Award winner Gary Hoppenstand is a professor in the department of English at Michigan State University. He has published numerous books and more than sixty scholarly articles on topics ranging from popular culture studies to literary studies to media studies. He lives in Holt, Michigan.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsForeword: Regarding Imagination as Metaphor by Olive BarkerIntroduction: Exiting Banality: A Personal Journey1. Text and Subtext: Olive Barker and the State of Horror2. Highways of the Dead: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume One3. New Murders, Ancient Evils: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Two4. Confessions of a Dark Fancy: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Three5. Sexual and Political Puzzles: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Four6. Mother’s Fine Children: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Five7. Twilight and Other Illusions: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Six8. Embracing Imagination: Uncollected Short Fiction and Final CommentsWorks CitedSelected BibliographyIndex217

“Gives serious literary and structural attention to each of the stories...recommended”—Choice; “well-written and intelligent...recommended”—Interzone; “a detailed analysis”—Reference & Research Book News.

Award winner Gary Hoppenstand is a professor in the department of English at Michigan State University. He has published numerous books and more than sixty scholarly articles on topics ranging from popular culture studies to literary studies to media studies. He lives in Holt, Michigan.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsForeword: Regarding Imagination as Metaphor by Olive BarkerIntroduction: Exiting Banality: A Personal Journey1. Text and Subtext: Olive Barker and the State of Horror2. Highways of the Dead: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume One3. New Murders, Ancient Evils: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Two4. Confessions of a Dark Fancy: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Three5. Sexual and Political Puzzles: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Four6. Mother’s Fine Children: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Five7. Twilight and Other Illusions: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Six8. Embracing Imagination: Uncollected Short Fiction and Final CommentsWorks CitedSelected BibliographyIndex217

“Gives serious literary and structural attention to each of the stories...recommended”—Choice; “well-written and intelligent...recommended”—Interzone; “a detailed analysis”—Reference & Research Book News.

Award winner Gary Hoppenstand is a professor in the department of English at Michigan State University. He has published numerous books and more than sixty scholarly articles on topics ranging from popular culture studies to literary studies to media studies. He lives in Holt, Michigan.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsForeword: Regarding Imagination as Metaphor by Olive BarkerIntroduction: Exiting Banality: A Personal Journey1. Text and Subtext: Olive Barker and the State of Horror2. Highways of the Dead: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume One3. New Murders, Ancient Evils: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Two4. Confessions of a Dark Fancy: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Three5. Sexual and Political Puzzles: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Four6. Mother’s Fine Children: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Five7. Twilight and Other Illusions: Olive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume Six8. Embracing Imagination: Uncollected Short Fiction and Final CommentsWorks CitedSelected BibliographyIndex217

“Gives serious literary and structural attention to each of the stories...recommended”—Choice; “well-written and intelligent...recommended”—Interzone; “a detailed analysis”—Reference & Research Book News.