Paperback Library: 1964-1974

[dem]

Paperback Library: 1964-1974

I know nothing of their history beyond the fact that Warner killed an ace pulp publisher when they bought them out, and my guess is their early fiction output was confined to Sci-Fi and Fantasy titles before they got into their Gothic Horror stride circa 1965. And when i say 'Gothic', i mean every aspect of the genre. The full blown horror stuff and the Ann Radcliffe romantic crossovers of the beautiful, innocent young heiress in peril from seemingly supernatural agency variety. Then there are your usual horror-mystery classics - Le Fanu, Wilkie Collins, Stoker - supplemented with welcome reprints of forgotten greats like Horler's Curse Of Doone and J. U. Nicolson's celebrated Fingers Of Fear, thirty-plus Dark Shadows adventures from the prolific Marilyn Ross', a smattering of "non-fiction" black magic titles and some gorgeous, often entirely inappropriate covers from , among others, the gifted Victor Kalim - what's there not to adore?

I'll maybe break this listing up to separate the obvious 'Dark Shadows' and Romance titles on another thread, but the board needs a new challenge and putting a US publisher under the microscope for a change might freshen things up. Oh, and some of the covers have been swiped from Curt's consistently outstanding Beyond The Groovy Age Of Horror, so this section is dedicated to him.

The Best From Famous Monsters Of Filmland (1964)
Son Of Famous Monsters Of Filmland (1965)
Sydney Horler - The Curse Of Doone (1965)
Jane Austen - Northanger Abbey (1965)
Rupert T. Gould - Enigmas: Another Book of Unexplained Facts (1965)
Wilkie Collins - The Lady Of Glenwith Grange (1965)
Jennette Letton - Hilltop (1965)
Priscilla Dalton - The Silent, Silken Shadows (1965)
Marilyn Ross - Beware My Love (1965)
Marilyn Ross - Haunting of Fog Island (1965)
Marilyn Ross - The Locked Corridor (1965)

Miriam Lynch - Blacktower (1966)
Cassandra Knye (pseudo for John Sladek and Thomas Disch) - The House That Fear Built (1966)
J U Nicolson - Fingers Of Fear (1966)
Greye le Spina - Shadows Of Evil (1966)
Bram Stoker - The Garden Of Evil [Lair Of The White Worm] 1966.
Bram Stoker - The Lady Of The Shroud (1966)
Marilyn Ross - Dark Shadows (1966) *
Sandra Shulman - The Menacing Darkness (1966)
Marilyn Ross - Dark Legend (1966)
Marilyn Ross - Desperate Heiress (1966)
Marilyn Ross - A Gathering Of Evil (1966)
Marilyn Ross - Phantom Manor (1966)
Marilyn Ross - Memory Of Evil (1966)
Marilyn Ross - Desperate Heiress (1966)

Charles Birkin (ed.) - The Witch-Baiter (1967)
Charles Birkin (ed.) - The Haunted Dancers (1967)
Charity Blackstock - Witches' Sabbath (1967)
Peter Saxon - The Torturer (1967)
Peter Saxon - Scream And Scream Again (1967)
Peter Saxon - The Darkest Night (1967)
W. A. Ballinger - Drums of the Dark Gods (1967)
Elliott O'Donnell - The Dead Riders (1967)
Simon Majors - The Druid Stone (1967)
J. S. Le Fanu - Uncle Silas (1967)
Marilyn Ross - Victoria Winters (1967) *
Marilyn Ross - Strangers At Collins House (1967) *
Marilyn Ross - Assignment - Danger (1967)
Marilyn Ross - Cameron Castle (1967)
Wilkie Collins - The Yellow Mask (1967)
Miriam Lynch - The Secret of Lucifer's Island (1967)

Raymond Giles - Night Of The Warlock (1968)
Sandra Shulman - Daughters of Astaroth (1968)
Rollo Ahmed - The Black Art (1968)
Marilyn Ross -The Mystery Of Collinwood (1968) *
Marilyn Ross -The Curse Of Collinwood (1968) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas Collins (1968) *
Marilyn Ross - Shorecliff (1968)
Kathleen Norris - Gabrielle (1968)
Irina Karlova - Dreadful Hollow (1968)
Catherine Turney - Possessed (1968)

Anon - Barnabus Collins In A Funny Vein (1969) *
Marilyn Ross - The Secret Of Barnabas Collins (1969) *
Marilyn Ross - The Demon Of Barnabas Collins (1969) *
Marilyn Ross - The Foe Of Barnabas Collins (1969) *
Marilyn Ross - The Phantom And Barnabas Collins (1969) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas Collins Versus The Warlock (1969) *
Marilyn Ross - The Peril Of Barnabas Collins (1969) *
John Jakes - The Hybrid (1969)
Marilyn Ross - Beware, My Love! (1969)
Sandra Shulman - The Lady of Arlac (1969)
Freda Hurt - So Dark A Shadow (1969)
Dorothy Daniels - The Carson Inheritance (1969)
Dorothy Daniels - Shadows of Tomorrow (1969)
Dorothy Daniels - Strange Paradise (1969)
Dorothy Daniels - The Tormented (1969)

