Top 10 British Library “Tales of the Weird” Anthologies

I said I would do this and to be honest, I’ve been putting it off because of the fact it is so hard to rate these books. First of all, I have noticed the decrease in their quality over the past couple of months and yet, the older ones are so good I had no idea which one would come first. I spent a while thinking about it, cutting them down in my mind and rating them on a system of: which one did I love reading the most? So, if you have an issue with the list please know it is only personal opinion and does not represent an objective reality in any way.

Note: these will not include the books in the collection which are simply complete novels.

Second Note: I will be updating this as newer anthologies come out with possibly, another list in the future. But for now, this is what we’ve got.

Top 10 British Library “Tales of the Weird” Anthologies

10. Roads of Destiny: And Other Tales of Alternative Histories and Parallel Realms

This is an anthology featuring speculative fiction from various authors, including O. Henry. The stories delve into themes of fate, choice, and alternate realities, exploring how small decisions can drastically alter destinies. With tales set in reimagined historical moments, parallel worlds, and speculative realms, the collection invites readers to consider the profound impact of seemingly insignificant choices. Each narrative offers a unique perspective on how different paths can unfold, providing a thought-provoking journey through alternative histories and possible futures.

My favourite story from the anthology: The Rose Wall by Joyce Carol Oates

9. Into the London Fog: Eerie Tales from the Weird City

This is an anthology of unsettling stories set against the mysterious backdrop of London. Featuring a range of authors such as: Sam Selvon and Arthur Machen, including well-known figures in the genre like Charlotte Riddell and EF Benson, the collection explores the eerie, the strange, and the supernatural lurking within the fog-bound streets of the city. From forgotten histories to unsettling encounters, these tales evoke the chilling atmosphere of London’s dark corners, where the boundary between the known and the unknown blurs. The anthology delves into the peculiarities of the city, offering a haunting exploration of its hidden, otherworldly side.

My favourite story from the anthology: Street Haunting by Virginia Woolf

8. Our Haunted Shores: Tales from the Coasts of the British Isles

This is a chilling anthology of ghostly and mysterious tales set along the windswept coasts of Britain. Featuring contributions from a variety of authors such as: Frances Hodgson Burnett, Bram Stoker, HG Wells and Algernon Blackwood. The collection explores the eerie beauty of seaside landscapes and the spectral stories they inspire. From haunted lighthouses to strange occurrences on desolate shores, these tales evoke the timeless allure of the sea’s darker side. Each story captures the haunting essence of coastal life, where the natural and supernatural meet, offering a compelling glimpse into the myths and mysteries of the British Isles.

My favourite story from the anthology: What was it? by Anonymous

7. Eerie East Anglia: Fearful Tales of Field and Fen

This is an anthology of spine-chilling stories set in the haunting landscapes of East Anglia. Featuring contributions from a range of authors, the collection explores the eerie folklore, ghostly legends, and unsettling mysteries rooted in the region’s fields, fens, and ancient villages. The authors include: MR James, EF Benson, Marjorie Bowen and Robert Aickman . From spectral apparitions to strange phenomena in the misty marshes, these tales evoke the haunting atmosphere of East Anglia’s rural beauty and its shadowy past.

My favourite story from the anthology: Oh Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad by MR James

6. Fear in the Blood: Tales from the Dark Lineages of the Weird

This is a gripping anthology that explores the sinister legacies of cursed bloodlines and inherited horrors. Featuring stories from a range of authors including: Frederick and Florence Marryat, the Le Fanu Family and obviously, the Dickens lot. The collection delves into themes of ancestry, destiny, and the dark forces that run through familial veins. From chilling genealogical discoveries to the inescapable grip of ancestral curses, these tales weave a web of terror rooted in the past. Each story offers a haunting exploration of how blood ties can bind, betray, and doom, creating a compelling addition to the world of weird fiction.

My favourite story from the anthology: Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

5. Evil Roots: Killer Tales of the Botanical Gothic

This is a unique anthology of sinister stories that delve into the darker side of the natural world. Featuring works from a variety of authors such as: Arthur Conan Doyle, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Ambrose Bierce, the collection explores the eerie and malevolent presence of plants in Gothic fiction. From cursed gardens to vengeful vines and deadly blooms, these tales reveal how nature’s beauty can mask its lurking dangers. Each story weaves an atmosphere of creeping dread, where the botanical becomes the uncanny, offering readers a chilling glimpse into the Gothic fascination with flora’s more sinister aspects.

My favourite story from the anthology: The Ash Tree by MR James

4. The Uncanny Gastronomic: Tales of the Edible Weird

This one is a delectable anthology of unsettling stories exploring the eerie intersection of food and the uncanny. Featuring authors including Franz Kafka, Robert Browning and Christina Rossetti, the collection delves into the strange, the grotesque, and the horrifying aspects of what we consume. From cursed delicacies to meals with sinister consequences, these tales transform the familiar act of eating into a source of dread. Each story serves up a chilling narrative that questions the boundaries between sustenance and the supernatural, offering a feast of the weird for lovers of unsettling fiction.

My favourite story from the anthology: A Fasting Artist by Franz Kafka

3. Mortal Echoes: Encounters with the End

This is a haunting anthology that confronts the inevitability of death through a series of chilling and thought-provoking tales. Featuring stories by J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, Ambrose Bierce and more, the collection explores mortality, the afterlife, and the eerie moments that bridge life and death. From ghostly visitations to uncanny premonitions, these narratives delve into humanity’s deepest fears and curiosities about the end. Each story offers a unique perspective on the final frontier, blending the macabre with the contemplative, making it a compelling read for those drawn to the mysteries of existence and its ultimate conclusion.

My favourite story from the anthology: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

2. Promethean Horrors: Classic Tales of Mad Science

This one is a compelling anthology exploring the dark side of human ambition and scientific experimentation. Featuring stories from renowned authors such as: ETA Hoffmann, Mary Shelley, RL Stevenson and HP Lovecraft – it is terrifyingly good. The collection delves into the hubris of those who defy nature’s limits in pursuit of forbidden knowledge. From monstrous creations to catastrophic discoveries, these tales reveal the dangers of unchecked curiosity and the consequences of playing god. Each story embodies the timeless allure and terror of mad science, offering a thought-provoking look at humanity’s relentless drive to create, destroy, and reshape the world at any cost.

My favourite story from the anthology: The Body Snatcher by RL Stevenson

1. Circles of Stone: Weird Tales of Pagan Sites and Ancient Rites

A haunting anthology that delves into the eerie mysteries of ancient rituals and sacred landscapes; it features stories from a variety of authors including: Algernon Blackwood, Arthur Machen and Jasper John. The collection explores the strange and supernatural tied to pagan sites, stone circles, and forgotten rites. From unsettling encounters at ancient monuments to the dark echoes of long-lost ceremonies, these tales weave a sense of dread and wonder. Each story captures the timeless power of these enigmatic places, offering readers a chilling glimpse into the enduring allure and terror of the primordial past.

My favourite story from the anthology: The Temple by EF Benson