The Year’s Best Horror Stories was a series of annual anthologies published by DAW Books in the U.S. from 1972 to 1994 under the successive editorships of Richard Davis from 1972 to 1975 (after a 1971-1973 series published by Sphere Books in the U.K.; the first volumes had the same contents, the U.S. second volume in 1974 drew stories from the second and third U.K. volumes, and the 1975 U.S. third volume was very different from the U.K's.; the U.S. third volume was published as a one-shot volume in the U.K. by Orbit Books in 1976), and of Gerald W. Page from 1976 to 1979, and Karl Edward Wagner from 1980 to 1994. The series was discontinued after Wagner's death. It was a companion to DAW’s The Annual World’s Best SF and The Year's Best Fantasy Stories, which performed a similar function for the science fiction and fantasy fields.
Each annual volume reprinted what in the opinion of the editor was the best horror short fiction appearing in the previous year. The series also aimed to discover and nurture new talent. It featured both occasionally recurring authors and writers new to the horror genre. Veterans among the contributing authors included Brian Lumley, Eddy C. Bertin, Kit Reed, R. Chetwynd-Hayes, Ramsey Campbell, Dennis Etchison, Richard Matheson, Robert Bloch, and Tanith Lee; some of the relative newcomers to the field featured were Stephen King, Al Sarrantonio, Lisa Tuttle, Jessica Amanda Salmonson, David Drake, Juleen Brantingham, and Nina Kiriki Hoffman.
The series Volumes edited by Richard Davis 1. The Year’s Best Horror Stories, editor Richard Davis, Sphere Books (UK) 1971; DAW Books (US) 1972
Double Whammy (1970), by Robert Bloch The Sister City (1969), by Brian Lumley When Morning Comes (1969), by Elizabeth Fancett Prey (1969), by Richard Matheson Winter (1969), by Kit Reed Lucifer (1969), by E. C. Tubb I Wonder What He Wanted (1971), by Eddy C. Bertin Problem Child (1970), by Peter Oldale The Scar (1969), by Ramsey Campbell Warp (1968), by Ralph Norton The Hate (1971), by Terri E. Pinckard A Quiet Game (1970), by Celia Fremlin After Nightfall (1970), by David A. Riley Death's Door (1969), by Robert McNear
2 (UK). The Year’s Best Horror Stories II, editor Richard Davis, Sphere Books (UK) 1972.
Foreword by Christopher Lee Thirst (1972), by Gerald W. Page David's Worm (1971), by Brian Lumley The Price of a Demon (1972), by Gary Brandner The Knocker at the Portico (1971), by Basil Copper The Throwaway Man (1970), by Stepan Chapman [as by Steve Chapman ] The Woman With the Mauve Face (1972), by Rosemary Timperley The Shadows of the Living (1970), by Ronald Blythe The Animal Fair (1971), by Robert Bloch Napier Court (1971), by Ramsey Campbell Haunts of the Very Rich (1971) by T. K. Brown, III
3 (UK). The Year’s Best Horror Stories III, editor Richard Davis, Sphere Books (UK) 1973.
Pages from a Young Girl's Journal (1973), by Robert Aickman The Long-Term Residents (1971), by Kit Pedler The Mirror from Antiquity (1972), by Susanna Bates Like Two White Spiders (1973), by Eddy C. Bertin (trans. of Als Twee Grote Witte Spinnen 1971) The Old Horns (1973), by Ramsey Campbell Haggopian (1973), by Brian Lumley The Recompensing of Albano Pizar (1973), by Basil Copper Were-Creature (1971), by Kenneth Pemrooke The Events at Poroth Farm (1972), by T. E. D. Klein
2 (US). The Year’s Best Horror Stories: Series II, editor Richard Davis, DAW Books (US) 1974
Foreword by Christopher Lee David's Worm (1971), by Brian Lumley The Price of a Demon (1972), by Gary Brandner The Knocker at the Portico (1971), by Basil Copper The Animal Fair (1971), by Robert Bloch Napier Court (1971), by Ramsey Campbell Haunts of the Very Rich (1971) by T. K. Brown, III The Long-Term Residents (1971), by Kit Pedler Like Two White Spiders (1973), by Eddy C. Bertin (trans. of Als Twee Grote Witte Spinnen 1971) The Old Horns (1973), by Ramsey Campbell Haggopian (1973), by Brian Lumley The Events at Poroth Farm (1972), by T. E. D. Klein