Francois Mallet-Joris - The Witches: Three Tales Of Sorcery (1970)
Marilyn Ross - House Of Dark Shadows (1970) *
Barnabus Collins & Quentin (eds.) - The Dark Shadows Book Of Vampires & Werewolves (1970) *
Anon (ed) - The Dark Dominion: Eight Terrifying Tales of Vampires and Werewolves (1970)
J. S. Le Fanu - Carmilla & The Haunted Baronet (1970)
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas Collins And The Mysterious Ghost (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas Collins And Quentin's Demon (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas Collins And The Gypsy Witch (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Mummy's Curse (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Avenging Ghost (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Nightmare Assassin (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Crystal Coffin (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Witch's Curse (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Haunted Cave (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Frightened Bride (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Scorpio Curse (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Serpent (1970) *
Marilyn Ross - Satan's Rock (1970)
Marilyn Ross - Dark Legend (1970)
Marilyn Ross - A Gathering of Evil (1970)
Marilyn Ross - The Aquarius Curse (1970)
Marilyn Ross - Mistress Of Ravenswood (1970)
Marilyn Ross - Phantom Manor (1970)
Marilyn Ross - Shorecliff (1970)
Sandra Shulman - The Prisoner of Garve (1970)
Alice Brennan - Candace (1970)
Dorothy Daniels - The Dark Stage (1970)
Dorothy Daniels - Island of Evil: Strange Paradise #2 (1970)

Robert Bloch - Sneak Preview (1971)
Abragail & Valaria - How To Become A Sensuous Witch (1971)
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Magic Potion (1971) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Body-Snatchers (1971) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And Dr. Jekyll's Son (1971) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Grave Robbers (1971) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And Sea Ghost (1971) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Mad Magician (1971) *
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Hidden Tomb (1971) *
James Reynolds - Ghosts in American Houses (1971)
Sandra Shulman - The Temptress (1971)
Sandra Shulman - The Brides Of Devil's Leap (1971)
Sandra Shulman - Castlecliffe (1971)
Robert Bloch - Sneak Preview (1971)
Marilyn Ross - Witch's Cove (1971)
Marilyn Ross - Phantom of Fog Island (1971)
Marilyn Ross - Message From A Ghost (1971)
Susan Richard - Chateau Saxony (1971)
Dorothy Daniels - The Bell (1971)
Dorothy Daniels - Voice On The Wind (1971)

Rodney Hyde-Thompson - The Alternative (aka Black Marriage) (1972)
Marilyn Ross - Barnabas, Quentin And The Vampire Beauty (1972) *
Emile C Schurmacher - True Tales Of Terror (1972)
Marilyn Ross - Night of the Phantom (1972)
Marilyn Ross - Phantom of the Swamp (1972)
Marilyn Ross - Mistress of Moorwood Manor (1972)
Marilyn Ross - The Long Night of Fear (1972)
Marilyn Ross - Dark Stars Over Seacrest (1972)
Marilyn Ross - The Sinister Garden (1972)
Marilyn Ross - The Witch of Bralhaven (1972)
Marilyn Ross - The Devil's Daughter (1973)
Marilyn Ross - Step Into Terror (1973)
Dorothy Daniels - The Possession of Tracy Corbin (1973)
Dorothy Daniels - The Stone House (1973)
Mozelle Richardson - The Masks of Thespis (1973)
Audrey Leech - The Terror of Stormcastle (1973)
Dorothy Daniels - The Beaumont Tradition (1974)
Dorothy Daniels - Island of Bitter Memories (1974)
Dorothy Daniels - The Prisoner of Malville Hall (1974)

As ever, if anyone cares to flesh this out, please go ahead!

[dem]

Judith Ware - The Fear Place (Paperback Library, May 1967)

Blurb:
THE FEAR PLACE
... held Dana Kane horrified with its frightening shadows, ghostly cries, concealed trapdoors and relics from a sinister past.
THE FEAR PLACE
was a secret room from which Dana Kane had to escape before her life was snuffed out like a sputtering candle
THE FEAR PLACE
is another macabre masterpiece of Gothic suspense by Judith Ware, author of The Faxon Secret, Thorne House and Quarry House.

