The Supernatural Index

The Supernatural Index is a comprehensive bibliography and reference guide documenting supernatural, fantasy and horror fiction from the 19th century through the 1990s. It catalogs over 21,300 stories by more than 6,300 authors, providing publication details and content classifications. The index breaks down entries by author name and includes cross-references for pseudonyms and variant titles. Each entry contains the story title, initial publication information, and categorization tags like "ghost," "vampire," "witch," or other supernatural elements. The work represents a collaboration between scholars Mike Ashley and William Contento, who spent years compiling and verifying the information. The index covers both standalone works and stories published in periodicals, anthologies, and collections. This extensive reference work reveals patterns in supernatural fiction publishing and demonstrates the evolution of horror and fantasy literature across different eras. The categorical organization allows readers and researchers to trace specific supernatural themes through more than a century of genre fiction.

Limited review data exists for this reference book. A few readers note it serves as a catalog of supernatural fiction published in English-language books and periodicals from 1800-1983. Readers liked: - Comprehensive indexing of hard-to-find stories - Cross-referencing by author, title, theme - Inclusion of both major and obscure publications - Coverage of anthologies and collections Readers disliked: - Out of print and difficult to obtain - High used book prices ($200-400) - No coverage after 1983 - Some inaccurate story classifications The book appears to be primarily used by collectors and researchers. Several reviewers mention using library copies rather than purchasing due to cost. Available Ratings: Goodreads: Not enough ratings to generate score Amazon: No customer reviews AbeBooks: No customer reviews Reviews from specialty forums indicate this is a niche reference tool valued mainly by supernatural fiction collectors and scholars.

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🔍 The Supernatural Index catalogs over 21,300 stories of supernatural fiction from approximately 2,100 collections and anthologies published between 1800-1995. 📚 Co-author Mike Ashley is one of the world's leading anthology editors and genre historians, having compiled over 100 anthologies of science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural fiction. ✍️ The book serves as an invaluable research tool by cross-referencing stories by both title and author, allowing readers to track down elusive supernatural tales across multiple publications. 🏆 It won the 1996 World Fantasy Special Award: Professional for its significant contribution to the field of supernatural literature research. 📖 The index includes detailed publication histories of classic supernatural tales, revealing how certain stories were revised or retitled when reprinted in different collections over the decades.