3 (US). The Year’s Best Horror Stories: Series III, editor Richard Davis, DAW Books (US) 1975; Orbit Books (UK) 1976 as The First Orbit Book of Horror Stories
The Whimper of Whipped Dogs (1973), by Harlan Ellison The Man in the Underpass (1975), by Ramsey Campbell S.F. (1975), by T. E. D. Klein Uncle Vlad (1973), by Clive Sinclair Judas Story (1975), by Brian Stableford The House of Cthulhu (1973), by Brian Lumley Satanesque (1974), by Allan Weiss Burger Creature (1973) by Stepan Chapman [as by Steve Chapman] Wake Up Dead (1975), by Tim Stout Forget-Me-Not (1975), by Bernard Taylor Halloween Story (1972), by Gregory Fitz Gerald Big, Wide, Wonderful World (1958), by Charles E. Fritch The Taste of Your Love (1971), by Eddy C. Bertin (trans. of De Smaak van Jouw Liefde 1971)
Volumes edited by Gerald W. Page 4. The Year’s Best Horror Stories IV, editor Gerald W. Page, 1976. Forever Stand The Stones (1975), by Joseph F. Pumilia And Don't Forget the One Red Rose (1975), by Avram Davidson Christmas Present (1975), by Ramsey Campbell A Question of Guilt (1976), by Hal Clement The House on Stillcroft Street (1975), by Joseph Payne Brennan The Recrudescence of Geoffrey Marvell (1976), by G. N. Gabbard Something Had to Be Done (1975), by David Drake Cottage Tenant (1975), by Frank Belknap Long The Man with the Aura (1974), by R. A. Lafferty White Wolf Calling (1975), by Charles L. Grant Lifeguard (1975), by Arthur Byron Cover The Black Captain (1975), by H. Warner Munn The Glove (1975), by Fritz Leiber No Way Home (1975), by Brian Lumley The Lovecraft Controversy-Why? (1976) essay by E. Hoffmann Price
5. The Year’s Best Horror Stories V, editor Gerald W. Page, 1977. The Service (1976), by Jerry Sohl Long Hollow Swamp (1976), by Joseph Payne Brennan Sing a Last Song of Valdese (1976), by Karl Edward Wagner Harold's Blues (1976), by Glen Singer The Well (1977), by H. Warner Munn A Most Unusual Murder (1976), by Robert Bloch Huzdra (1977), by Tanith Lee Shatterday (1975), by Harlan Ellison Children of the Forest (1976), by David Drake The Day It Rained Lizards (1977), by Arthur Byron Cover Followers of the Dark Star (1976), by Robert Edmond Alter When All the Children Call My Name (1977), by Charles L. Grant Belsen Express (1975), by Fritz Leiber Where the Woodbine Twineth (1976), by Manly Wade Wellman
6. The Year’s Best Horror Stories VI, editor Gerald W. Page, 1978. At the Bottom of the Garden (1975), by David Campton Screaming to Get Out (1977), by Janet Fox Undertow (1977), by Karl Edward Wagner I Can Hear the Dark (1978), by Dennis Etchison Ever the Faith Endures (1978), by Manly Wade Wellman The Horse Lord (1977), by Lisa Tuttle Winter White (1978), by Tanith Lee A Cobweb of Pulsing Veins (1977), by William Scott Home Best of Luck, (1978), by David Drake Children of the Corn (1977), by Stephen King If Damon Comes (1978), by Charles L. Grant Drawing In (1978), by Ramsey Campbell Within the Walls of Tyre (1978), by Michael Bishop There's a Long, Long Trail A-Winding (1976), by Russell Kirk
7. The Year’s Best Horror Stories VII, editor Gerald W. Page, 1979. The Pitch (1978), by Dennis Etchison The Night of the Tiger (1978), by Stephen King Amma (1978), by Charles R. Saunders Chastel (1979), by Manly Wade Wellman Sleeping Tiger (1978), by Tanith Lee Intimately, With Rain (1978), by Janet Fox The Secret (1966), by Jack Vance Hear Me Now, My Sweet Abbey Rose (1978), by Charles L. Grant Divers Hands (1979), by Darrell Schweitzer Heading Home (1978), by Ramsey Campbell In the Arcade (1978), by Lisa Tuttle Nemesis Place (1978), by David Drake Collaborating (1978), by Michael Bishop Marriage (1977), by Robert Aickman
