This anthology features three renowned authors, and the best is truly saved for the end with the short novel "Cambiando la piel". It's an excellent foray into the world of werewolves by George R.R. Martin, filled with the classic power struggle, cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, and a conclusion that leaves you screaming for a second part that unfortunately never came.

The other gem in this volume is "Metástasis" by Dan Simmons. It's a superb story that paralyzes, disgusts, and makes you feel impotent with a fear that is palpable in our daily lives.

Among Simmons' other stories, "Vanni Fucci está vivo, sano y en el infierno" stands out. It's the lightest in the book, with a very special guest on a program of corrupt preachers. I laughed a lot at the descriptions in the end, and that resemblance to Dante's passage of the snakes. I even reread some passages from the Inferno of the Divine Comedy, which is always a good thing.

As for King, there's little to say. Only "Dedicatoria" is worth reading and it leaves you a bit uneasy.

Iverson's Pits by Dan Simmons is an incredibly wonderfully evocative historical ghost story. It truly stands out as one of the best in the book.

George RR Martin's Skin Trade is a fun and pulpy werewolf detective story. Although it may feel a little dated in the present day, it still has the ability to raise a smile.

Now, let's talk about the three Stephen King stories. I am a big fan of King and enjoy many of his tales. However, these particular stories do not rank anywhere near even his most average of books. Dedication, it must be said, and it has been said many times before, is a rather nasty piece of work with a climax that is as underwhelming as a whoopee cushion. It's almost laughable.

Overall, while Iverson's Pits and Skin Trade have their own charm, the Stephen King stories in this collection leave a lot to be desired.

Let's do this one author after the other.

King :

Out of the three short stories, I already knew 2 from Nightmares and Dreamscapes. So, there was nothing new for me in those two. However, that doesn't mean they were bad. They were just familiar.

As for The Reploids, it didn't have enough depth for my liking. I can safely say that I didn't really feel anything while reading this story. It just didn't engage me on an emotional or intellectual level.

Simmons :

Metastasis was truly incredible. It was so creepy that it gave me the chills throughout the entire reading process. The atmosphere and the sense of dread that Simmons created were palpable.

Ivan Fucci was a bit meh. It was just okay. There wasn't anything特别 outstanding about it, but it wasn't bad either.

And Iverson's pits was downright boring. Apart from the ending, which was quite creepy, the rest of the story just dragged on. I felt like it was way too long and could have been edited down to make it more engaging.

Martin :

There was only one novella, The Skin Trade, and this was by far my favorite story of the book. I got completely immersed in it from the very beginning and loved every single bit of it. It was amazing. The characters were well-developed, the plot was engaging, and the writing was top-notch.

All in all, out of the 7 stories, 2 were incredible, 3 were just meh, and the other 2 I already knew, so there were no surprises there. Overall, it was an okay read, but nothing really blew me away.

Ok, we have obtained an audio collection. Apparently, it is from the UK as the title is all messed up. However, the source material is excellent. It is from a dark harvest collection that is rather kick-ass.

First up is S King. Regarding "Reploids", it's okay. "Sneakers" is pretty good. But the dedication, well, it was not finished.

Then we have Dan the man Simmons. "Metastasis" is like a lightning bolt of a story and is excellent. "Vanni Fucci is alive and well and living in hell" is good, yes, it's good. However, "Iverson's Pits" is pretty boring and not up to par.

Thirdly, there is George R.R Martin. "SkinTrade" is indeed a good old story for sure.

So, you get three really darn good yarns (one from each) and a couple that are not bad for your money. The ratio is not bad at all.

This left hook gets three and a half black eyes out of five faces.

I absolutely loved "The Skin Trade" and all of Dan Simmons' works!

This anthology is definitely worth reading if only for George RR Martin's novella.

The rest of the collection, however, is a bit of a mixed bag. Stephen King's contributions can hardly be considered his best work.

Among the Dan Simmons stories, 'Metastasis' offers a rather queasy dose of body horror, while 'Iverson's Pits' is a captivating piece of historical horror.

If you have a penchant for whimsy in your horror, you might find 'Vanna Fucci Is Alive and Well and Living in Hell' to your liking. Personally, I don't and didn't.

Thankfully, the last story in the book, 'The Skin Trade', managed to pull this review up from 3 stars to 4. It is a wonderfully atmospheric werewolf tale, easily the standout entry in the anthology and quite possibly the best werewolf story I've read so far.

Overall, despite some unevenness, there are enough gems in this anthology to make it a worthwhile read for horror enthusiasts.

