Born in 1964, Charles L. Grant was a prolific American author of speculative novels and short stories from Newark, New Jersey. He won a World Fantasy Award for his novella Nightmare Seasons and also won two Nebula Awards (1976 and 1978). He edited the award winning Shadows anthology series which ran for 11 volumes and published stories from the top talent of the day. His own stories excelled at evoking the quiet horror style, and they appeared regularly in Year’s Best anthologies. Grant passed away from a heart attack in 2006.
THE STORIES (Listed By Order of Publication):
“The Generation Waltz” (1984) – A man who’s still grieving the death of his murderous son following a gunfight with police is told by his dying grandmother that the boy was always her favorite despite his evil ways. She also says that when she passes she wants to make a deal in the afterlife to bring him back.
“Penny Daye” (1985) – An American staying in England glimpses a beautiful woman who smiles at him in a station before seeming to vanish away. Later, when he goes to visit Stonehenge, he sees her again amidst the stones. A guide tells him that she’s dead. Still, the American feels he must meet her.
“An Image in Twisted Silver” (1986) – While being yelled at by his wife after telling her he quit his law job that morning, a man goes into the bathroom and sees the image of himself in his younger years. This brief story focuses on his inner turmoil until it reaches its final, vicious line which changes the reader’s perception of it as a whole.
“Now and Again in Summer” (1988) – A young woman from America travels to London by herself seeking adventure and confronting her crippling social anxieties. Once there, she randomly buys a train ticket to a place called Kelworth Market but falls asleep during the journey. When she wakes up and exits the train at her destination, she wishes she’d stayed on. This story has a great, Twilight Zone feel to it.
“Whose Ghosts These Are” (2001) – A former beat cop struggles to find direction in his life following his retirement. He considers finding a hobby which leads him to check out a new museum called The Museum of Horrors which examines the history of infamous murderers, including one that’s still active known only as The Ghost. This is a great story with an interesting main character.
Article by Matt Cowan
Horror Delve 
Thanks for the recommendations, Matt. In today’s world, Grant’s work would be more relevant than ever.
He was one of the greats. I certainly plan to read more by him.