Exorcisms and Ecstasies

Exorcisms and Ecstasies is a comprehensive collection of Karl Edward Wagner's short stories, featuring both horror and fantasy tales alongside personal memoirs and articles about the author. The book was published in 1997 by Fedogan & Bremer in a limited run of 2,100 copies, with 100 special editions containing Wagner's signature. The collection spans Wagner's entire career and includes previously published works from various magazines and anthologies, as well as some uncollected stories. The contents are organized into distinct sections, featuring contributions from notable authors like Peter Straub, David Drake, and Ramsey Campbell who share their personal experiences with Wagner. The stories range from supernatural horror to sword-and-sorcery fantasy, including entries from Wagner's popular Kane series and the Adrian Becker storyline. Each tale stands alone while contributing to the broader scope of Wagner's literary universe. The collection serves as both a literary anthology and a tribute to Wagner's influence on the horror and fantasy genres, exploring themes of darkness, mortality, and the supernatural through his distinctive narrative style.

Readers describe this collection as a strong showcase of Wagner's horror stories, though some note the quality varies between selections. Fans highlight specific stories like "Cedar Lane," "The Last Wolf," and ".220 Swift" as standouts. Reviews praise Wagner's ability to build tension and create memorable antagonists. Multiple readers point to his skill at blending psychological and supernatural horror elements. Common criticisms focus on the uneven pacing in certain stories and dated references that can pull readers out of the narratives. Some reviewers found the collection too long at 400+ pages. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.12/5 (49 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 reviews) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) "The stories range from great to merely good," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Several readers mention the high price of used copies as a barrier, since the book is out of print. The collection's rarity has made it sought after by Wagner fans.

The Darkly Splendid Realm by Richard Gavin Stories blend cosmic horror and occult themes with a focus on otherworldly entities and dark spirituality that mirror Wagner's supernatural elements.

Heroes in the Wind by Robert E. Howard Collection showcases sword-and-sorcery tales and dark fantasy stories that share the visceral combat and supernatural horror present in Wagner's Kane series.

Skeleton Crew by Stephen King Features short horror fiction that combines personal narrative with supernatural elements in ways similar to Wagner's blend of memoir and horror.

Cold Print by Ramsey Campbell Tales explore psychological horror and cosmic dread with a literary approach that echoes Wagner's sophisticated treatment of supernatural themes.

Tales of Pain and Wonder by Caitlin R. Kiernan Stories mix personal narratives with dark fantasy and horror elements while maintaining the literary depth found in Wagner's collection.

🔥 Wagner worked as a psychiatrist before becoming a full-time writer, which heavily influenced his psychological approach to horror fiction 🦇 The anthology contains "Sticks," a story that directly inspired the infamous "Blair Witch" stick figures and imagery ⚔️ Wagner was also the creator of Kane, an immortal anti-hero often compared to Michael Moorcock's Elric, featured in several stories in this collection 📚 Several pieces in the book were previously unpublished, discovered among Wagner's papers after his death in 1994 🌑 Wagner founded the small press Carcosa, which specialized in preserving and republishing classic weird fiction, particularly the works of Manly Wade Wellman