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Eshleman has been practicing and thinking deeply about translation for a long time, and it shows. Knowing only one language myself, I can’t judge the accuracy of the translations, but each author comes across as a unique voice.

This was published in 1997, so no surprise that parts are outdated— especially the marketing advice. Other parts remain relevant, and I learned things I believe will help me write better. However, the book seems padded. An appreciation of Forrest J. Ackerman (for instance), though deserved, is not useful. Neither is Harlan Ellison’s jeremiad on the state of horror.

13 tales of weird horror by women, all originally published between 1890 and 1940, and only one I’ve read before. (“Unseen - Unfeared,” by Francis Steven’s.) All are excellent. Editor Melissa Edmundson’s introduction is interesting, but full of spoilers, so I suggest you read it after reading all the stories. You might want to read the end notes for each story first, though, to get a handle on unfamiliar terms.