''Songs of a Dead Dreamer'' is a 1985
horror short story collection by American writer
Thomas Ligotti
Thomas Ligotti (born July 9, 1953) is an American horror writer. His writings are rooted in several literary genres – most prominently weird fiction – and have been described by critics as works of ''philosophical'' horror, often formed into ...
. It has been acknowledged as one of the seminal collections of modern weird horror fiction by Ligotti's peers, such as
Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell (born 4 January 1946) is an English horror fiction writer, editor and critic who has been writing for well over fifty years. He is the author of over 30 novels and hundreds of short stories, many of them winners of literary awa ...
. Many of its stories show the influence of Ligotti's literary idols of horror such as
H.P. Lovecraft and
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...
.
Editorial history
The first edition of Ligotti's book was produced in paperback by
Silver Scarab Press, limited to 300 copies. It was re-released in an expanded and revised edition in 1989 by
Carroll and Graf. Both editions of the book contain an introduction by
Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell (born 4 January 1946) is an English horror fiction writer, editor and critic who has been writing for well over fifty years. He is the author of over 30 novels and hundreds of short stories, many of them winners of literary awa ...
. In 2010,
Subterranean Press republished the book with author revisions, making it the definitive edition.
Film
The
serial killer
A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A
*
*
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* with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...
story "The Frolic" was filmed in 2007 (directed by Jacob Cooney, based on a screenplay co-authored by
Brandon Trenz and Ligotti). Wonder Entertainment has released ''The Frolic Collector's Edition DVD and Book'' set, which contains the short film adaptation of the story, and also commentary tracks and behind-the-scenes by Cooney, producer Jane Kelly Kosek, and actor Maury Sterling; a new interview with screenwriters Ligotti and Trenz; a newly revised version of the short story, with a new introduction by Ligotti; and the screenplay, with a new introduction by Trenz. Only 1,000 copies of the collector's edition were released. The book containing the revised text of "The Frolic," was exclusive to this set.
In popular culture
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DJ Spooky
Paul Dennis Miller (born September 6, 1970), known professionally as DJ Spooky, That Subliminal Kid, is an American electronic and experimental hip hop musician whose work is often called by critics "illbient" or "trip hop". He is a turntabli ...
's 1996 album
of the same name was inspired by the collection.
Contents
''1. Dreams for Sleepwalkers''
*"The Frolic"
*"Les Fleurs"
*"Alice's Last Adventure"
*"Dream of a Manikin"
*''The Nyctalops Trilogy''
**"The Chymist"
**"Drink to me Only with Labyrinthine Eyes"
**"Eye of the Lynx"
*"Notes on the Writing of Horror: A Story" (Added in the 1989 edition)
''2. Dreams for Insomniacs''
*"The Christmas Eves of Aunt Elise: A Tale of Possession in Old Grosse Pointe"
*"The Lost Art of Twilight"
*"The Troubles of Dr. Thoss"
*"Masquerade of a Dead Sword: A Tragedie"
*"Dr. Voke and Mr. Veech"
*"Professor Nobody's Little Lectures on Supernatural Horror" (Added in the 1989 edition)
''3. Dreams for the Dead''
*"Dr. Locrian's Asylum"
*"The Sect of the Idiot"
*"The Greater Festival of Masks"
*"The Music of the Moon"
*"The Journal of J.P. Drapeau"
*"Vastarien"
References
1985 short story collections
American short story collections
Horror short story collections
Works by Thomas Ligotti
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