Welcome to the fiction library. Here you will find short stories and articles by Graham Masterton which you can download and read in your own time. Stories will be added as and when I receive them. Keep checking the news section for info on the latest additions. Also, if you want to know when a new story is added, please add yourself to the mailing list (on the homepage). Enjoy!
*Please note that all short fiction is Graham Masterton and cannot be reproduced or used elsewhere without the express written permission of the author.
- Rules of Writing - Part of an ongoing article wherein the author details the secrets of successful writing and research.
- Son Of Beast - Graham's popular short story, now available to read on this site. NEW
- Childhood Demons - Winner of the Graham Masterton Written In Prison Contest 2020 - by Anna Cader. NEW
- Secret Worlds - A poem about the imaginary worlds that Dawn G Harris and Graham create when they are writing both together and separately. NEW
- National Balance - Graham entered this short story for The Sunday Times short story competition (first prize £30,000)
- Beholder - A 2012 short story from Graham. Polish translation (by Emilian Wojnowski)
- That I Had Never Written A Word - This is the short story that won first prize at the Fantasmagoria Festival in Thessaloniki in Greece in April (presented by Graham).
- The Hell Candidate - Here's a short teaser for the Telos reissue of Graham's The Hell Candidate.
- Written In Prison Award Winner (2018) - Mateusz Szura with his award winning story 'A Return To Normal'.
- Written In Prison Award Winners (2017) - Here are the English translations of the three winning stories from the Graham Masterton Written In Prison Award 2017. Winner: Tea by Krzszytof Socha; Second prizewinner: White Roses by Anna Cader; Third Prizewinner: Bankrupt by Grzegorz Szydłowski.
- Spirit Jump - Harry Erskine has given up fortune-telling and is living happily in Manhattan with Karen and their daughter Lucy ... but will Misquamacus ever leave him alone?
- Penthouse Article - An article which was commissioned by the Daily Mail when, in Graham's words 'Playboy stopped featuring nudes. They didn't run it, in the end, because something else came up (to coin a phrase!) although they paid me for it.'
- Manitou Blood (sample) - Here's a sample of the fourth book in the Manitou series, Manitou Blood.
- Cheeseboy (excerpt) - Here's a sneak preview of Graham's new short story 'Cheeseboy' which will be published as a special limited edition by Cemetery Dance publications.
- Blood Sisters: Graham Masterton Talks to Susan Condon. A new interview in Writing.ie, an Irish website devoted to writing.
- The Girl With The Squeaky Behind - A new, humorous poem from Graham, showing his lighter side!
- Unholy Ghost - Since Plague of the Manitou woun't be published until summer 2015, Graham has kindly decided to reward impatient Erskined-ites with a short preview. Unholy Ghost is an early chapter from POTM. Enjoy!
- Descendant - Foreword for 2014 Replika Edition - Graham was asked to produce this foreword for a new Polish edition of Descenadant.
- Descendant - The opening chapters of Descendant, a favourite of Graham's. He has entitled these opening chapters 'Screechers'. You can purchase and download the e-book version by clicking here.
- Night Watch - This story was originally written to complete a limited-edition hardback trilogy of stories Half-Sick Of Shadows based on The Lady of Shallott by Alfred Lord Tennyson (the other two were Camelot and Reflection Of Evil). It was published in an edition of 100 by Sideshow Press in Connecticut in 2009.
- Gossamer John - A website exclusive. In Graham's words: 'I came across this fragment from a new novel that William Burroughs and I were going to write together after Rules of The Duel. It's not easy reading because it is written in the experimental "intersection" style that we were working on, but I think some of it is quite entertaining!'.
- In Defence of Roger Herrings - A website exclusive. This is a previously unpublished story which Graham wrote in the 1960s for Mayfair magazine but which was never included because of lack of space. In Graham's words, 'a relic of a bygone age'.
- Ex Voto - Graham's contribution to an anthology of 'flash fiction' - very short stories between 500 to 1,500 words long. The collection will be called Slices of Flesh and be published to coincide with the World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City in 2012, all proceeds to go to charity. In Graham's words: 'The editor of Slices of Flesh accepted "Ex Voto" but said that it was "predictable". See what you think. If you agree with him I will pull it.' After some fan feedback, he later added: 'The early consensus of opinion seems to be that the editor was right and the story did lack oomph. So I have rewritten the ending to make it gorier and twistier.' You can read the 'new and improved' version here.
- The Battered Wife - A short tale with a killer twist....quite literally.
- Rules of The Duel - A very avant-garde novel Masterton wrote in the 1960s with William Burroughs. Here is the opening chapter.
- Saint Bronach's Shrift - A tale of guilt, regret and redemption, told in Masterton's unique style.
- The Invisible Library - A short article by Graham Masterton on The Invisible Library, a library of books that are 'unwritten, unread, unpublished and unfound'.
- Picnic At Lac Du Sang (PDF Version) - Once you've met Mme Leduc's girls you'll never be the same again...
- Beijing Craps (PDF Version) - A card game with a difference...
- Eric the Pie (PDF Version) - Your chance to read the story that was responsible for the demise of horror magazine, Frighteners. The story of a boy who thought he was a pie ... or a pie that thought he was a boy ... or ... well, you decide!
- Rook V: Swimmer (PDF Version) - An exclusive first chapter from Masterton's forthcoming novel, the fifth in the popular Rook series.
- Out of Her Depth (PDF Version) - A puddle can be a dangerous thing...
- Hair Raiser (PDF Version) - An exclusive extract from Masterton's forthcoming Mutant Point Horror title, due in 2001.
- The Doorkeepers (PDF Version) - The missing bits. Here you can read the pages that failed to make it into the Severn House edition of The Doorkeepers. A rare treat indeed!
- The Manitou (PDF Version) - Read the original final chapters of The Manitou, seen here for the first time since 1975. Site exclusives don't come more exciting than this!
- Spirits of the Age (PDF Version) - Ghostly goings-on in an old manor house somewhere in England. Originally published in Taps and Sighs (edited by Pete Crowther).
- A Polite Murder (PDF Version) - What a reserved lot us Brits are! Originally published in Mystery Monthly (1976).
- The Sympathy Society (PDF Version) - Ever wondered where the phrase 'don't lose your head' comes from? Read this fascinating - not to mention, gruesome - tale and all will be revealed. Originally published in Feelings of Fear.
- Outrage (PDF Version) - An exclusive taster of Graham Masterton's as yet unpublished novel, Outrage. Please see the news section for details on how to make a small donation to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC).
- If Pigs Could Sing (PDF Version) - A rare chance to read this hilarious, touching and unfinished tale of a rather extraordinaly family. One that unfortunately didn't make it to family saga length...exclusive to this site!
- Half-Sick of Shadows (later published as Reflection of Evil) - A creepy vampire tale especially written for the BBC website.
- Anti-Claus (PDF Version / audio version) - Winner of the first Tombstone award for long fiction, this alternative take on the Yuletime season will give you pause for thought next time you hang out the children's stockings on Xmas Eve...
- Camelot (PDF Version) - An excursion into the surreal world of the not-so-ordinary household mirror. Fans of Graham's novel, Mirror will especially enjoy this one.
- Horror of Horrors (article/short story) - A fascinating article in which Graham discusses his thoughts on short story writing. Includes his shortest ever story, 'A Portrait of Jennie' - a mere 100 words! Originally appeared in the Polish magazine, Nowa Fantastyka.
- Epiphany - An erotic horror gem from from Graham. What will you see when you visit the gallery?...
