"A MAJOR HORROR ANTHOLOGY": DELUXE LIMITED ARTIST'S EDITION, SIGNED BY STEPHEN KING AND MANY OTHERS

BOOTH, Bob, editor. The Big Book of Necon. Baltimore: Cemetery Dance, 2011. Octavo, original ochre cloth, original dust jacket, original slipcase. $1400.

Limited deluxe artist's edition of this anthology inspired by a popular horror convention, copy number 128 of 150, signed by Stephen King, Peter Staub, Gahan Wilson and many other luminaries, with an original signed drawing by Glenn Chadbourne tipped in.

"A major horror anthology calls for a 'killer' lineup, and this 30th anniversary tribute to the Northeast Horror and Fantasy Convention features more than 50 works of fiction and nonfiction by past attendees and guests who represent the best and darkest of the genre's practitioners. Among the highlights are Stephen King's 'The Old Dude's Ticker,' a retelling of Poe's 'The Tell-tale Heart' as the rant of a homicidal Vietnam vet, and Peter Straub's 'Response from a Surprised but Pleased Recipient,' which takes the form of creepy answers to a marketing survey. Essays and illustrations by numerous horror and dark fantasy notables round out the volume… these works easily showcase the impressive array of talents that have helped make Necon an annual highlight for horror's pros and semipros" (Publishers Weekly). "The Old Dude's Ticker," which was "one of two short stories that King was unable to sell to the men's magazines when he was a struggling writer in the early 1970s" (Brooks), had previously appeared only in Necon's 20th anniversary commemorative program. Signed by all contributors except Charles L. Grant (1942-2006). See Brooks B167.

A fine signed copy.