Whispers VI

Schiff's latest anthology of original fantasy and horror stories is of pleasingly high caliber, including excellent work by such notables as Dennis Etchison, Lucius Shepard and Manly Wade Wellman (the last story to come from this writer, who died last year after a six-decade career). Also particularly good are Steve Rasnic Tem's ""Leaks,'' about a man who returns to the hated house of his childhood for a brief visit after the death of his father, only to slowly assume his father's madness; F. Paul Wilson's ``The Years the Music Died,'' which is revisionist historyhow the late '50s of rock 'n' roll might be conceived by a conspiracy theorist; Juleen Brantingham's ``Toad, Singular,'' another tale of an awful father who manages a weird revenge after death; and David Schow's ``One for the Horrors,'' a loving fantasy of old horror films restored to their uncut glory. (July 24)