Volumes edited by Karl Edward Wagner 8. The Year’s Best Horror Stories VIII, editor Karl Edward Wagner, 1980. The Dead Line (1979), by Dennis Etchison To Wake the Dead (1979), by Ramsey Campbell In the Fourth Year of the War (1979), by Harlan Ellison From the Lower Deep (1979), by Hugh B. Cave The Baby-Sitter (1978), by Davis Grubb The Well at the Half Cat (1979), by John Tibbets My Beautiful Darkling (1979), by Eddy C. Bertin A Serious Call (1979), by George Hay Sheets (1979), by Alan Ryan Billy Wolfe's Riding Spirit (1979), by Kevin A. Lyons Lex Talionis (1979), by Russell Kirk Entombed (1979), by Robert Keefe A Fly One (1979), by Steve Sneyd Needle Song (1979), by Charles L. Grant All the Birds Come Home to Roost (1979), by Harlan Ellison The Devil Behind You (1979), by Richard A. Moore
9. The Year’s Best Horror Stories IX, editor Karl Edward Wagner, 1981. The Monkey (1980), by Stephen King The Gap (1980), by Ramsey Campbell The Cats of Pere Lachaise (1980), by Neil Olonoff The Propert Bequest (1980), by Basil A. Smith On Call (1980), by Dennis Etchison The Catacomb (1980), by Peter Shilston Black Man with a Horn (1980), by T.E.D. Klein The King (1980), by William Relling Jr. Footsteps (1980), by Harlan Ellison Without Rhyme or Reason (1980), by Peter Valentine Timlett
10. The Year’s Best Horror Stories X, editor Karl Edward Wagner, 1982 Through the Walls (1978), by Ramsey Campbell Touring (1981), by Gardner Dozois, Jack Dann, and Michael Swanwick Every Time You Say I Love You (1981), by Charles L. Grant Wyntours (1980), by David G. Rowlands The Dark Country (1981), by Dennis Etchison Homecoming (1981), by Howard Goldsmith Old Hobby Horse (1981), by A. F. Kidd Firstborn (1981), by David Campton Luna (1981), by G. W. Perriwils Mind (1980), by Les Freeman Competition (1981), by David Clayton Carrad Egnaro (1981), by M. John Harrison On 202 (1981), by Jeff Hecht The Trick (1980), by Ramsey Campbell Broken Glass (1981), by Harlan Ellison
11. The Year’s Best Horror Stories XI, editor Karl Edward Wagner, 1983. The Grab (1982), by Richard Laymon The Show Goes On (1982), by Ramsey Campbell The House at Evening (1982), by Frances Garfield I Hae Dream'd a Dreary Dream (1981), by John Alfred Taylor Deathtracks (1982), by Dennis Etchison Come, Follow! (1982), by Sheila Hodgson The Smell of Cherries (1982), by Jeffrey Goddin A Posthumous Bequest (1982), by David Campton Slippage (1982), by Michael P. Kube-McDowell The Executor (1982), by David G. Rowlands Mrs. Halfbooger's Basement (1982), by Lawrence C. Connolly Rouse Him Not (1982), by Manly Wade Wellman Spare the Child (1982), by Thomas F. Monteleone The New Rays (1982), by M. John Harrison Cruising (1982), by Donald Tyson The Depths (1982), by Ramsey Campbell Pumpkin Head (1982), by Al Sarrantonio
12. The Year’s Best Horror Stories XII, editor Karl Edward Wagner, 1984. Uncle Otto's Truck (1983), by Stephen King 3.47 AM (1983), by David Langford Mistral (1983), by Jon Wynne-Tyson Out of Africa (1983), by David Drake The Wall-Painting (1983), by Roger Johnson Keepsake (1983), by Vincent McHardy Echoes (1983), by Lawrence C. Connolly After-Images (1983), by Malcolm Edwards The Ventriloquist's Daughter (1983), by Juleen Brantingham Come to the Party (1983), by Frances Garfield The Chair (1983), by Dennis Etchison Names (1983), by Jane Yolen The Attic (1983), by Billy Wolfenbarger Just Waiting (1983), by Ramsey Campbell One for the Horrors (1983), by David J. Schow Elle Est Trois, (La Mort) (1983), by Tanith Lee Spring-Fingered Jack (1983), by Susan Casper The Flash! Kid (1983), by Scott Bradfield The Man with Legs (1983), by Al Sarrantonio
13. The Year’s Best Horror Stories XIII, editor Karl Edward Wagner, 1985. Mrs. Todd's Shortcut (1984), by Stephen King Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1984), by Charles L. Grant Catch Your Death (1984), by John Gordon Dinner Party (1984), by Gardner Dozois Tiger in the Snow (1984), by Daniel Wynn Barber Watch the Birdie (1984), by Ramsey Campbell Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You (1984), by David J. Schow Hands with Long Fingers (1984), by Leslie Halliwell Weird Tales (1984), by Fred Chappell The Wardrobe (1984), by Jovan Panich Angst for the Memories (1984), by Vincent McHardy The Thing in the Bedroom (1984), by David Langford