Ambrose Bierce wrote stories so dramatically different from those of his
contemporaries that they hardly seem like they were written in the
nineteenth century. These original and innovative tales, most of which
appeared in the 1880s and 1890s, constitute 23 examples of his best and
most characteristic short fiction: anti-war satires that underscore the
barbarism and futility of bloodshed; horror stories with a keenly ironic
edge; and sardonic tall tales of the Old West.
The American Civil War was the defining experience of Bierce's life, and
the battlefield ordeals from his service within the Union army
contributed to his distinctive brand of cynical realism. This collection
boasts the best of his Civil War tales, including Chickamauga, A
Horseman in the Sky, and the author's much-imitated masterpiece, An
Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Writers of mystery and suspense stories
have long been influenced by Bierce's tales of the supernatural such as
The Moonlit Road, and The Eyes of the Panther. This anthology also
features Oil of Dog, My Favorite Murder, and other satirical fables that
continue to captivate readers with their humor and ingenuity.