Fitz-James O'Brien: Gothic Short Stories"Fitz James O'Brien is the most important figure after Poe and before Lovecraft in modern horror literature . . . and was] imitated by such authors as Ambrose Bierce, Guy de Maupassant, and F. Marion Crawford." Jessica Amanda Salmonson "Fitz James O'Brien was the most distinguished short story teller between Edgar Allan Poe and Bret Harte." Edward J. O'Brien " When O'Brien] turned to science fiction & fantasy he begin to display the full force of his