Typically, soon as i began keeping an eye out for Paperback Library titles they seemed to go into hiding en masse (for fear of me attempting one of my "reviews" most likely) and it wasn't until Zardoz that i snared another one. If the blurb is anything to go by, The Fear Place has all the wished-for Gothic ingredients but will have to patiently await its turn as i've too many on the go just now. Other than the obvious, you never really know quite what you're going to get with a Gothic and i mostly read 'em in hope of another Seeds Of Evil, Fengriffen or even Barnabas, Quentin And The Frightened Bride. Which maybe explains why The Fear Place has already overtaken the likes of James Herbert's Shrine and Stephen King's Four By Midnight on the 'to read' pile (i have it from an entirely fictitious source that Clive Barker is spitting nails over yet another postponement to a long-threatened rematch with his Books Of Blood, so don't nobody go upsetting him just now).

[sara]

I adore my paperback library gothics! Though the writing may be a bit up and down, they always deliver in thrills and chills. A lot of the paperbacks marketed as gothics during the 60’s / 70’s were anything but, unfortunately.

[dem]

Hi Sara

i'd been hoping you'd post as i'm a big admirer of your My Love Haunted Heart blog. There are plenty of sites, blogs & Co,, devoted to the much-maligned Paranormal Romance genre, but i always hoped to find one devoted to the Paperback Library & Lancer Gothics. Apart from the often gorgeous artwork, what i like about them is you can never be quite sure what to expect, as at least some of the more recognisable titles are Gothic horror, pure and simple.

Thank you for joining and i hope you enjoy your time with us.

[Craig Herbertson]

Hi Sara and welcome. excellent site you have

[andydecker]

There was a fine blog doing Gothics. But it went off-line last year. But a good Gothic blog would be fine ;D

[sara]

Thank you!

And so glad to have found this place, you have some gorgeous artwork posted here.

I know what you mean about these gothics – though marketed as gothic romance, many have very little romance getting in the way of the gothic, some of the plots are fantastically twisted and you never really know what you are getting, which can only add to the suspense! Whereas the paranormal romances seem much more formulaic.

[dem]

i note you are also a fan of the wonderful Five Star paperbacks, so we're going to get along just fine! we've a fair bit about them in our 'Peter Saxon' section, although it's fair to say the Gothic Romance titles are under-represented as yet. reading your review of Georgena Goff's The Black Dog has decided me that i'm going to persevere with it. Are you familiar with Petrina Crawford's Seeds Of Evil (Five Star, 1972: originally Lancer 1967)? There's nothing about the cover artwork (either edition) to suggest you've anything other than a Gothic Romance on your hands, and technically, i guess it qualifies, but ...

[sara]

I’m a fan of Saxon’s Guardians novels but I don’t think I’ve come across any published by Five Star, mores the pity. As for their gothic romances, the ones I’ve read are great, though they can be a bit of a let down in the cover art department – being taken direct from titles previously published in the US or just not very gothic looking. Seed of Evil sounds fab - I’ve not read it yet and will definitely look out for it!

[killercrab]

Shot at 2011-05-26

The infamous *I can't get passed page 20*The Druid Stone arrived today. Though I love the cover isn't the book set in America ? - and if so have the yanks bought Stonehenge for their druidy goings on?! That said it's a cracking cover that p*sses on the Nel version - sorry! I understand this book has brought grown pulp fans to their knees . like Etienne Aubin's infamous Dracula and his Undead Virgins ( or whatever it's called). I can solice myself that I got The Druid Stone for free today. I did actually pay up for it but the seller felt because the endpapers were heavily tanned that it had been unintentionally misrepresented and refunded me - hoping I'd like it anyway. I nice gesture in our cut throat collectors world.

I'll let you know if I get passed the 20 page mark...

KC

[andydecker]

May 27, 2011 0:58:10 GMT killercrab said:

Shot at 2011-05-26

The infamous *I can't get passed page 20*The Druid Stone arrived today. ... I understand this book has brought grown pulp fans to their knees . like Etienne Aubin's infamous Dracula and his Undead Virgins

Oh yeah! I bought this in its german edition, a novel of a so-called horror paperback edition which mainly did some Gothics instead. This one even had a bad Gothics cover - woman, tower, light!

I never got past the first third. A bizarre mess which sapped the energy of its reader. Great find KC

[dem]

Christ, The Druid Stone! I managed twelve pages and gave up. Absolute torture but not in a good, Pierce Nace-ian way. Poor Victor Kalin! what a waste of a gorgeous cover painting. Even the appalling Nel effort is too good for it.

[sara]

More gorgeous artwork from Victor Kalin..

[Craig Herbertson]

Nice one - woman fleeing, sinister castle, enigmatic older bloke PLUS solitary lit window. It's got it all.

[killercrab]

Sara check this cover out ! Love your blog btw.

KC