Selected Stories of Robert Arthur: Fantasies

Step into the enchanted world of Robert Arthur, where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. A long-overdue collection from one of the great storytellers of the twentieth century.

This first volume in a landmark two-volume collection gathers twenty of Arthur's finest fantasy stories, showcasing his unique gift for weaving tales that entrance and persuade. From the quiet corners of small-town America to the mysterious reaches of myth and imagination, Robert Arthur brings to life characters and settings that linger in the imagination long after the final page is turned.

In these stories, readers will encounter the exuberant wordplay and sly mischief of "The Book and The Beast," where a medieval manuscript conjures a dangerous companion; the eerie precision of "Footsteps Invisible," in which an ancient Egyptian curse follows its victim through a rain-slicked New York; and the surreal whimsy of "Postpaid to Paradise," where magical postage stamps transport a man to another world. Each story blends wonder with wisdom, making the impossible feel strangely near.

Elizabeth Arthur, an acclaimed writer and the author's daughter, has selected these enduring tales and enriched them with story notes and personal reflections. Her introductions offer insight into her father's creative process and illuminate the inspirations behind his most imaginative work.

Included in this volume are four stories which have never previously been reprinted: "The Aggravation of Elmer," "Ghost For A Night," "The Boys From Mars," and "Napoleon of Nothingness."

Together with the companion volume Mysteries, this book forms the most comprehensive collection of Robert Arthur's fiction ever published - a tribute to a writer whose stories have intrigued and delighted generations.