Perhaps, once the door is opened, what you might have thought to be a threat turns out to be something else entirely. But of course, it can also be a werewolf…

Tanith enjoyed playing with genres and their tropes, and the stories in this collection range in mood and tone, from the light-hearted to the terrifying, the whimsical to the unsettling. A superb introduction to her work for the newcomer and a treasure trove for her enthusiasts.

With an introduction and illustrations by Storm Constantine