From vampires, zombies and werewolves to deadly robots, murderous plants and invisible killers, monsters are to be found today in countless films, books and games. And all of them have long histories, most beginning centuries ago. This collection contains the very earliest fictional appearances of these and many other monstrous creatures, from Greek epics to Roman tales and from obscure newspapers to pulp magazines. Many other influential early monster tales are included too. But this isn't a dry collection of dusty museum-pieces. Many of the stories collected here are as chilling as they are original, and some of the greatest authors are represented, including Louisa May Alcott, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, M. R. James, Jerome K. Jerome, Edgar Allen Poe and Sir Walter Scott. So, lock the doors, turn down the lights, and don't look behind you.