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Gerald Neal Williamson (April 17, 1932 - December 8, 2005) wrote and edited horror stories under the name J. N. Williamson.

Born in Indianapolis, IN he graduated from Shortridge High School. He studied journalism at Butler University. He published his first novel in 1979 and went on to publish more than 40 novels and 150 short stories. In 2003 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Horror Writers of America. He edited the critically-acclaimed How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction (1987) which covered the themes of such writing and cited the writings of such writers as Robert Bloch, Lee Prosser, Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, H. P. Lovecraft, August Derleth, William F. Nolan, and Stephen King. Many important writers in the genre contributed to the book. Williamson edited the popular anthology series, Masques. Some of his novels include The Ritual (1979), Playmates (1982), Noonspell (1991), The Haunt (1999), among others.

He was also a well known Sherlockian and received his investiture (The Illustrious Client) in the Baker Street Irregulars in 1950.

Complete bibliography:SeriesMartin Ruben1. The Ritual (1979)2. Premonition (1981)3. Brotherkind (1982)

Lamia Zacharias1. Death-Coach (1981)2. Death-Angel (1981)3. Death-School (1982)4. Death-Doctor (1982)

NovelsThey Never Even See Me (1970)The Houngan (1980)The Offspring (1980)The Tulpa (1980)Horror House (1981)The Banished (1981)Ghost Mansion (1981)Queen of Hell (1981)The Evil One (1981)Playmates (1982)Extraterrestrial (1982) (writing as Julian Shock)Horror Mansion (1982)Nevermore (1983)The Hour (1983)The Dentist (1983)Ghost (1984)Babel's Children (1984)The Longest Night (1985)Ladies of the Longest Night (1985)Wards of Armageddon (1986) (with John Maclay)Evil Offspring (1987)Noonspell (1987)Dead to the World (1988)The Black School (1989)Shadows of Death (1989)Hell Storm (1990)The Night Seasons (1991)The Monastery (1992)Don't Take Away the Light (1993)The Book of Webster's (1993)Bloodlines (1994)Spree (1998)The Haunt (1999)Affinity (2001)

CollectionsThe New Devil's Dictionary: Creepy Cliches and Sinister Synonyms (1985)The Naked Flesh of Feeling (1991)The Fifth Season (1994)Frights of Fancy (2000)

AnthologiesMasques: All New Works of Horror and the Supernatural (1984)Masques 2 (1987)The Best of Masques (1988)Masques 3 (1989)Flesh Creepers (1990)Masques 4 (1991)Dark Masques (2001)Darker Masques (2002)Masques V (2006)

Short storiesHouse Mothers (1984)The Gap Nearly Closed Today (1985)The Book of Webster's (1986)The Night Seasons (1986)Privacy Rights (1987)Wordsong (1987)Fancy That (1988)Overnight Pass (1989) (with John Maclay)Monstrum (1989)Stories for All Seasons (1989)The Sudd (1989)The Unkindest Cut (1989)You'd Better Watch Out (1989)The Bridge People (1990)Happier Endings (1990)Something Extra (1990) (with James Kisner)Frankenstein Seen in the Ice of Extinction (1993)Goddam Time (1993) (with Scott Fogel)Reality Function (1993)Beasts in Buildings, Turning 'Round (1995)High Concept (1995)The Last Link Between Life and Death (1995)Origin of a Species (1995)Vladimir's Conversions (1995)Hildekin and the Big Diehl (1996)Two Hands Are Better Than One (1996)It Does Not Come Along (1997)

Non fiction