Stalkers: All New Tales of Terror and Suspense

Here are 18 original stories about stalkers: psychotics, sociopaths, muggers and thugs (as well as a variety of supernatural creatures) that intrude uninvited into the lives of others. Some are terrific--Robert McCammon's ``Lizardman,'' about an alligator-like monster terrorizing the Florida Everglades; ``The Hunt'' by Richard Laymon, in which a young woman is set up as bait for a serial rapist/murderer; Trish Janeshutz's tale of a woman vacationing in Peru who has an affair with and is impregnanted by a man revealed to be not at all human; Max Allan Collins's ``A Matter of Principle,'' a first-person account by a psychopath of several casual murders and a kidnapping; and Michael Seidman's caustic ``What Chelsea Said,'' about some of the less pleasant effects of poverty and gentrification on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Two novelettes include A Day in His Life by F. Paul Wilson, about Repairman Jack, who protects the vulnerable from the parasites--for a fee; and Dean R. Koontz's Trapped , a heart-clutcher about a strain of super-intelligent rats terrorizing a young widow and her son. Excellent tales by J. N. Williamson, Rex Miller, Ed Hoch and editor Gorman complete a worthwhile collection. (Dec.)