Overview
A unique collection of supernatural short stories by a forerunner of science fiction. It includes 'What Was It?', a story which served as a model for H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man.
In the field of supernatural and fantastic literature, certain names come readily to mind – E.T.A. Hoffmann, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft – but the name of Fitz-James O'Brien has been unjustly overlooked and nearly forgotten since his premature death in 1862 during the American Civil War.
'The Diamond Lens', O'Brien's most famous short story, can be regarded as a forerunner of the science-fiction genre; 'What Was It?' is alleged to have served as a model for H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man; and 'The Wondersmith' is a marvellous tale of Hoffmannesque invention. Taken together, O'Brien's few surviving stories give him an important place in the development of American fiction and remain as fresh today as when they first written more than a hundred and fifty years ago.
Contents: The Diamond Lens, The Lost Room, What Was It?, The Wondersmith, Seeing the World, The Pot of Tulips, The Dragon Fang possessed by the Conjurer Piou-Lou.
This book title, The Fantastic Tales of Fitz-James O'Brien (Annotated Edition), ISBN: 9781847495198, by Fitz-James O'Brien, Michael Hayes, published by Bloomsbury USA (December 16, 2025) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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