One of the more impressive entries is from pulper Poppy Z. Stephen King’s “Lisey and the Madman,” about the assassination of a famous author, is entertaining if occasionally too familiar, featuring many of King’s usual tropes (though its air of autobiographical verisimilitude gives an unusual chill to some of the lines). Quickly deciding that this must be an unknown offspring of his, he cycles through his memory of lovers, but the boy’s preternatural pull can’t be denied, a well of dark retribution soon to be unleashed. Roddy Doyle proves adept in the genre with “The Child,” about a man haunted by a spectral young boy. The fun begins with a solid entry from Margaret Atwood, “Lusus Naturae,” about a young girl, shockingly transformed into a literal freak of nature, who hides in the woods and frightens the local children before the inevitable approach of villagers with torches. This second volume proves no different, with a superb roster of talent and some creepy, inky illustrations from “Hellboy” creator Mike Mignola, to boot. Last year’s McSweeney’s Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales proved that you can actually gather a group of fine writers (or Michael Chabon and the cool folks at McSweeney’s can) and get them to turn in a collection of ghost stories, mysteries, and thrillers without the least dash of condescension. Fifteen stories-more from the A-list, several from the B-get down and dirty with the new McSweeney’s genre compilation.
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