I am told my writing is unduly formal at times Ligotti seems to be writing a reference book rather than a fictional story. Just flip through the book and you will see page after page of text with few paragraph indents.

Many people are brought to the strange town of Crampton for reasons unknown.

Various members of the local art community discuss the arrival of the deranged 'teatro'.Īn ill man discusses strange memories with an odd acquaintance.Ī librarian discovers an audiotape art-piece and becomes obsessed with meeting its creator.Ī man with many creative friends is pushed to meet the eccentric Severini. Various tales are told of the strange town from across the border. In a small factory, a new, uncanny supervisor is sent by corporate. The narrator tells of the history of a horrific factory.Ī new employee uncovers a strange conspiracy at his office. The book was first published in 2006 by Durtro Press as a limited edition hardcover: another hardcover edition was released on Novemby Mythos Books, and a paperback edition was released on Jby Virgin Books.Ī boy moves to a new neighborhood with his disturbed family and learns of his father's strange 'principles'.Ī small town descends into absurd insanity when a new 'town manager' arrives.Ī struggling author meets an older, wiser author and reads his strange works.Ī man experiences consistent 'visits' from a supernatural marionette. This is his fifth collection, containing tales written throughout his career. Teatro Grottesco (Italian for Theatre of the Grotesque) is a collection of short stories by American horror author Thomas Ligotti.

Ligotti teatro grottesco