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What Was It?: and Others (1858-1864)

What Was It?: and Others (1858-1864) - Paperback

by Fitz-James O'Brien
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Availability:In StockContributor:Fitz-James O'Brien, John P. IrishPublish date:4/30/2026Pages:268
Languages:EnglishPublisher:Swan River PressISBN-13:9781783807864ISBN-10:1783807865UPC:9781783807864Book Category:FictionBook Subcategory:Fantasy, Horror, Science FictionSize:7.81 x 5.06 x 0.61 inchesWeight:0.263Product ID:SCKMKMC856

"[When O'Brien] turned to science fiction and fantasy, he began to display the full force of his truly outstanding talents." - Sam Moskowitz

What Was It? and Others (1858-1864) showcases O'Brien's finest speculative fiction, reflecting his growth as a writer. This collection includes "What Was It?", featuring an encounter with a strange invisible creature, "The Lost Room", regarded as one of the greatest weird stories ever written, and "The Wondersmith", where animated puppets are used for diabolical revenge. These stories cemented O'Brien's legacy, demonstrating his mastery of the genre and his ability to craft unsettling, imaginative narratives that have endured through time.

This is volume three of a three-volume set of Fitz-James O'Brien's fiction and poetry, the most comprehensive collection of his horror and supernatural writings to date. When taken together, the full set offers valuable introductions for readers of fantastical literature, featuring works never previously collected and some appearing for the first time outside their original publications.

Languages:EnglishPublisher:Swan River PressISBN-13:9781783807864ISBN-10:1783807865UPC:9781783807864Book Category:FictionBook Subcategory:Fantasy, Horror, Science FictionSize:7.81 x 5.06 x 0.61 inchesWeight:0.263Product ID:SCKMKMC856
O'Brien, Fitz-James: - Fitz-James O'Brien (1826/8-1862) was born in Co. Cork, Ireland, and spent his teenage years in Limerick after his mother remarried. Early in life, he published poetry, but soon turned to short fiction, the mode defining his legacy. At twenty-one, he inherited family wealth and moved to London in 1849, where he honed his craft. After squandering his inheritance in three years, he emigrated to America in 1852. There, O'Brien flourished as a writer, following Edgar Allan Poe's influence. He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and died in 1862 after being wounded in battle.
Publisher: Swan River Press

Contributor(s)

Fitz-James O'Brien, John P. Irish

Author

Fitz-James O'Brien

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