Cyclopean Tales is a small but perfectly formed independent publisher specialising in classic ghost, supernatural and weird fiction short stories and novels. Our focus is those forgotten gems from the golden age of the genre, which we assert to be from the mid-1830s to the first quarter of the 20th century.

The Mission

We are avid fans of these classic tales of the weird, the undead and the unknowable. Cyclopean Tales began with the lofty ideal of updating classic texts with modern literary context and historical annotation; archaic language and outdated contextual references can be a barrier to enjoying great fiction for the reader who just wants to be thrilled and spooked, so our mission is to enable readers to enjoy anew the tales that have creeped us out since our early teens.

The Motive

So many groundbreaking tales are scattered across the internet, and many have no contextual commentary to aid the modern reader.

There are some editions that provide background information and notes, but these tend to be more expensive, as I can attest from my studies in English and world literature. We aim to bridge the gulf between affordable and informative.

The Means

We are a very small team, but very devoted to weird fiction. I am a UK-based blogger, editor, and published author of supernatural and weird fiction short stories and longer works.

My formative years were spent maxing out my library card, drinking in the heady draughts of Poe, Lovecraft, M.R.James and many other luminaries of weird fiction.

I like to keep busy; as well as Cyclopean Tales, I produce, edit and issue a dark short story ezine, and I am currently writing a new collection of dark tales.

What About That Name?

We are H.P. Lovecraft devotees and have been for more than forty years. HPL was a big fan and prolific user of the word “cyclopean”, which refers to ancient masonry, typically from the ancient Greek  Mycenaean civilization, built with huge, irregular blocks or boulders fitted tightly together.

“Cyclopean” has come to refer to this type of stonework, and the concept litters Lovecraft’s work; think The Shadow Out of Time, or, The Mountains of Madness. Our mission at Cyclopean Tales is to craft our own massive edifice of affordable, accessible stories for everyone to enjoy.


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