The Eye and the Finger by Donald Wandrei is a landmark collection of weird and cosmic horror tales from one of the unsung pioneers of pulp fiction. Originally published in 1944, this anthology showcases Wandrei’s mastery of the macabre, blending science fiction, fantasy, and Lovecraftian dread.
The stories—including chilling works like The Painted Mirror, A Scientist Divides, and the titular The Eye and the Finger—explore themes of existential terror, otherworldly dimensions, and the fragility of human perception. Wandrei’s prose is both poetic and unsettling, with a knack for conjuring uncanny atmospheres and mind-bending twists. A contemporary of H.P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith, Wandrei co-founded Arkham House to preserve weird fiction, and this collection remains a testament to his visionary imagination. A must-read for fans of classic horror’s golden age.