I purchased a paperback edition of this book from the U.K. Interestingly, it had a slightly different title, which I believe was "Dark Visions".

For me, George R.R. Martin's story truly shines among the others. It is exquisitely crafted, with every element of the story fitting together perfectly, right up to the very last sentence.

Moreover, it is a story that simply hooks you and refuses to let go. You find yourself deeply caring about the characters, their fates, and their struggles.

And to think that all of this is accomplished within approximately 120 pages is truly remarkable. They really did save the best for last with this particular work.

Now, without a doubt, I have become a devoted fan of George R.R. Martin. His storytelling prowess is simply undeniable, and I look forward to exploring more of his works in the future.

All I can say is it was ok.

I had certain expectations, but unfortunately, they weren't fully met.

There were some aspects that were decent, but overall, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

Maybe it was the build-up or the anticipation that led to this feeling.

However, it's not a total loss.

There were still some redeeming qualities, but they just weren't enough to overshadow the disappointment.

I guess you could say it was an average experience with a touch of letdown.

But perhaps with some improvements or a different approach next time, it could be better.

Only time will tell.

The collection has received 4 stars. When breaking it down by author, here is how I would rate them. Dan Simmons definitely stands out with a rating of 4 1/2. His work in this collection is truly remarkable, filled with engaging plots and vivid characters. Stephen King, on the other hand, gets a rating of 3 1/2. While his contribution is good, it doesn't quite reach the level of Simmons. However, it's still a solid addition to the collection. And then there's George R. R. Martin, who earns a perfect 5 stars. His writing is simply outstanding, with complex storylines and a unique style that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Overall, this collection is a great read, with each author bringing their own unique flavor to the table.

How is it conceivable that one could manage to enlist three of the greatest speculative fiction writers of all time for a collection and select these particular stories?

The Skin Trade is not GRRM's worst novella, yet it seems to linger on a bit too long. The stories by Dan Simmons are excellent, but their conclusions don't quite resonate with me.

When it comes to Stephen King, you have one of the most productive authors of the 20th century (perhaps even the 21st). You choose a rather solid story, another that is so ordinary it has never been included in any other collection, and Dedication, which has a reputation for being one of the author's most offensive tales.

You should probably read almost everything written by these authors, but it's perfectly acceptable to pass on this particular collection.

This collection holds a special place in my heart as it is an old favorite of mine.

I have a deep appreciation for King's stories, and I have always found Martin's "The Skin Trade" to be a truly enjoyable read. It offers a nice twist, combining the elements of a hard-boiled detective novel with a werewolf story, which makes it quite unique.

However, my absolute favorite within this collection remains Simmons' "Vanni Fucci is Alive and Well, and Living in Hell". This is a short story, but it is filled with wit and charm that never fails to make me laugh.

The way Simmons weaves the tale and presents the characters is simply brilliant. It's a story that I can read over and over again and still find myself entertained.

Overall, this collection is a must-read for any fan of horror and mystery. Each story offers something different and engaging, making it a great addition to any bookshelf.

One of the few short story collections where even the introduction had me hooked.

Douglas Winter does an excellent job of painting a vivid picture concerning the whole concept and tradition about writing thrilling, scary stories.

Afterwards, he briefly introduces the authors whose stories you’ll be venturing through.

Inherent to the very fiber of collections like these is that they will most likely be experienced as a mixed bag by the reader.

While the stories in Dark Visions are definitely well-written and enjoyable, they don’t escape that reality.

Some stories are able to send a shiver down the spine or at least make the reader feel a little uncomfortable, like “Sneakers,” “Metastasis,” and “Iverson’s Pits.”

Others rely more on mystery or a sense of comedy to make their punchlines land.

While a little outside of the scope of what could be considered a ‘scary’ story, they are welcome lighthearted intermissions between the darker tales.

Let’s be honest, some of these are just straight up gross… in a good way.

The novella by Martin, which ends off this collection, serves as a satisfactory climax to a group of stories with different subject matters and approaches.

This is because it successfully incorporates all the themes that came in the preceding short stories.

‘The Skin Trade’ is a tale steeped in mystery, populated by characters who are faced with grotesque displays of brutality (described with the.. ahem.. accurate amount of detail), yet still manages to provide snarky quips and jokes that will leave you chuckling.

All in all, if horror/thriller stories like these are your cup of tea, or if you want to dip your toes into the genre, ‘Dark Visions’ is a collection of stories I would definitely recommend!